Luke Bryan went out of his way to publicly thank fans and the country music industry before expressing how well-wishes have propped his family up during a difficult week. Bryan's niece from his wife's side of the family died on Tuesday.

Sadie Brett — baby to Bo and Ellen Boyer — had been struggling with a number of medical issues and was being treated at Vanderbilt. Bo is Caroline Bryan's brother. Immediately after the girl's passing Bryan thanked fans on Twitter. Tuesday's Universal Music Group luncheon during 2017 Country Radio Seminar was his first chance to speak publicly.

"Thank you so much for all your prayers coming out to me and my family the last couple of days," Bryan said from the Ryman Auditorium on Thursday afternoon (Feb. 23). "I’ll tell you what, when I’m checking my socials and see so many of you guys … that are kind of lifting my family up, I really appreciate it. It means the world to me."

Bryan would go on to sing his current single "Fast," which he admitted was a song that meant more to him this week.

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Very few details about Brett's death were made available publicly, but a look at Ellen Boyer’s Facebook page reveals the little girl had been dealing with internal issues for some time and treatments included dialysis. On Feb. 16 Boyer wrote that they’d had the best week of the year, but just three days later she was once again asking for prayers. Another Facebook update came on Sunday night (Feb. 20). "Please flood the heavens with prayers. We will not give up on our tough, brave Brett," she wrote.

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