It has been a rough start to the year for the country music world as four legendary performers have already left us.
The latest was a performer who traveled with some of the greatest singers ever put on the planet. Don Adams was wild. Don Adams was special. And now he is gone.
The following is a look at the other iconic names country music has lost this year:
Don Adams
Country music has lost another beloved performer.
Don Adams, a singer, songwriter and longtime band member for Johnny Paycheck and George Jones, died on Sunday, Feb. 1, according to Saving Country Music.
He was 85.
The site said that Adams had been battling cancer “off and on” for a couple of years.
Parade Magazine wrote that while Adams was never a “marquee headliner, his voice, musicianship and presence placed him squarely inside the outlaw country ecosystem of the 1960s and 1970s.”
Adams was born in Greenfield, Ohio, and he came from a family full of musicians.
His father, Frank Adams, was a radio and recording star all the way back in the 1930s, and Don and his brothers, Gary and Arnie, made up The Adams Brothers. As a group, they backed up artists such as Merle Haggard, Marty Robbins and Tamy Wynette as well as Paycheck.
However, it was their gig as The Jones Boys, backing up the legendary George Jones, that they were most well known for. They were so popular that Jones’ label even released an album entitled “The Jones Boys” which featured them without Jones.
The brothers also gained a reputation as hard partying lifestyle, and that helped them gain access to a more modern crowd when Mike Judge of “Beavis and Butthead” fame used them in multiple episodes of his Cinemax series “Tales From The Tour Bus.”
Billy Parker
Billy Parker might not be a name that many modern country music fans know, but as Channel 6 News in Oklahoma noted, he was an influential voice in the genre for decades.
Parker died on Jan. 19 in a Tulsa hospital, according to the outlet.
He was 88.
Parker, was a musician and a DJ, and his former station announced his death on social media.
“Our KVOO family took a big hit today,” a post on Big Country 99.5’s Facebook page read. “We are saddened to announce the passing of a legend, Billy Parker. Billy was with KVOO from 1971 up until his retirement in 2015. He won multiple ACM and CMA Awards, was inducted into the Country Music Disc Jockey Hall of Fame and received the Oklahoma Association of Broadcasters Lifetime Achievement Award.
“Billy will forever be a part of the Voice of Oklahoma.”
Parker was named Disc Jockey of the Year by the Country Music Association in 1974, and won the award form the Academy of Country Music in 1975, 1977, 1978 and 1984.
He was inducted into the Country Music Disc Jockey Hall of Fame in 1992 and won the Oklahoma Association of Broadcasters’ Lifetime Achievement Award in 1995.
Jim McBride
Jim McBride might not be a name that every country music fans knows, but there is a good chance they know his songs.
McBride, a member of the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame, died on Jan. 6.
He was 78.
McBride was best known for a pair of hits — “Chattahoochee” and “Chasing that Neon Rainbow” — that he wrote for country music icon, Alan Jackson.
“This one is very hard to take,” singer/songwriter Jerry Salley wrote on Facebook.
“Jim McBride wasn’t just a close friend, he was a true, lifelong Brother to me,” he added. “My best friend. We talked or texted every few days right up until the end.”
Salley wrote that he was “in shock” and “devastatingly sad.”
“Jimmy Ray McBride — I know you were my biggest champion and had so much to do with my nomination for the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame,” he added. “That’s the kind of friend you are. You were a great songwriter. You were a great man. And you were an even greater friend.”
The Nashville Songwriters Association International account on Facebookcalled him “an amazing tunesmith and loved by the songwriter community.”
“Jim was a beloved Alabamian, songwriter, friend, mentor and so much more,” the Alabama Music Hall of Fame wrote on Facebook.
“His honors included a CMA Song of the Year Award, numerous accolades from ASCAP, BMI, NSAI, NARAS, CMA, AMA, ACM, Billboard Magazine, his induction into the Alabama Music Hall of Fame, and his induction into the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame,” the statement added. “We will greatly miss Mr. McBride — may his legacy live on forever.”
“A songwriters songwriter,” Reggie Starrett wrote on Facebook. “I considered Jim a friend and a huge inspiration. An unbelievable loss for country music. Jim was one of a kind.”
McBride, a native of Huntsville, Alabama, also wrote songs for Reba McEntire, Willie Nelson, the Oak Ridge Boys, Alabama, Johnny Cash, Diamond Rio, Waylon Jennings, George Jones, Toby Keith, Kris Kristofferson, Jerry Lee Lewis, Charley Pride, Pam Tillis, Randy Travis, Keith Whitley and Conway Twitty.
Al Shade
Al Shade was not just a country music legend.
The guy might have been the oldest performing country music artist.
He died on Jan. 22 at the age of 98.
Shade was a star in central Pennsylvania, where he was featured in the early 1950s on Lebanon-based radio station WLBR.
He was known for hits such as “I’m A Star On WLBR” and “Forever and a Day.”
He was also known for performing alongside his wife, Jean.
You can read more about his life and career here.
COUNTRY STARS WHO DIED IN 2025
Eddie Adcock
Eddie Adcock’s name might not be the first that comes to mind when it comes to country music legends, but he was a legend in his own right.
Don’t believe it? Just Google him. You can find stories calling him a “legend,” and a “master” and there are plenty of other adjectives thrown in along the way, too.
Sadly, Adcock died on March 20. He was 86.
BlueGrassToday.com called him a “five string banjo master,” while noting that he has been “suffering from multiple health issues over recent years.”
Adcock was a native of Virginia, who began performing all the way back in 1949. He joined Smokey Graves 7 His Blue Star Boys in 1953, and he played with a handful of different bands. He may be best known, though, for his time playing in The Country Gentleman. In 1996, that group became the first inducted into the International Bluegrass Music Association Hall of Fame.
“Eddie was a truly innovative artists and musician with a one-of-a-kind voice on the banjo – & any instrument he picked up,” The Blue Grass Situation posted on X.
Criscilla Anderson
Country music fans were heartbroken to learn that “Country Ever After” star Criscilla Anderson has died this week after a battle with colon cancer.
