90’s Country Music Legend Joe Diffie Dies of Coronavirus Complications

Nashville, TN- Country Music Singer Joe Diffie, who had many hits in the 1990’s,  has died a couple days after testing positive for Covid-19.  Diffie announced on social media last Friday that he had contracted the deadly coronavirus, ultimately becoming the first country music star known to publicly acknowledge such a diagnosis.  Two short days later, Diffie’s publicist, Scott Adkins, said the singer died Sunday in Nashville, Tennessee, due to complications from the virus. Diffie was 61-years old.

Diffie, a native of Tulsa, Oklahoma, worked as a demo singer in the 1980’s. Diffie signed with Epic Records in 1990 and between then and 2004 he charted 35 singles on the Billboard Hot County Songs chart, five of which peaked at number one; his debut release “Home, “if the Devil Danced”, “Third Rock from the Sun,” “Pickup Man,” and Bigger Than the Beatles.” I addition to these singles he had 12 others reach the top 10 and ten more reach the Top 40 on the same chart. He also co-wrote singles for Holly Dunn, Tim McGraw, and Jo Dee Messina.  He recorded with Mary Chapin Carpenter, George Jones and Marty Stuart.

In 2014, Jason Aldean name dropped the 90’s Country Star in his single, “1994,” where he included many different lyrics from Diffie’s hit songs as a way to celebrate the singer as a symbol of mid-90’s country music.  Diffie was beyond flattered by the attention and credit the song with him making a comeback after nearly ten years away from releasing music. Diffie told a country radio station in an interview after the song was released, “Jason’s great. And I tell you what, I tip my hat to him, because he’s kind of revived my own career,”

Twitter exploded with condolences after the announcement of Diffie’s passing.  Jessie Alexander tweeted “The soundtrack of every bonfire, parking lot, tailgate, jukebox, and cassette player back in high school. We’ll miss you, Joe Diffie. A legend gone way too soon. Country Music won’t be the same without you. Rest in Peace. Sending all of my love to his family & loved ones.”

Diffie is survived by his wife, Tara Terpening Diffie, and seven total children from four marriages.