10:01a.m. 21st January 2008

| By Mark Chapman

Comedic Country singer Chad Morgan is definitely NOT dead, according to himself.

When Chad Morgan’s sister Helen was informed of an announcement on radio station 4GY this morning that ‘The Sheik from Scrubby Creek’ was dead, she was devastated.

“She nearly had a heart attack,” said the very much alive Mr Morgan from Tamworth, where he is currently performing.

“Talk about a scare, alright,” said 82-year-old Helen. “My heart was going thump, thump, thump. I got a terrible shock.”

Mr Morgan, a well known comedy singer and guitarist, renowned for his over-the-top style of comic country and western songs, assured thedaily.com.au that he was in no way dead, but was very unhappy about the announcement.

Relatives have heard of the news all the way from Hervey Bay down the Brisbane, and worried calls have started flooding through.

“Something like this gets the family all upset,” said the Caboolture singer, who was annoyed at the undue stress placed on loved ones, as well as worry caused to fans and potential impact on his bookings.

“People might have wanted to book me for a show but then think, ‘Oh, he’s dead’.”

Mr Morgan and family members had contacted 4GY Classic Hits, based in Cooloola, after hearing the news this morning to inform the radio station of the mistake.

According to his daughter Wendy, a station representative had blamed the error on misinformation from the internet, but Mr Morgan was told that it was a "bad faux pas", while Mrs Berry was told that a source from Tamworth had confused the station by making mention of a Chad Morgan tribute.

“The damage is done,” said the country singer.

“Word of mouth spreads bad news quickly.”

Despite being furious at the broadcast of his death, the comedian still managed to make light of the situation to calm his worried sister.

“This is the ghost of Chad Morgan,” he cheerfully announced down the phone to Helen, who was incredibly relieved to hear his voice and responded: “I’d always expected you to come and haunt me”.

“We always joke,” she told thedaily.com.au.

Mr Morgan, who turns 75 this February, said that the radio station had promised to formally apologise to him live, on air tomorrow morning, Tuesday, January 21.

4GY was unavailable for comment when contacted by thedaily.com.au

Fans concerned by the news of Mr Morgan’s demise need not worry. He will be performing shows around Caboolture and Brisbane on his return from Tamworth, so you’ll still get to catch him – guitar, teeth, hat and all – definitely LIVE on stage.

In the words of his own song, “There’s life in the old dog yet”.