The 45-year-old former hip-hop dancer, who is the ex-wife of country music star Coffey Anderson, died on Dec. 2. And she left a tear-jerking message that addressed her children that her friend, Lindsey, posted to her Instagram page following her death.
“My sweet community,” she wrote. “If you’re reading this, I’ve finally slipped into the arms of Jesus — peacefully and surrounded by love. Please don’t stay in the darkness of this moment. I fought hard and I loved deeply. I am not gone. I’m home. To my children — my whole heart. Ethan, you made me a mom. I’m still beside you, cheering you on. Savannah, my bonus girl — you were a gift God knew I needed. Emmarie, my Jesus-loving dancer — keep dancing through every season. Everleigh, my bright spark — chase your dreams boldly and without fear. My babies … I am watching over you. When a moment feels warm, familiar, or too beautiful to be coincidence — that’s me. I’m still mother you. I’m still yours. #everybutterfly.
“To my circle of women — my sisters,” she continued. “Thank you for holding me when I couldn’t stand, wiping my tears, taking me to appointments, and making me laugh. You were God’s hands in my life for years. To my family … thank you for loving me so unconditional. Please take care of one another — my love is still wrapped around you. And to (Lindsey) — the best photographer on the planet … thank you for capturing my life so beautifully year after year. No more Photoshop, sis — Jesus just gave this girl wings!
“Be gentle with each other. Hold my children close. And remember: heaven isn’t as far away as it feels. I love you all. Always. – Criscilla.”
The news of her death and he message that followed were heartbreaking.
“Just devastating,” actress Viola Davis wrote. “Really. I never stopped praying and will continue to pray for her family, her children and for her name to continue to be spoken. God’s got her.”
“Heartbroken is an understatement,” reality star Todd Chrisley wrote. “Rest well my beautiful friend. You will e loved and thought of always.”
“Bawling reading this,” Blake McGrath wrote. “To get to know you was like touching a piece of heaven. Your light, the spark behind your eyes, your wisdom, your grace and your heart. You are a force here on earth but now in heaven. I’m so glad you are in complete peace held by the arms of Jesus. I adore you and am so happy I was able to hold your hand last night. I will be sending your family and kids the most love and asking God to show me ways to show your children you are with them. Go fly baby and your life has left a lasting legacy to all who new you and what God will do through them because of your walk. I love you. Can’t wait to dance with you one day in the greatest realm of all.”
The Andersons gained popularity when they starred in the Netflix’s 2020 reality series “Country Ever After.”
“Criscilla defined strength and fighter like no other person on the planet,” Coffey wrote on Instagram. “Heaven gained a star today. She said before she passed, ‘if you see a butterfly, that will be me. If you miss me, a butterfly will show up. Remember … I’ll be there with you.’
“We miss you already,” he continued. “Our hearts are shattered. Our minds are jumbled. Our lives will never be the same. The house is quieter because you’re missing. The babies are resilient and strong as ever. We did good with them. So, dance your heart out on the beach in heaven. No more pain, no colostomy bag, no more neuropathy, no chemo, or radiation and you can eat as much dessert as you want with no calories.”
Coffey added a final, heartbreaking sentence.
Walt Aldridge
Walt Aldridge’s name might not be one most modern country music fans know, but they probably should because there’s a good chance they know his songs.
Aldridge, a prolific musician, songwriter and engineer, died on Nov. 19.
He was 70.
Fame Recording Studios and Publishing put out a long statement on Facebook following his death.
“We are deeply saddened to say that our dear friend and colleague Walt Aldridge has passed away,” it read. “We cannot possibly put into words how much walt meant to the FAME family! There was a time in the 80s when Walt’s songwriting along with Robert Byrne, Tommy Brasfield and Mac McAnally carried the most of the weight of the Muscle Shoals music industry though a difficult time in our history.”
Country Insider reported that Aldridge wrote or co-wrote a whopping 56 top 40 songs on the Billboard country charts. The outlet said his No. 1 hits included Ronnie Milsap’s “(There’s) No Getting’ Over Me,” Earl Thomas Conley’s “Holding Her and Loving You,” Travis Tritt’s “Modern Day Bonnie and Clyde,” and Heartland’s “I Loved Her First.”
He also wrote hit songs for the likes of Tim McGraw and Reba McEntire.
Aldridge also had his own band, The Shooters, for which he served as lead singer and guitarist. Country Insider said the band managed to chart seven songs of its own.
He was inducted into the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2017, and the Alabama Music Hall of Fame in 2018.
Per Country Insider, his song writing prowess led to an estimated 60 million album sales across his four-decade career.
Ed Askew
Ed Askew, a cult folk music singer/songwriter and painter, died on Jan. 4.
He was 84.
PEOPLE Magazine reported that Askew had been battling “ongoing health struggles” and had been in hospice.
“Ed was a brave gay songwriter from the beginning, and I hope more come to know this,” Jay Pluck, Askew’s manager and friend, told PEOPLE. “Ed’s music changed the lives of people from many generations and continues to do so.”
Askew was a native of Stamford, Connecticut, and according to PEOPLE he studied paining at Yale Art School. The site said Askew was called up for the draft in 1966 but ended up teaching at a prep school in Connecticut instead. It said that is when he began writing his songs.
PEOPLE said Askew released 11 albums during his career. His first album “Ask The Unicorn” came in 1968 and his final, “London” came in 2020. PEOPLE said he also “had a prolific painting career.”
Larry Bastian
Larry Bastian was one of the greatest country music song writers of all-time.
Don’t believe it?
Well, the sentiment comes from a country music legend — Garth Brooks.
“If one looks down on the list of music’s greatest writers of all time,” Brooks said, per the Porterville Record, “I couldn’t imagine the list being complete without the name of Larry Bastian.”
Brooks would know because Bastian wrote some of his biggest hits — “Unanswered Prayers” and “Rodeo.”
Bastian died on Apil 6. He was 90. No cause of death was reported.
