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5 Things About Singer Joe Diffie That Died From Coronavirus

By Akinwale Akinyoade
30 March 2020   |   10:01 am
  We reported the tragic death of country music star Joe Diffie who died at the age of 61 from coronavirus. The singer died on March 29 just a week after he tested positive for COVID-19. The Oklahoma-native become the first country star to go public with a coronavirus diagnosis. “I am under the care…

Joe Diffe

 

Joe Diffe

Joe Diffe | E News

We reported the tragic death of country music star Joe Diffie who died at the age of 61 from coronavirus.

The singer died on March 29 just a week after he tested positive for COVID-19.

The Oklahoma-native become the first country star to go public with a coronavirus diagnosis. “I am under the care of medical professionals and currently receiving treatment,” he said in a statement at the time. “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.”

The Grammy award-winning singer became one of the many thousands that have lost their lives to the pandemic.

In honour of his legacy, here are five things to know about the legendary country singer.

  • During his life, he charted 35 singles on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart between 1990 and 2004. Five of the songs were number ones. In addition to these tracks, another 12 of his songs reached the top 10.
  • He went to medical school. The Tulsa, Oklahoma native attended Cameron University in Lawton, Oklahoma after graduating high school. He intended to pursue a career in the field and even earned three years worth of credits towards a medical degree before dropping out to follow his passion for music.
  • He wrote songs for some of country music’s biggest stars. Joe didn’t just write his own tracks, he also collaborated with other country artists, and co-wrote songs for Holly Dunn, Tim McGraw, and Jo Dee Messina. He had a no-nonsense approach to his craft. “I just like the songs themselves,” he told Rolling Stone in 2019. “Finding songs I really liked and that I related to. Really, it’s not any more complicated than that.”
  • Joe was so adored in the country music community that in 2012, Jason Aldean recorded a track called “1984.” The song has been described as a tribute song to Joe. The track, which was released in 2012, calls out the names of a half-dozen Joe Diffie hits.
  • In 1998, Joe won a Grammy Award for ‘Best Country Collaboration with Vocals’ with the song “Same Old Train” with Marty Stuart.

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