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Glen Campbell’s kids fighting singer’s wife for control of his affairs

Singer Glen Campbell and his wife, Kim, at the CMA Awards in late 2011, several months after his Alzheimer's diagnosis was revealed.
(Evan Agostini / Associated Press)
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A fight over control of Glen Campbell’s affairs appears to be brewing in Tennessee between two of the singer-songwriter’s eight children and his wife of more than three decades.

Debby Campbell-Cloyd and Travis Campbell, their father’s oldest daughter and son, filed a petition in January alleging that Kim Campbell, Glen Campbell’s fourth wife, is keeping the 78-year-old “secluded from the rest of the family” and prohibiting the family “from participating in his care and/or treatment,” the Associated Press reported Wednesday.

They are reportedly asking the court to appoint conservators and a guardian to manage their father’s medical and financial interests.

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The country star is in the late stages of Alzheimer’s disease and since June 2014 has been living in a long-term care facility where he receives round-the-clock care.

Campbell-Cloyd questioned Kim Campbell’s decision when her father was placed in the facility, the AP said, and told a magazine at the time that she and the older Campbell kids learned of the decision through news reports. Campbell-Cloyd referred questions to her attorney on Wednesday.

“It is crushingly sad to see him afflicted with Alzheimer’s, but indulging those feelings does not help him,” Kim Campbell told the AP at the time. “I am his wife, and no one wants him home more than me, but I must do what is in his best interest.”

The current petition, which is sealed but was reviewed by the AP, alleges that Kim Campbell is not providing her husband with needed toiletries and clothing, not visiting him regularly and possibly mishandling his finances. Several of his children are not on a list of approved visitors, the petition says.

The petition also claims that the “Rhinestone Cowboy” singer’s wife has permitted him to be interviewed and filmed while at the facility despite the progression of his disease to a point where, according to his two eldest children, such activities are inappropriate.

Glen and Kim have been married since 1982 and have three adult children together. He has five sons and three daughters in all.

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Glen Campbell revealed his Alzheimer’s diagnosis in June 2011, and since then has put out two albums and gone on a farewell tour that included more than 150 shows. A film, “I’ll Be Me,” chronicled that tour, and his final single, “I’m Not Gonna Miss You,” was nominated for the original-song Oscar and in February won the Grammy for best country song.

Debby Campbell-Cloyd was among the family members who accompanied her dad on that tour.

The situation brings to mind the family struggle that surrounded radio icon Casey Kasem in his final days and in the time since his death, when his older kids fought with his wife and youngest daughter over access, medical decision-making and ultimately disposition of his remains.

Follow Christie D’Zurilla on Twitter @theCDZ and Google+. Follow the Ministry of Gossip on Twitter @LATcelebs.

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