The Record was the first to report Bastian’s death, citing his son who shared the news on Facebook.
Bastian was born in Porterville in 1934, and after graduating high school there in 1952 he worked as a biologist for 15 years, according to Billboard.com. The site said got his career as a songwriter going into the 1970s, and a remarkable career ensued.
The Record reported that Bastian contributed to a whopping 68 platinum albums and four gold records.
He wrote songs for Merle Haggard and David Frizzell, Tammy Wynette, Conway Twitty, Tracy Byrd, Sammy Kershaw, Reba McEntire, Rhett Akins, George Jones and Craig Morgan, per Billboard.
But those songs for Brooks were, perhaps, his biggest. Along with “Rodeo,” and “Unanswered Prayers,” he also wrote “I’ve Got a Good Thing Going,” The Old Man’s Back in Town,” “Cowboy Bill,” “Nobody Gets Off in This Town,” and “Man Against the Machine,” for the legendary singer.
“There was no doubt in my mind that I could write a song,” he said in an interview with ‘The Paul Leslie Hour’ in 2020. “I think you have to be that driven to succeed, and then there’s a lot of luck. They have a saying, ‘You can’t get out of the way of a hit song,’ and that’s so right.”
David Briggs
David Briggs was never the face of the song, but he was always an important part of it.
And he worked with some of the greatest to ever do it.
Sadly, his work is done, though, because the talented musician, record producer, arranger, composer and studio owner, died on April 22.
He was 82.
“David Briggs could play keyboards in any style,” Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum CEO Kyle Young said. “For more than four decades, his deft touch graced countless country, R&B, rock, and pop recordings. He was eighteen years old when he played piano on Arthur Alexander’s epochal Muscle Shoals hit ‘You Better Move On.’
“Recruited by Nashville producer Owen Bradley, Briggs immediately became a studio fixture, enhancing records by Elvis Presley, Willie Nelson, Dolly Parton, Reba McEntire, and many more,” Young added. “He further shaped Music City in co-founding Quadrafonic Studio and opening his own House of David studio. He was a man of music through and through.”
Briggs reportedly took part in his first recording session at the age of 14, and he went on to work with the likes of Elvis Presley, Dolly Parton, Johnny Cash, Reba McEntire, B.B. King, Willie Nelson, Waylon Jennings, George Harrison, Charley Pride and many more.
He was inducted into the Alabama Music Hall of Fame in 1999, and the Musicians Hall of Fame in 2019.
Carl Dean
Country music legend Dolly Parton announced the heartbreaking news on March 6 that her husband, Carl Dean, has died.
A posted statement to her X page, said that Dean, who was 82, died in Nashville.
“He will be laid to rest in a private ceremony with immediate family attending,” the statement read. “He was survived by his siblings Sandra and Donnie.”
Parton provided a quote in the statement.
“Carl and I spent many wonderful years together,” she said. “Words can’t do justice to the love we shared for over 60 years. Thank you for your prayers and sympathy.”
The statement said the family asks for privacy during this time.
Parton and Dean were known for keeping their relationship out of the public eye, and they did so on purpose.
“I married a really good man, a guy that’s completely different than me,” Parton told Parade Magazine in 2015. “He’s not in show business.”
Parade reported that the duo first met at a laundromat in Nashville when Parton was just 18-years-old.
“I was surprised and delighted that while he talked to me, he looked at my face (a rare thing for me),” she wrote on her website, per Parade. “He seemed to be genuinely interested in finding out who I was and what I was about.”
Parade said the two “snuck off one weekend” about two years later to get married.
They renewed their vows in 2015.
“We just had a simple little ceremony at our chapel at our place,” she told Rolling Stone.
Billy Earheart
Billy Earheart, a piano player and organist for the Amazing Rhythm Aces, has died.
He was 71.
Earheart’s obituary said he died on May 13 “after an extended struggle with cancer.”
The Tennessee native won a Grammy Award with the “Amazing Rhythm Aces” for Best Country Vocal Performance By a Duo or Group for “The End is Not in Sight (The Cowboy Tune).”
He also played piano for Hank Williams Jr.’s Bama Band for more than 20 years, and also reportedly played with artists such as Al Green, Waylon Jennings, BB King and more.
Earheart reportedly played on more than 200 albums.
“Billy loved music early and had one year of piano lessons as a child,” his obituary read. “The piano teacher wasn’t teaching the music he wanted to play, so he taught himself.”
The obit said Earheart played his first gig in 1966 and founded the “Amazing Rhythm Aces” in 1973. The group won its Grammy in 1977.
“While playing with the Aces, Billy got to travel the world, opening for such acts as Jimmy Buffet, Fleetwood Mac, the Eagles, and appeared on TV shows such as Saturday Night Live and Don Kishner’s Rock Concert,” his obit said.
His obituary also noted that he had “the perfect demeanor to serve as the big brother to three younger sisters.”
“In his later years, Billy often spoke about how precious his grandchildren (also known as ‘skunkingtons’ or ‘polecats of love’) were to him,” it read.
He is survived by his wife of 42 years, Katherine, a son and a daughter and many grandchildren.
Joe Ely
Country music legend Joe Ely died on Dec. 15.
Ely, who rose up out of Texas to become a beloved musician, was 78.
Ely died from complications from Lewy Body Dementia, Parkinson’s disease and pneumonia, according to a post on his Facebook. His fans were quick to respond with love and prayer for Ely and his family.
“Thank you, Joe Ely,” Matt Skinner wrote. “Thank you for the music, the inspiration. Thank you for sharing the magic that has filled me, and all of us, with wanderlust and desire to see (and embrace) what’s just over the edge of the map.”
“So sorry to see this,” Samantha Smith replied. “He will be forever remembered for the great gift he shared with us. Thanks for all the great times and great tunes, Joe. May you rest in peace.”
“Another dose of sad news for the fans of Americana music,” Kurt Weitendorf wrote. “I had the good fortune to see Joe as part of “The Songwriters Tour” along with John Hiatt, Lyle Lovett and the late Guy Clark. One of the best music experiences ever. RIP Joe.”
