Buck White (1930–2025), country musician with The Whites

Buck White was a Grand Ole Opry member and the patriarch of the family group The Whites. 

Billy Edd Wheeler (1932–2024), co-writer of the country hit Jackson

Billy Edd Wheeler was a songwriter and author whose work earned him induction into the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame, best known for “Jackson,” the Grammy Award-winning single by and .

Tommy Cash (1940–2024), country singer and brother of Johnny Cash

Tommy Cash was a country musician who enjoyed 11 Top 40 country hits, including three straight in the Top 10. He was the brother of country icon .

Sandy Posey (1944–2024), Born a Woman singer

Sandy Posey was a singer known for 1960s hits like “Born a Woman” and “Single Girl.” 

Joe Bonsall (1948–2024), 50-year member of The Oak Ridge Boys

Joe Bonsall was a singer and author who spent 50 years with the country music vocal group The Oak Ridge Boys.

Rusty Golden (1959–2024), country and gospel singer and songwriter

Rusty Golden was a country and gospel singer-songwriter and also the son of The Oak Ridge Boys‘ William Lee Golden.

Jeremy Tepper (1963–2024), SiriusXM’s head of Outlaw Country

Jeremy Tepper was a music executive and program director who headed SiriusXM’s Outlaw Country channel and was a major proponent of Americana and alt-country music.

Malcolm Holcombe (1955–2024), singer-songwriter 

Malcolm Holcombe was a singer and songwriter known for his back-to-basics Americana music. 

Brit Turner (1967–2024), Blackberry Smoke drummer

Brit Turner was the drummer for the country rock band Blackberry Smoke. 

Roni Stoneman (1938–2024), banjo player on Hee Haw

Veronica “Roni” Stoneman was a regular cast member and banjo player on “Hee Haw” and performed with the Country Music Association Award-winning Stoneman Family.

Toby Keith (1961–2024), chart-topping country music star

Toby Keith was one of the top stars in country music, selling over 40 million albums and best known for such singles as “How Do You Like Me Now?!” and “As Good as I Once Was.” 

Margo Smith (1939–2024), 1970s country music star 

Margo Smith was a country singer and songwriter who had No. 1 hits with “Don’t Break the Heart That Loves You” and “It Only Hurts a Little While.” 

Jo-El Sonnier (1946–2024), Grammy-winning Cajun musician

Jo-El Sonnier was a Cajun and country singer-songwriter known for “No More One More Time” and “Tear-Stained Letter.” 

Laura Lynch (1958–2023), Dixie Chicks founding member

Laura Lynch was a founding member of the Dixie Chicks, playing bass and providing vocals as part of the original line up. 

Buck Trent (1938–2023), Hee Haw cast member and country musician

Buck Trent was a country music guitarist and banjoist who played on Dolly Parton’s hit song “Jolene” and had a regular role on “Hee Haw.” 

Alamo Jones (1945–2023), “The Voice in Black” radio host

Alamo Jones was a singer and songwriter, a longtime friend of , and the host of “The Alamo Jones Show” on SiriusXM’s Outlaw Country channel.

Mike Henderson (1953–2023), co-founder of the SteelDrivers 

Mike Henderson was a Grammy Award-winning country singer-songwriter who co-founded the SteelDrivers and frequently collaborated with country superstar Chris Stapleton, Henderson’s former SteelDrivers bandmate. 

Charlie Robison (1964–2023), country singer and songwriter 

Charlie Robison was a Texas singer and songwriter whose country music singles included “I Want You Bad.” 

Jimmy Buffett (1946–2023), Margaritaville singer

Jimmy Buffett was a singer and songwriter known for such laid-back hits as “Margaritaville” and “Cheeseburger in Paradise.”

Robbie Robertson (1943–2023), cofounder of The Band

Robbie Robertson was a songwriter and musician who cofounded the classic Americana group The Band, writing “The Weight” and several more of their best-known songs, as well as playing lead guitar for Bob Dylan.

Bobby Osborne (1931–2023), mandolinist with the Osborne Brothers 

Bobby Osborne was a singer and mandolinist with the bluegrass duo the Osborne Brothers, known for their hit song “Rocky Top.” 

Jesse McReynolds (1929–2023), singer for bluegrass duo Jim and Jesse 

Jesse McReynolds was a singer and mandolin player who was one half of the long-running bluegrass duo, Jim and Jesse, and the oldest cast member of the Grand Ole Opry.

Claude Gray (1932–2023), Family Bible country singer 

Claude Gray was a country singer who had a hit in 1960 with “Family Bible,” one of the first songs by Willie Nelson to find success.

Keith Gattis (1970–2023), country singer who wrote hits for Kenny Chesney

Keith Gattis was a country singer who wrote hits for Kenny Chesney and George Strait.

Michael Rhodes (1953–2023), bassist on How Do I Live

Michael Rhodes was a bass player known for his work on Nashville hits including “I Hope You Dance” and “How Do I Live.”

