Trisha Yearwood is mourning the loss of her mother, Gwen Yearwood, who died Saturday (October 1) at her home in Tifton, Ga., after a lengthy battle with cancer. She was 73. Trisha and her sister Beth were both with her mother when she passed away.

"The family is deeply appreciative of the care and concern they've received throughout this journey," Trisha and her family said in a statement.

A former teacher, Gwen co-authored two best-selling cookbooks with her daughters -- 'Georgia Cooking in an Oklahoma Kitchen,' in 2008, and 'Home Cooking With Trisha Yearwood,' which followed two years later.

The wife of Garth Brooks acknowledges her good fortune in having such a close relationship with her mother. "I think my mom is the bomb," Trisha told GAC recently (quote via ABC News). "I'm very lucky. I'm one of those kids who has a mom who everybody loves. So when my mom comes to Oklahoma and visits and she's gone, everybody's like, 'When's your mom coming back?'"

Funeral arrangements have not been announced. The family has requested that expressions of sympathy and any donations be made to Susan G. Komen for the Cure in Gwen's name.

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