There were plenty more responses like that and you can see them here.
Ely announced that he was battling Lewy Body and Parkinson’s in a statement posted on his Facebook page back in September.
“Together with his wife Sharon, Joe is sharing their journey — not to dwell in hardship, but to bring understanding, awareness, and hope through the healing power of music,” the statement read.
The statement noted that Ely and his wife planned to release some of his recordings that they had recently found.
“Our story is about how music continues to lift us up,” she said in the statement. “Revisiting Joe’s recordings and hearing them brought to life again has given him so much joy, and we want others to feel that same joy too.”
Ely died with Sharon and his daughter, Marie, at his side in his home in Taos, New Mexico, according to the statement on his Facebook Monday.
While Ely was a beloved country musician, Variety noted that his skills also earned him a spot working with some big-time rock acts, including working as a supporting act for the likes of the Rolling Stones, the Clash, Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, Stevie Nicks and more.
A native of Amarillo, Texas, Ely began his career in 1970 and was active through this year despite his health issues.
Mac Gayden
Mac Gayden, a popular country and rock singer and a talented songwriter, died on April 16.
He was 83.
The New York Times reported that Gayden died on Wednesday at his home in Nashville due to complications from Parkinson’s disease.
The Times said that Gayden co-wrote the “pop evergreen” song “Everlasting Love,” and called him “an innovative guitarist who recorded with Bob Dylan.” It also credited him with helping Nashville become “a recording hub for artists working outside the bounds of country music.”
The publication also noted his work on “Absolutely Sweet Marie,” with Bob Dylan and “Blonde on Blonde.” It called the work his “most illustrious achievement” while pointing out that it strangely went “uncredited for decades.”
Gayden was a native of Nashville. His career began in the 1960s.
“Mac Gayden’s fingerprint was recognized at a time the world was becoming acutely aware of the blinding array, and virtuosity, of Nashville’s first-call cats,” Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum CEO Kyle Young said. “His sheer musicality was a dazzling force, and his spirit a gift to us all.”
Tony Haselden
Tony Haselden, who rose to fame as a rocker and then transitioned into a celebrated country music songwriter, died on May 16.
He was 79. A cause of death was not reported.
Haselden joined the rock group, LeRoux, in 1978 and reportedly played with the band right up until his death. He rose to fame with the group, writing hits such as “Nobody Said It Was Easy,” in 1978, too. When LeRoux went on hiatus in 1984, Haselden moved to Nashville and became a successful country music songwriter and producer, per Taste of Country.
Among the hits he wrote were, “That’s My Story (And I’m Stick’ To It)” by Collin Raye, “It Ain’t Nothin” by Keith Whitley, and “You Know Me Better Than That,” by George Strait.
Taste of Country said many more country stars such as Shania Twain, Reba McEntire, Billy Ray Cyrus, Doug Stone, Shelby Lynne, Shenandoah, Michelle Wright and Martinia McBride recorded songs written by Haselden as well.
He was inducted into the Louisiana Music Hall of Fame and the LMHOF Songwriters’ Association Hall of Fame in 2010, according to Taste of Country.
Bill Ivey
Bill Ivey, the former CEO of the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum, died on Nov. 7.
He was 81.
The Country Music Hall of Fame announced his death in a lengthy Facebook post.
Ivey served as the CEO for the Hall of Fame from 1971 through 1997.
“Ivey set a rigorous standard that ensured the Museum’s collections of artifacts, recordings, and library materials documenting country music would be unmatched,” the statement read. “Twice he presided over building expansions, and through his leadership the Museum was transformed form a modest tourist attraction into the premier center for the preservation and study of country music past and present.
“During his tenure, the Museum gained national accreditation, its budget increased fourfold, and its staff and programs grew accordingly,” the statement continued.
The statement also noted that in 1997 Ivey was selected by President Bill Clinton to be the chair of the National Endowment for the Arts.
“After four years in that role, Ivey directed the Curb Center for Art, Enterprise, and Public Policy at Vanderbilt University and served on the faculty there from 2002 to 2012,” the statement continued. “In addition to those full-time posts, Ivey also served at various times as president of the Recording Academy, chair of the Recording Academy’s board of trustees, and president of the American Folklore Society. In 1989, he helped found the Leadership Music nonprofit networking forum and served for years as that organization’s discussion facilitator. He also wrote liner notes for many historical albums as well as scholarly articles, and he published three books in his later years on popular culture, politics, and public policy.
“He was a challenging thinker who helped cement the reputation of the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum as a significant and authoritative music history center. His impact on the Museum and the wider arts world is incalculable.”
Brett James
The country music world was heartbroken in September when beloved singer/songwriter Brett James and was killed in a plane crash in North Carolina.
James’ wife, Melody Carole, 59, and her daughter, Meryl Wilson, 28, were also killed in the crash.
And now we know more about how their final moments played out.
The National Transportation Safety Board has now released its report on the crash which includes the final radio transmission from James. According to the report, James approached Macon County Airport at around 2:48 p.m. at around 6,800 feet and reported that he “intended to perform a 360 degree turn to land,” on the runway there.
That was the chilling last transmission from James. Everything seemed to be going fine, and then tragically it wasn’t.
The plane reportedly descended to 6,300 feet and made a turn to approach the runway at 3,300 feet.
“Surveillance video showed the airplane flying over the runway before initiating a descending left turn,” the NTSB report said. “The airplane continued descending in the left turn before entering a tightening spiral and impacting the ground.”
No signs of engine failure were detected.
James, a Grammy-winning songwriter and a member of the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame, was in the plane that went down near an elementary school in Franklin, North Carolina.
The news spread quickly and folks turned out on social media to express their heartbreak in the wake of his death.
“Brett James died today,” Alison Bonaguro wrote on X. “I am still in a state of shock. Nashville lost one of its very best — and most humble — songwriters in history (heartbreak emoji).”
The American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers noted that James was a two-time ASCAP Country Songwriter of the year.
