NASHVILLE, TN—Country music singer, Joe Diffie, known for songs that reached mainstream success in the 1990s, died on Sunday, March 29 from complications sustained as a result of the coronavirus.
Diffie, 61, a native of Tulsa, Oklahoma, made 13 albums and had more than 20 Top 10 hits under his belt. Those hits include, “If the Devil Danced (In Empty Pockets)” and “Honky Tonk Attitude.”
Two days prior to his death, Diffie released a statement on Instagram where he alerted his followers that he had indeed tested positive for the coronavirus and was receiving medical treatment.
“I am under the care of medical professionals and currently receiving treatment after testing positive for coronavirus (COVID-19). My family and I are asking for privacy at this time. We want to remind the public and all my fans to be vigilant, cautious and careful during this pandemic,” said Diffie.
He is in the Oklahoma Music Hall of Fame and was a member of the Grand Ole Opry for 25 years. He won a Grammy Award in 1998 for “Same Old Train,” a collaboration with a dozen other artists, including Clint Black, Merle Haggard, Patty Loveless and Randy Travis. In 1993, Diffie and Mary Chapin Carpenter were nominated for a Grammy for their duet, “Not Too Much to Ask.” He married four times during his lifetime and had six children between his four marriages.