Ian Tyson (1933–2022), “Four Strong Winds” singer and songwriter

Ian Tyson was a Canadian singer and songwriter with the duo Ian & Sylvia who wrote the folk standard “Four Strong Winds.”

Jeff Cook (1949–2022), guitarist and fiddler for Alabama

Jeff Cook was a co-founder of the wildly popular country band Alabama, playing guitar, fiddle, and keyboards as well as singing backing vocals.

Patrick Haggerty (1944–2022), pioneering gay country musician   

Patrick Haggerty was a pioneering gay country musician who founded Lavender Country, believed to be the first openly gay country band.

Jerry Lee Lewis (1935–2022), “Great Balls of Fire” rock 'n' roll pioneer

Jerry Lee Lewis was a singer and pianist who pioneered rock n’ roll with hits including “Whole Lotta Shakin’ Goin' On” and “Great Balls of Fire.”

Anita Kerr (1927–2022), backup singer for Patsy Cline, Roy Orbison

Anita Kerr was the leader of the Anita Kerr Singers, who sang backup for country superstars including and as well as recording their own music.

Jody Miller (1941–2022), “Queen of the House” country singer

Jody Miller was a country singer known for her 1965 hit, “Queen of the House.”

Loretta Lynn (1932–2022), country music superstar

Loretta Lynn was a groundbreaking country singer and songwriter whose hits included the controversial “The Pill” and the autobiographical “Coal Miner’s Daughter.”

Olivia Newton-John (1948–2022), “Grease” star and chart-topping singer

Olivia Newton-John was a singer and actress known for a country-turned-pop musical career and for roles in movies including “Grease.”

Bobby Flores (1961–2022), Grammy-winning Texas western swing musician 

Bobby Flores was a legendary Texas western swing and country music multi-instrumentalist who played with Willie Nelson and Ray Price.

Deborah McCrary (1954–2022), singer with the McCrary Sisters

Deborah McCrary was a singer with the Nashville gospel music quartet the McCrary Sisters.

Mickey Gilley (1936–2022), country music legend 

Mickey Gilley was a legendary country music star whose Texas bar Gilley's Club was the inspiration for the 1980 film “Urban Cowboy.”

C.W. McCall (1928–2022), country singer known for “Convoy”

C.W. McCall was an outlaw country singer known for his 1976 hit song “Convoy.” 

Jeff Carson (1963–2022), country singer known for “Not on Your Love”

Jeff Carson was a country singer who had a No. 1 hit in 1995 with “Not on Your Love.”

Bobbie Nelson (1931–2022), Willie Nelson’s sister and pianist

Bobbie Nelson was a pianist who played with her younger brother, Willie Nelson, for more than 50 years.

Warner Mack (1935–2022), country singer known for “The Bridge Washed Out”

Warner Mack was a country singer and songwriter known for hits including “Is it Wrong (For Loving You)” and “The Bridge Washed Out.”

Hargus “Pig” Robbins (1938–2022), pianist for Dolly Parton, Kenny Rogers

Hargus “Pig” Robbins was a country music session pianist who played on hits including Dolly Parton’s “I Will Always Love You” and on Bob Dylan’s “Blonde on Blonde” album.

Dallas Frazier (1939–2022), legendary country music songwriter

Dallas Frazier was a hit-making country music songwriter known for writing “Elvira,” which was a hit for the Oak Ridge Boys.

Ralph Emery (1933–2022), country music DJ and TV host

Ralph Emery was a disc jockey on WSM radio as well as the host of “Nashville Now” and “Ralph Emery Live.”

Stonewall Jackson (1932–2021), Grand Ole Opry star

Stonewall Jackson was a country music singer who was a longtime member of the Grand Ole Opry.

Don Maddox (1922–2021), country music pioneer with the Maddox Brothers & Rose

Don Maddox was a fiddle player in the pioneering country band the Maddox Brothers & Rose.

Rose Lee Maphis (1922–2021), country singer known as “Mrs. Country Music”

Rose Lee Maphis was a country singer and guitarist who performed with her husband, Joe Maphis, as “Mr. and Mrs. Country Music.”

Sue Thompson (1925–2021), singer known for “Sad Movies (Make Me Cry)”

Sue Thompson was a singer known for 1960s songs including “Sad Movies (Make Me Cry)” and “Norman.”

George Frayne IV (1944–2021), Commander Cody and His Lost Planet Airmen frontman

George Frayne IV was a singer and pianist, the frontman for country rock band Commander Cody and His Lost Planet Airmen.

Kenny Malone (1938–2021), drummer on Dolly Parton’s ‘Jolene’

Kenny Malone was a Nashville session drummer who played on classic hits including Dolly Parton’s “Jolene” and Crystal Gayle’s “Don’t it Make My Brown Eyes Blue.”