“Brett was a trusted collaborator to country’s greatest names and a true advocate for songwriters,” a statement from the organization on X read. “We miss him dearly.”
The Nashville Songwriters Association International account on Facebook posted, “The NSAI family is stunned by the death of board member and legendary songwriter Brett James. The loss is profound.”
James, 57, began his career as a solo artist in 1995, and charted three singles that year. But he became best known for his ability as a songwriter with 494 songs being recorded by other artists. He is perhaps best known for writing Carrie Underwood’s 2006 number one hit, “Jesus, Take the Wheel.” He has also written songs for the likes of Martina McBride, Jason Aldean, Kenny Chesney and Rodney Atkins.
Flaco Jiménez
Flaco Jiménez died on July 31.
He was 86.
No cause of death was reported.
Jiménez was a six-time Grammy winner.
Country Music Hall of Fame CEO Kyle Young was among those who remembered Jiménez.
“Flaco Jiménez was a paragon of conjunto music with his rich accordion playing,” Young wrote on X. “He drew us into a musical world they might not have otherwise discovered. ‘Street of Bakersfield’ by Dwight and Buck wouldn’t have been the same without his sparkling touches.”
Brad Keeling
Beloved rock and country drummer Bryan Keeling died on Dec. 6.
According to reports, Keeling’s brother first shared the news on social media.
“My amazing and talented big-hearted little brother Bryan Keeling passed away peacefully in Nashville,” Brad Keeling shared. “He truly was one of the most talented drummers I’ve ever heard.”
Keeling is credited with playing for many well-known artists. He was in the band the .357s, played with Shooter Jennings, and was also in the band Fuel for a short time. He also worked with the likes of Macy Gray and Pink.
Ted Russell Kamp, who was in the .357s with Keeling, shared his thoughts on Facebook following his passing.
“We lost a dear friend as well as a powerful and soulful musician today, the great Bryan Keeling,” Kamp wrote. “Bryan and I met in late 2003 on my first night of auditioning/jamming with Shooter Jennings. He was already playing with Shooter and right from our first note of playing together I knew we had something really special. Bryan was a true powerhouse and when he believed in something — whether it was a song, a friendship or a night out on the town — he gave it everything he had. I’m honored to have known him and play with him for as many shows as we did. We played about 200 shows a year together between 2005 to 2012.”
Kamp shared some photos of Keeling along with the post.
“I will miss Bryan and I know so many other family and friends of his,” Kamp added. “Let’s grieve his loss together and celebrate his joyous attitude and phenomenal musicianship. Let’s all raise a glass to Keelgood!”
Saving Country Music said that Keeling played “hundreds of shows behind Shooter Jennings from 2003 to 2012.”
Mark Laws
Mark Laws, the drummer for popular country music singer Alex Miller, was shot and killed on May 25 in Cumberland Gap, Tennessee.
Taste of Country reportedthat Laws’ stepson, Maxwell Madon, has been charged in his death.
Laws, 62, has worked as Miller’s drummer and band leader for the past five years, according to The Tennessean. The outlet said Laws also worked with Little Jimmy Dickens, Larry Cordle and Bill Carlilse.
Miller shared his thoughts on Instagram following Laws’ death.
“My heart is truly broke at the passing of my drummer Mark Laws,” Miller wrote. “My grandad once told me that you’ll have lots of friends in your life, but finding a (true) friend is something that is rare and special. My grandad was a true friend, and so was Mark Laws. His loss to me is devastating. Please pray for his family for me.”
WRIL-FM reported that Claiborne County Sheriff Bob Brooks said that Madon, who is 25, lived with his grandparents. Brooks said Madon got in an argument with his grandparents about cleaning his room and assaulted his grandfather. That is when, according to the sheriff, the grandmother called Laws to come to their home and help.
He told the site that Laws and Madon began arguing when he got there, and that a short time later Madon show and killed him. Brooks told the site that Madon also shot himself in the hand during the incident.
The site said he has been charged with criminal homicide and that more charges are expected to come.
Raul Malo
Raul Malo, the beloved frontman for The Mavericks, died on Dec. 8 after a long battle with cancer.
The group made the announcement on its Instagram.
“It’s with the deepest grief we share the passing of our friend, bandmate and brother Raul Malo on December 8th, 2025 at the age of 60,”the statement read. “Anyone with the pleasure of being in Raul’s orbit knew that he was a force of human nature, with an infectious energy. Over a career of more than three decades entertaining millions around the globe, his towering creative contributions and unrivaled, generational talent created the kind of multicultural American music reaching far beyond America itself.”
Malo’s death comes just days after he was honored by his group and a long list of country music stars with a two-night show at the Ryman Auditorium in Nashville on Dec. 5-6. Malo had planned to be in attendance, but his wife, Betty Malo, shared the news that he had to be rushed to the hospital last Thursday and would not be able to attend.
In an emotional scene, The Mavericks went to their frontman’s hospital room and serenaded him with a bedside concert over the weekend.
“Though his earthly body may have passed, Raul’s spirit will live on forever in heaven, and here on earth through the music, joy, and light he brought forth,” the group’s statement Tuesday added. “His contributions to American and Latin music will be everlasting, as his songs and voice touched fans and fellow artists around the world.”
The band’s statement noted that the singer is survived by his wife, Betty, sons Dino, Victor and Max, his mother, Norma and sister Carol.
Melba Montgomery
Country music legend Melba Montgomery has died, according to Taste of Country.
The site reported that Montgomery died on Jan. 15.
She was 86.
Her daughter, Melissa Solomon Barrett, posted about her death on Facebook, too.
“It is with great sadness that we announce our family has lost our mother, Melba Montgomery Solomon,” she wrote. “She was a wonderful mother, grandmother, sister to my uncle, sister-in-law to my aunts and aunt to my cousins. She fought a long battle with dementia but is now with her loving husband, Jack Solomon in Heaven. We know mom has been waiting to hold dad for over 10 years.
