Gary Allan, Angela Herzberg's Husband
Gary Allan, Angela Herzberg's Husband
Remembering an Angel:
Angela Herzberg
by Kevin Caruso
October 28, 2004
Angela Herzberg, 36, wife of country singer Gary Allan (Gary Allan Herzberg), died by suicide on October 25, 2004, of a self-inflicted gunshot wound.
Angela passed away at their home in Hendersonville, Tennesse, near Nashville.
Hendersonville Police officers were called to the residence at 1:20 a.m. and found Angela with the fatal wound.
Gary and Angela were married for three years and had six children from previous marriages. They moved to Hendersonville from Huntington Beach, California in 2003.
Gary's record label, MCA Nashville, issued the following statement: "We ask for your prayers for Angela's
family and friends and especially for the children during this unimaginable time in their lives."
And Gary issued the following statement: "Words simply cannot express our gratitude for the love and caring that's
been displayed in the past several days. Our most sincere thanks go out to everyone for their support."
Funeral services were held on October 28th in Madison, Tennessee, and Angela was laid to rest on the following day at the Rose Hill Cemetery in Cleburne, Texas.
Angela had several problems that contributed to her suicide. She had struggled with depression
for several years and had taken antidepressants on and off. And because untreated depression is the number
one cause for suicide, it is most probable that Angela's depression was the primary cause for her suicide.
Angela also suffered from severe migraine headaches and was prescribed several medications to
treat them, and she began taking a new medication a few days before her suicide.
Her migraine headaches were extremely intense shortly before she died, and thus
the headaches were most probably another cause for her suicide; and the new medication
may have also been a contributory factor.
It must be remembered that people die by suicide to end their pain. And a combination of
depression and intense migraine headaches can cause seemingly unbearable
physical and emotional pain.
Also, people who are suffering from depression cannot think clearly. They have a chemical
imbalance in their brain, and thus they believe that dying by suicide is something that they
"need to do" to stop their pain.
Anyone can die by suicide. Anyone. Those who think that they are immune have not yet
suffered from a neuorological disturbance that could cause suicidal thoughts.
It also should be noted that Angela struggled with an eating disorder that began when she was a flight attendant.
Airlines maintain stringent weight requirements, and Angela was pressured to maintain an
"ideal" weight. Thus, it is possible that Angela's eating disorder also contributed
to her suicide.
Survivors include Angela's children, Ty, Cole, and Stormy Sees; Gary's children, Maggie, Dallas, and Tanna Herzberg; Angela's father, Gary Forsythe;
mother, Dianna Forsythe; sisters, Shanna Nash and Dana Phillips; brother, Robert Moser; and Melody Simpson and Barbara Robinson.
Angela Herzberg was a wonderful, caring person.
She was a loving wife and an excellent mother.
She is now an angel.
We miss you Angela.
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The following lyrics are from Gary's song "It Would Be You."
It is a beautiful and poignant song about a person
trying to describe a heartache. And Gary's wonderful voice
expresses the emotion of someone who has just lost a loved one.
This song came to my mind when I heard about Angela passing away.
There are many people who are feeling a heartache because of
Angela's passing: Gary, the children, friends, and fans from
around the world.
Here are the lyrics to "It Would Be You" --
It Would Be You
It's hard describing a heartache
All because it's a one of a kind of thing
A serious injury
And a whole lot of endless pain
If it was a storm
I'd compare to a hurricane
Oh it's even got a name
If it was a drink
It would be a strong one
If it was a sad song
It would be a long one
If it was a color
It would be a deep deep blue
But if we're talking about a heartache
It would be you
If it was a full moon
It would be a total eclipse
If it was a tidal wave
It would sink a thousand ships
If it was a blizzard
It would be a record breaking cold
If it was a lie
It would be the biggest story you've ever told
If it was a drink
It would be a strong one
If it was a sad song
It would be a long one
If it was a color
It would be a deep deep blue
But if we're talking about a heartache
It would be you
