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 Star Joe Diffie Dies at 61 of Coronavirus

joe diffie dead dies
by
  • Arden is a Senior Country Music Journalist for Country Thang Daily, specializing in classic hits and contemporary chart-toppers.
  • Prior to joining Country Thang Daily, Arden wrote for Billboard and People magazine, covering country music legends and emerging artists.
  • Arden holds a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism from the University of Tennessee, with a minor in Music Studies.

Joe Diffie, an icon to many country fans for his No. 1 hit string in the 1990s, died of coronavirus-related complications, a spokesperson revealed on Sunday afternoon. He was 61 years old.

“Grammy-winning country music legend Joe Diffie passed away today, Sunday, March 29, from complications of coronavirus (COVID-19),” the statement read. “His family respects their privacy at this time.”

Joe Diffie has been a member of the Grand Ole Opry for 25 years and is a household name for any country fan who came of age listening to the format in the 1990s. He had over 20 top 10 country hits, five of which went to No. 1 (“If the Devil Danced In Empty Pockets,” “Home,” “Third Rock from the Sun,” “Bigger Than The Beatles” and “Pickup Man”). Two of his 13 albums went platinum, and two were certified gold.

Joe Diffie officially intended to release his first official studio album in seven years, “I Got This.” Last year a special vinyl release, named “Joe, Joe, Joe Diffie,” was released after the Aldean song.

Joe Diffie Dead: Country Stars Mourn the Iconic Singer’s Death

Country music mourned Joe Diffie’s death, the voice behind such hits as “Pickup Man” and “John Deere Green.”

Scroll down to see how some country stars are remembering Joe.

Brad Paisley shared on Twitter that he is “devastated by the loss of my friend.”

“Oh my God. One of the all-time GREAT vocalists. Joe Diffie was my friend. RIP, buddy,” Trace Adkins wrote on Twitter.

“Country music lost a legend today. Joe Diffie was one of the greats.” Luke Bryan wrote on Twitter.

https://twitter.com/LukeBryanOnline/status/1244405789638430727

Latest Stories

Dolly Parton speaks emotionally during an interview, sharing why she’s putting new songs on hold while grieving her husband Carl Dean.

Dolly Parton Says She’s Putting New Songs on Hold While She Grieves for Her Husband

Sometimes the queen of country needs a quiet moment, too. Dolly Parton has been writing songs longer than some of her fans have been alive, turning heartbreak, hope, faith, and ...

Kelly Clarkson sings passionately onstage in Vegas, fulfilling Dolly Parton’s special request with her stunning cover of “I Will Always Love You.”

Kelly Clarkson Grants Dolly Parton’s Special Song Request With Stunning “I Will Always Love You” in Vegas

Sometimes you just shut your mouth and do what the queen tells you to do. That’s exactly what Kelly Clarkson did when Dolly Parton herself slid into her Instagram comments ...

Miranda Lambert sings onstage in Miami wearing a cowboy hat and black shirt during her bittersweet tribute to her bandmate’s late father.

Miranda Lambert’s Bittersweet Miami Tribute to Bandmate’s Late Father Leaves Fans in Tears

Sometimes the moments that hit the hardest on tour don’t even happen under the spotlight. Miranda Lambert has spent the better part of two decades reminding country music what it ...

Florida Georgia Line’s Tyler Hubbard and Brian Kelley stand together at a bar amid speculation about whether the duo is done for good and what really happened between them.

Is Florida Georgia Line Done for Good and What Really Happened Between Tyler Hubbard and Brian Kelley?

Sometimes, the bigger the stage, the messier the backstory, and Florida Georgia Line has always been a prime example of that. When Tyler Hubbard and Brian Kelley first teamed up ...

Kane Brown performs onstage wearing a “FAMILY” hat, after revealing a songwriter once refused to work with him over his skin color but came back when he got famous.

Kane Brown Says Songwriter Refused to Work With Him Over Skin Color and Came Crawling Back When He Got Famous

Sometimes success tastes a little sweeter when you remember who shut the door on you in the first place. Kane Brown is no stranger to breaking records and topping charts, ...

Noah Cyrus stands on the Grand Ole Opry stage in a white lace dress, singing into a microphone with a drummer playing behind her.

Noah Cyrus Finally Makes Opry Debut on an Emotional Night She’ll Never Forget

Sometimes, a family name can open every door and still feel heavy as hell to carry once you step into the spotlight yourself. That’s what went down when Noah Cyrus ...

Travis Tritt smiles in a black cowboy hat and shirt while performing "Good Ol' Boys" with a microphone in front of an American flag backdrop.

Travis Tritt Honors Waylon Jennings With Cover of “Good Ol’ Boys” Theme From The Dukes of Hazzard

Sometimes a song is so tied to a legend that when someone else picks it up, you’re half ready to wince, but then Travis Tritt walks up, tugs his hat ...

Miranda Lambert and Chris Stapleton perform together in a bar setting for their duet “A Song to Sing.

Miranda Lambert and Chris Stapleton’s “A Song to Sing” Duet Feels Like an Instant Classic

Sometimes country music gives you a line so pure it feels like it’s been here forever, and that’s exactly what Miranda Lambert and Chris Stapleton just pulled off with “A ...

Blake Shelton and Noah Cyrus standing side by side with microphones, performing their new country duet together.

Noah Cyrus Teams Up With Blake Shelton for New Country Duet and Fans Are Loving It

Sometimes country music needs a little shot of something wild, and Noah Cyrus just poured it straight into Blake Shelton’s glass. It’s not every day you see the Voice coach ...

George Strait performing on stage with his guitar and cowboy hat, pictured at a previous event not related to the upcoming Strait From the Heart benefit concert.

George Strait Will Play “Strait to the Heart” Benefit Concert to Raise Money for Flood Victims

Some kings wear crowns, some kings wear boots, and show up when the water’s rising. George Strait, the King of Country himself, is stepping up once again for the people ...