“Thank you for loving our mom as much as we have,” she added. “She was an incredibly talented, kind and generous woman.”
Taste of Country noted that Montgomery was known for her duets with the likes of George Jones and her No. 1 hit, “No Charge,” which came in 1974.
Montgomery was born in Tennessee in 1938, and she got her career going in 1958. She had 22 solo studio albums and was inducted into Nashville’s Walkway of the Stars in 1974.
George Jones’ daughter, Georgette, remembered Montgomery with a post on Facebook.
“Very sad news as yesterday the legendary Melba Montgomery passed away at age 86,” she wrote. “Melba recorded with my Dad many songs including ‘We Must Have Been Out Of Our Minds.” She was an incredible singer and songwriter as well as a very sweet and wonderful person. Please join me in praying for her family and friends.”
Chad Morgan
Australian country music star Chad Morgan died on Jan. 1.
He was 91.
Morgan was called “The Sheik of Scrubby Creek.” Known for his vaudeville style, he was considered a pioneer of country music in his country.
Popculture.com said Morgan released more than 20 albums across a 70-year career.
Joe Morris
Country music star Darryl Worley took to social media this week to share a heartbreaking announcement.
The singer wrote that his longtime tour manager has died.
“We lost Joe Morris a couple days ago,” Worley wrote on Facebook in reference to his tour manager. “He made a choice to leave this world before his time. I still can’t believe it, and my heart won’t seem to accept the truth, but he is gone.
“He’s been my right arm for almost 20 years,” the singer continued. “He has looked after me and my wife and family in such an amazing way.”
Worley noted that he and Morris “butted heads” from time-to-time, but he praised him for looking after him.
“He ran a tight ship, and we were all like his kids,” he wrote. “He wanted us to be safe, on time, and well fed.”
Worley wrote that Morris was “in the U.S. Army Special Forces and was there in Vietnam in 1969 when American forces saw the most casualties.”
“What a blessing he has been to me and my family, and it’s hard to imagine going on without him in my camp,” Worley wrote. “I’ve been a little angry because of this disaster, but I know that’s normal. I’ve been through it before, but that doesn’t make the whole thing any easier.”
The singer then went into detail about what he thought prompted Morris to take his own life.
“Joe was a pretty private fella, but he and I have been very close for a lot of years,” he wrote. “I don’t think his PTSD was the be-all and end-all. He had made some incredible strides in that arena. Special thanks to his veteran’s group for taking Joe in. Y’all changed his life in an amazing way.
“Life is complicated, no matter how you look at it,” he added. “There are always dozens of forces at work on us at all times. I’m so very proud of the progress that Joe had made, but I also know that when everything comes down on your at one time, it can be a perfect storm. Even though it probably played some part in it, I won’t give PTSD full credit for taking out my frind Joe Morris. There were a lot of different factors involved, and in the end he lost the battle. I loved him like I love my brothers, and I’m not made anymore. I’m just broken, empty and a little bit lost. I’ll be just fine because I have my family and my God. My heart goes out to people that can’t say that.”
Worley then brought it all home.
“Joe Morris was my friend and brother,” he wrote. “We covered a lot of ground together, and we had each other’s back. I’ve never met anyone more selfless or more loyal than Joe Morris. Even though he would tell you that he hated music, it was just the opposite. My favorite nights were our Joe hates music nights. We would sit up all night long, have a few beers, and listen to Joe’s amazing music collection.”
Stu Phillips
The country music world lost a legend on Christmas Day as Stu Phillips died.
He was 92.
Phillips was the oldest living member of the Grand Ole Opry.
The Opry acknowledged his death in a post on X and thanked him for his “music, friendship, and 58 years as part of the Opry family.”
The Country Music Hall of Fame also posted a short statement following Phillips’ death, noting that he joined the Opry in 1967.
“I am very saddened to learn Stu Phillips passed today,” Roger Ball wrote on Facebook on Christmas. “He was a great singer and a very kind gentleman. I was a member of his band, the Balladiers, back in the 1970s. Stu was my first Grand Ole Opry gig. Rest in peace my friend.”
Phillips was born in Montreal, and was inducted into the Canadian Country Music hall of Fame in 1993.
He released his first album, “Feels like Lovin’” in 1965, and went on to release eight more, the last of which, “You Love the Hurt Away,” coming in 1998.
His biggest hit was “Kathy Keep Playing,” which reached No. 1 in Canada, and he also had several songs including “Juanita Jones” which did well in the United States.
Taste of Country noted that Phillips also hosted “Music Place” a TV variety series in the 1970s, and also became an ordained Episcopalian minister.
Johnny Rodriguez
Country music legend Johnny Rodriguez died on May 9.
He was 73. No cause of death was reported.
Rodriguez reportedly died at home.
“It is with profound sadness and heavy hearts that we announce the passing of our beloved Johnny Rodriguez, who left us peacefully on May 9th, surrounded by family,” his daughter, Aubry Rodriguez, wrote on Facebook. “Dad was not only a legendary musician whose artistry touched millions around the world, but also a deeply loved husband, father, uncle, and brother whose warmth, humor, and compassion shaped the lives of all who knew him.”
Rodriguez rose to fame in the 1970s and was one of the first Hispanic stars in the country music. A native of Texas, Rodriguez put together a list of hit songs including “Pass Me by (If You’re Only Passing Through) in 1973. He also had hits in “Ridin’ My Thump to Mexico,” “That’s the Way Love Goes,” I Just Can’t Get Her Out of My mind,” Just Get Up and Close the Door,” and “Love Put a Song in My Heart.”
Taste of Country noted that Rodriguez was nominated for CMA Male Vocalist of the Year and Single Record of the Year in 1973.
The site said that Rodriguez was inducted into the Texas Country Music Hall of Fame in 2007.
Lulu Roman
Lulu Roman, one of the last surviving remaining members of the country music variety show “Hee Haw,” died on April 23.
She was 78.
Her son, Damon Roman, told The Hollywood Reporter that Roman died on Wednesday in Bellingham, Washington. He said she moved there
The site reported that Roman appeared on the first episode of “Hee Haw” in 1969 and on the last one in June of 1993.
