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A man in Orange County claims he's country legend Eddy Arnold's illegitimate son -- and wants Arnold's body unburied for a DNA test to prove it.
Arnold -- the crooner who brought us "You Don't Know Me" and "I Want to Go With You" -- died May 8, but Christopher Edward Tanner just filed a petition in Davidson County, Tenn. to have DNA testing done on Arnold's remains, as the Tennessean reports. Eddy's lawyer says that Arnold always denied having fathered Tanner.
And by the way: Tanner is 47 years old. Think he waited long enough?
6/14/2008 2:16 PM PDT BY TMZ STAFF
Dead Country Star: Don't Unbury My Bone
Reader Comments
(Page 1 of 3) | 1 | 2 | 3 | Most Recent | Next 15 Comments1.
I can't say how long he waited. Obviously this has been brought up before since Arnold denied it. I dont blame him for wanting him to know who his father is even at his age. He has a right to put this issue to bed once and for all.
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2.
Fuggin' Loser, why didn't he petition before he died, must be the "Economy" the poor bastard is broke, gotta try what he can to make a buck!
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3.
That could be true. His request could have been tied up in the courts.
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4.
That is just beyond belief. He had 47 years when the man was still alive but he waits until he is dead and buried. Sounds like he figures he'll get less opposition from a dead man than he would have from one who is alive and can still defend himself. Sounds "opportunistic"
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5.
Who knows the truth, but it's really sad that these kids grow up never knowing for sure who their fathers are and then have to dig up the remains after they're dead. How many of these stories do we hear? How many people came out of the woodwork after Elvis died, claiming to be his children? How many kids were proven to be fathered by James Brown, Ray Charles, etc? What kind of life did they have, never knowing and always wondering who their father was? The celebrities need to keep it in their pants and the groupies need to stop being such irresponsible starf*ckers. It's the kids they're hurting in the end.
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6.
He eithier is or he isn't, give the man the test and let the truth come out.
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7.
Mommy, mommy! I don't want to see Grandpa Eddy!
Mother: Shut up and keep digging.
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10.
Trophy wife Slim and Trim!!!!:
couple of thoughts here:
wasn't he buried alive?
will the exhumation be televised live? Will they bury his wife with him?
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11.
Look at this guy, open another browser window and look at a picture of Eddy Arnold. "nuff said!
You don't need DNA to see the resemblance!
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13.
Since there is no other, it appears that folks are referring to the photo shown with the article. It's of Eddy Arnold, though, NOT of the man who's claiming to be his son. The same is true of the photo accompanying the article on the web site for the Tennessean. That photo is not the same as the one used above but it's still of the same person - Eddy Arnold.
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14.
"Tanner is 47 years old"?!?!?!?!?!?
WHAT... IN DOG YEARS?!?!?!?!?!
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15.
to # 11
the photo shown is one of Eddy Arnold in probably his late 50's or 60's
there must be a relative of Arnold's still alive where they can compare DNA to that of the guy claiming to be his son
might not have to exhume to body after all
if the body is exhumed by court and it turns out the DNA is not a match-I would make the so-called illegitimate son pay all related costs and maybe a fine for something related to trying to scam or defame the character of the deceased
if they don't impose a fine and costs then anyone could come out of the woodwork with absurd claims of parentage and the taxpayers would have to foot the bill-so fines or costs would deter that
this guy might be legit--but if not-he might serve as a lesson to others thinking of getting attention buy claiming something similar
Unfortunate they never petitioned to the court when Eddy Arnold was alive for the DNA-would have been so much easier
If he is a son the courts will treat him as family for the will etc.
if he is a scam artist he'll be uncovered and hopefully shamed
there are a lot of moms out there that maybe haven't told their children-who may well be adults now-the truth about their parentage-or maybe don't have the slightest idea who the father is
you are not doing your children or society any favours
maybe they will learn from this and come clean while the people involved are alive and can be tested!!
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