Celebrate the Heart of Country, Americana, and Roots Music!

Drop Us A Line, Y'all

Y'all interested in advertising, partnering up, contributing stories, joining our team, or just got a question? Well, don't be shy, drop us a line!

Follow Us

Country Music Legends Who Bid Us Goodbye this 2020

by
  • Ryden is a Junior Country Music Journalist at Country Thang Daily, specializing in data analysis and trends within the genre.
  • Before joining Country Thang Daily, Ryden wrote for top music publications and interviewed icons like Dolly Parton and Willie Nelson.
  • Ryden has a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism from Middle Tennessee State University, with a minor in Data Analytics.

One after the other, we’ve seen several country music stars and all-time greats bid farewell to all of us. From one of the groundbreaking stars of our generation like Charley Pride to the all-time favorites like Kenny Rogers, they will all be missed by everyone especially their fans.

Today, we remember all of the legends we lost in 2020 and their contributions throughout the years.

Charlie Daniels

A Grand Ole Opry Member and a Country Music Hall of Fame inductee, Daniels was known for being outspoken and his equal passion in fiddling and veteran organizations.

     View this post on Instagram           

 

A post shared by The Charlie Daniels Band (@thecharliedanielsband)

Mac Davis

Who will ever forget the timeless hits “In The Ghetto” and “Texas in My Rear View Mirror” that Mac Davis has made known throughout his career? We were all captivated by the country crossover sound that Davis showed all of us as he bagged several awards including ACM’s Entertainer of the Year Award.

     View this post on Instagram           

 

A post shared by Mac Davis (@macdavisofficial)

Joe Diffie

Songs that got stuck in your head for a long time; this is what Joe Diffie has given us in his career. Songs like “Home” echoed through the list of country classics we all loved.

     View this post on Instagram           

 

A post shared by Joe Diffie (@officialjoediffie)

Jan Howard

For 49 years, Howard made her mark as a solo artist, a duet partner, a songwriter, and a strong advocate for the armed forces. Howard was also known for her excellent storytelling that was evident in her songs.

     View this post on Instagram           

 

A post shared by @realcountrymusicpage

Hal Ketchum

For those who have been listening to country music since the ’90s, you probably heard that husky baritone voice that Hal Ketchum was blessed to have.

     View this post on Instagram           

 

A post shared by Official Hal ketchum (@officialhalketchum)

K.T. Oslin

She stood for the woman of her generation and made sure everybody can hear where she is coming from. Oslin was a groundbreaking artist. If you have not heard a song from Oslin, just go and listen to her hits “’80s Ladies” or “Hold Me” to see what she want to tell you.

     View this post on Instagram           

 

A post shared by Dana Tillery (@nalabryanttillery)

Charley Pride

The first Black American to make a splash in the industry, Pride conquered everyone’s world with his warm personality and his true country voice. Pride was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame and made all of the Opry listeners smile for 50+ years.

     View this post on Instagram           

 

A post shared by Charley Pride (@pridecharley)

John Prine

Nothing beats the songwriting prowess that John Prine has showed all of us. Prine’s legacy for writing the most perfect country and western songs will be remembered in history.

     View this post on Instagram           

 

A post shared by John Prine (@john_prine)

Kenny Rogers

Of course, we all know Kenny Rogers. Aside from the commercial success that he gained, Rogers has also captivated our hearts. Whether he was singing about gamblers, dreamers, or young baseball players, we listened to his every word.

     View this post on Instagram           

 

A post shared by Kenny Rogers (@_kennyrogers)

We can’t also miss out on the legacy that Harold Reid, Billy Joe Shaver, Doug Supernaw, Jerry Jeff Walker, Johnny Bush, Bryan Wayne Galentine, Alex Harvey, Roy Head, Larry Johnson & Craig Martin, Troy Jones, Ramsey Kearney, Bill Mack, Felix McTeigue, David Olney, Fuzzy Owen, Ray Pennington, Glenn Ray, and Gary Walker.

Latest Stories

Dolly Parton is shown at Dollywood after her passing, as her heartfelt wish was that the park keep going and the show must go on.

Dolly Parton’s Heartfelt Wish Was That Dollywood Keep Going and the Show Must Go On

The park was already dark the day she died. Dollywood had been scheduled to close Tuesday, August 25, long before anyone knew it would become the day Dolly Parton passed ...

Country music icon Dolly Parton, who passed away at 80, performing with her signature blonde hair and bright smile.

Dolly Parton Has Died at 80, and the Whole World Is Mourning the Queen of Country

Her nephew stood in front of a camera and did the hardest thing anyone in that family has ever had to do. Bryan Seaver, the son of Cassie Parton, spoke ...

Hayden Panettiere poses at an event in a black outfit as the coroner confirms her cause of death remains under investigation.

Coroner Says Hayden Panettiere’s Cause of Death Remains Pending After Autopsy

Hayden Panettiere’s official cause of death has not been determined. The Greenville County Coroner’s Office said an autopsy was completed the day after she was found unresponsive. The examination showed ...

Ella Langley poses in a white embroidered dress at the doorway of her tour bus during the Choosin Texas chart run.

Choosin’ Texas Is Still No. 1 on Billboard After 18 Weeks as Ella Langley Closes In on History

The song that started with a kangaroo story is still sitting at the top of the biggest chart in music. Ella Langley’s “Choosin’ Texas” held No. 1 on the Billboard ...

Hayden Panettiere, beloved actress who starred as Juliette Barnes on the hit country music drama “Nashville,” has died at 36.

Hayden Panettiere Has Died at 36 and Country Music Lost the Woman Behind Juliette Barnes

She played a country star for six seasons. What most people forget is that she actually became one. Hayden Panettiere has died at the age of 36. Her father, Skip ...

Ella Langley and Taylor Swift as Langley breaks Swift’s Billboard record with “Choosin’ Texas.”

Ella Langley Broke Taylor Swift’s Billboard Record and Has Now Held It Five Times Longer

Taylor Swift set the record in 2012 and held onto it for 13 years. Ella Langley didn’t just break it. She lapped it. “Choosin’ Texas” ruled the Billboard Hot 100 ...

Jon Pardi, wife Summer, and their two daughters together, before the couple's divorce announcement.

Jon Pardi and His Wife, Summer, Are Divorcing After Nearly Six Years and Two Daughters Together

One of country music’s most grounded couples is calling it quits. Jon Pardi and his wife, Summer, announced their divorce, confirming they’ve decided to part ways after nearly six years ...

Clint Black on stage, before the hospitalization that forced him to cancel his July 3 show.

Clint Black Canceled His July 3 Concert After Being Hospitalized, but He’s Expected to Fully Recover

The good news comes first. Clint Black is going to be just fine. The country icon was forced to cancel his July 3 appearance at Pearl River Resort Casino in ...

An emotional Rhett Akins on the Opry stage, finally getting his membership invitation.

Rhett Akins Finally Got His Grand Ole Opry Invitation After 30 Years and Could Barely Find the Words

A man who has written over 30 No. 1 hits for a living stood on the Grand Ole Opry stage Saturday night and couldn’t think of a single word to ...

Ella Langley performing live, marking "Choosin' Texas" returning to No. 1 for an 11th week and breaking a chart record that stood since 1977.

Ella Langley’s “Choosin’ Texas” Is Back at No. 1 for an 11th Week and Broke a Record That Stood Since 1977

They kept knocking her off, and she kept coming back. Drake bumped her. Ariana Grande bumped her. Taylor Swift bumped her. And every single time, “Choosin’ Texas” climbed right back ...