Roman said she developed a drug problem in high school, but she turned her life around while starring on “Hee Haw” and became a gospel singer. She released a dozen albums across her singing career.
He big break came as she was performing in her comedy act, “Lulu Roman the World’s Biggest Go-Go Dancer.” She befriended country music star Buck Owens, who was going to star on “Hee Haw.”
“They needed one boy next door, one fat dumb man, one fat dumb woman,” Roman said in an interview last year per The Hollywood Reporter. “Buck said, ‘I got your girl! She’s in Dallas!’”
Roman left the show in 1971 after she was arrested for drug possession. The Hollywood Reporter said she said she used marijuana, speed, LSD and meth. The site said Roman converted to Christianity in 1973 and was rehired.
She released her first gospel album in 1974.
She was inducted into the Country Gospel Music Hall of Fame in 1999.
John Wesley Ryles
John Wesley Ryles might not be a name that many modern country music fans know, but he certainly had his time at the top of the industry.
His career got off to a start in the 1960s when he was still a teenager and he ran off a string of hits through the 1980s.
Sadly, that one-time teen star died on Nov. 2. He was 74.
His death was first announced on social media by Tracy Pitcox, owner of Hart of Texas Records.
“At age 17, he made his debut in 1968 with the single “Kay,” a Top Ten hit on the Billboard Hot Country Singles charts, and the title track to his debut album for Columbia Records,” Pitcox wrote. “Ryles later recorded one album, Reconsider Me, for the Plantation label, which produced a No. 39 single in its title track. It was followed by two non-album singles, ‘Tell It Like It Is’ and ‘When a Man Loves a Woman,’ both on the Music Mill label in 1976.
“He then moved to Dot records,” the post continued. “His first single on ABC/Dot, ‘Fool,’ made it to No. 18 on the Hot Country chart followed by his highest-peaking single, the No. 5 ‘Once in a Lifetime Thing.’ When that label merged with MCA Records, he issued the album Let the Night Begin there. The first single, ‘Liberated Woman’ climbed to No. 14 on the Billboard Hot Country chart. It was followed by a rendition of ‘Always on My Mind,’ which went to #20 on the Billboard Hot Country chart. The last song released from this album, ‘Perfect Strangers,’ reached No. 24 on the Billboard Chart.”
Pitcox wrote that since the release of his last single in 1988, Ryles has worked as a background vocalist and in the production side of the industry.
Country singer Mark Willis also posted about Ryles’ death.
“We lost a GIANT in the music industry,” he wrote. “John Wesley Ryles sang more harmonies on records, that to the listener, sounded like the artist themselves! He could blend with ANYBODY! John sang on my first four records and always had a flawless blend with the lead vocal. It was perfect. My condolences to Joni and his entire family! Please lift them up in prayer.”
Parade Magazine noted that Ryles became “one of Nashville’s most in-demand background vocalists,” after 1988. The outlet reported that he worked with the likes of Alan Jackson, Brooks & Dunn, Randy Travis and Blake Shelton.
He was married to Joni Lee, the daughter of country music icon Conway Twitty.
Jeannie Seely
Reba McEntire and Carly Pearce were among those who shared their heartbreak Friday following the news of country music legend Jeannie Seely’s death.
Seely, 85, died on Aug. 1 at Summit Medical Center in Hermitage, Tennessee due to complications from an intestinal infection.
“I’ve always loved this woman!” McEntire wrote on X while sharing a photo of herself with Dolly Parton and Seely. “She was a little spitfire, opinionated team player! Rest in peace, Jeannie.”
Reba McEntire and Carly Pearce were among those who shared their heartbreak Friday following the news of country music legend Jeannie Seely’s death.
Seely, 85, died on Friday at Summit Medical Center in Hermitage, Tennessee due to complications from an intestinal infection.
“I’ve always loved this woman!” McEntire wrote on X while sharing a photo of herself with Dolly Parton and Seely. “She was a little spitfire, opinionated team player! Rest in peace, Jeannie.”
Seely, a native of Titusville, Pennsylvania, revealed to People Magazine back in May that she had dealt with multiple health issues this year.
“Over the past several weeks, I’ve received so many wonderful messages of love and concern about being missed on the Grand Ole Opry and on ‘Sundays with Seely’ on Willie’s Roadhouse,” she told People then. “Thank you for those, and I assure you that I miss you just as much! Hopefully I can count on that support as I struggle through this recovery process from multiple back surgeries in March, as well as two emergency abdominal surgeries in April, followed by eleven days in the intensive care unit and a bout with pneumonia.”
Seely told People she was still focused on the future and even planned to release new music. She told the outlet she also planned to return to her SiriusXM show as well as the Grand Ole Opry stage.
“Rehab is pretty tough but each day is looking brighter and last night, I saw a light at the end of the tunnel,” she said. “And it was neon, so I knew it was mine!
“The unsinkable Seely is working her way back.”
Seely was also hospitalized last year for dehydration and diverticulitis while on a trip to Pa. And, her husband, Eugene Ward, died at the age of 92 in December.
Her love for the Grand Ole Opry began at a young age when her family would gather around the radio to listen to the shows on Saturday nights.
“I knew at 8 years old what I wanted to be,” she told People back in 2022. “And I knew I wanted to be at the Opry.”
“It is with a heavy heart we say goodbye to a true icon to us here at the Opry, Mrs. Jeannie Seely,” the Opry shared on X Friday. “Jeannie is the definition of a mentor and dear friend to many in the country music community. She fist appeared at the Opry in 1966 and while it was her first time being shoulder to shoulder with some of her heroes, she officially joined our family the next year in 1967 and has stood on that stage ever since with a special grace, sass, style, and of course — her wit and humor to top it all off.
“Having performed at the Grand Ole Opry mor than any other artists in history, 5,397 times to be exact, there’s no doubt this place was home to her,” the statement continued. “In her 57 years as an Opry member, she is recognized for changing the image of female country performers with her bold fashion statements, championed efforts to support and enhance women’s roles in the music industry and was quite proud to be the first female to host a segment of the Opry. Beyond the Opry, she became the third female artists to win a Grammy and penned chart-topping hits for herself and many others. She also regularly hosted ‘Sundays with Seely’ on Willie’s Roadhouse on Sirius XM.
“Your legacy will always live on here at the Opry House, ‘Miss Country Soul.’ We will miss you dearly.”
Todd Snider
Popular singer/songwriter Todd Snider died on Nov. 14 just one day after his team announced that he had been hospitalized after battling walking pneumonia.
He was 59.
“Aimless Inc. Headquarters is heartbroken to share that our Founder, our Folk Hero, our Poet of the World, the Vice President of the Abrupt Change Dept., the Storyteller, our beloved Todd Daniel Snider has departed this world,” a post Saturday on his Instagram read.
The lengthy statement closed with, “We love you Todd, sail on old friend, we’ll see you again out there on the road somewhere down the line. You’ll always be a force of nature.”
This came after a concerning post to his Instagram on Friday.
“We have some difficult news to share,” a post to his Instagram account read. “After Todd returned home to recover last week, he began having trouble breathing and was admitted to the hospital in Hendersonville, TN. We learned from his doctors that he had been quietly suffering from an undiagnosed case of walking pneumonia.
“Our beloved brother’s condition has become more complicated, and he’s since been transferred for additional treatment,” the statement continued. “His care team and those closest to him are by his side and doing everything they can. Right now we’re asking everyone who loves Todd to hold him in your thoughts in whatever way feels right to you. Say a prayer, light a candle, roll one up, send strength, or just keep him close in your heart. You’ve carried him through so much over the years, and he needs that from all of us now more than ever.”
This comes on the heels of police releasing bodycam footage of Snider, who appeared disoriented, being arrested outside of a Salt Lake City hospital back on Nov. 3. Snider’s show that night was cancelled, and his team announced via his Instagram that he was violently assaulted outside of his hotel.
“We are heartbroken to announce the cancellation of the High, Lonesome and Then Some 2025 Tour dates,” the statement read. “Ahead of Todd Snider’s show in Salt Lake City, Todd sustained severe injuries as the victim of a violent assault outside of his hotel.
“Todd will be unable to perform for an undetermined amount of time,” the statement continued. “We deeply apologize for the cancellation and any inconvenience it causes. We appreciate your understanding as Todd receives needed medical treatment. We hope to have more information on new dates soon.”
That was not the end of the story, though, obviously. Following that announcement, Snider was taken into custody, and in the bodycam footage a representative from the hospital explains that he had already been treated at one of their sister hospitals.
“He was assaulted like last night,” the person told police. “He was just discharged from one of our sister hospitals about 12:30. He came today and I just straight up asked him, ‘What is it that you want us to do for you that they haven’t already done for you?’ And he said his whole body hurts, and then he said he just wanted a place to sleep overnight. And I said that we are not a place you can sleep overnight. If you need a place to sleep overnight, you’re going to have to find some place else. That is when everything escalated.”
The person from the hospital said that Snider was “being loud and obnoxious.” A security guard said that Snider said he wanted to “kick my ass.”
Video showed police reading an emotional Snider his rights.
“I just want to be treated,” he said. “I need to be in the hospital not in the jail. Please! I checked out and I tried to check back in.”
Police then told Snider that the hospital said he was looking for a bed, and he can’t stay there.
“I’m sick,” he pleaded. “Where can I stay?”
That is when police asked him if he was homeless.
“I’m not homeless,” Snider said. “I live in Nashville. I have a band. I’m famous.
“I’m not a bad person,” he added. “I promise. I promise you can check my record. I just need help.”
Police asked Snider where his pain was.
“It’s in my neck and my back, my arms and my legs and my stomach,” he said. “It’s everywhere. It’s excruciating.”
Jim Stringer
Jim Stringer, a Texas country music legend, died in December.
He was 77.
Saving Country Music praised Stringer as being so much more than an Austin musician.
“He served as the connective tissue that held together Austin’s enterprising country music scene for over 30 years,” the outlet wrote. “
Fans and friends flocked to social media to give their thoughts on his passing.
“As I was making my way into and around the Austin roots music scene back in the olden times it became very apparent that Jim Stringer was at the center of most all of it,” Bear McCreadie wrote on Facebook. “He was so incredibly helpful and encouraging to me and always willing to share everything he knew about music (which was A LOT) with all of us. I know so many of the Austin music scene is just heartbroken right now. Wish I could say more but that’s all I can get out right now. Thanks for everything, Jim.”
“It seems surreal to me,” Rosie Flores wrote on Facebook. “He is so alive in my heart and I feel so sad for Dana Stringer, his lovely wife who has been his best friend and took such great care of him after he was diagnosed with cancer. MD Anderson gave them both such hope and the newer drugs and Dana’s care kept him alive for so many years. We are all so grateful for those years.”
Buck White
Country music legend Buck White died on Jan. 13.
He was 94.
The news of his death was relayed from his four daughters by another country music legend, Ricky Skaggs, on his Facebook page.
“The Lord answered our prayers and took our daddy, Buck White, home peacefully this morning at 8:00 a.m.,” the message from the daughters — Sharon, Cheryl, Rosie and Melissa — read. “We are so thankful for his 94 years on this earth. He was a great dad who taught us by example to put Jesus first always. His great loves were the Lord, our mother, his family, and music. Most people will remember him not only for being a great musician and entertainer, but also for being fun-loving and full of mischief. He lived a full life and finished well.
White, along with his daughters Sharon and Cheryl, formed the Grammy Award-winning trio The Whites. Per Taste of Country, the group had several top 10 and Top 20 singles in the 1980s. The Whites were inducted into the Grand Ole Opry in 1984, and in 2008 they were inducted into the Texas Country Music Hall of Fame.
According to Taste of Country, the group was nominated for five Grammys and won two.