The country music world is mourning the loss of several key figures, as three prominent industry members have passed away in the same week.
Penn Live reported that Billy Edd Wheeler, a celebrated songwriter, died in September 2024 at the age of 91, joining Tommy Cash and engineer Billy Sherrill in a string of losses that have shaken the community.
This follows a difficult year for the genre, with 29 notable deaths already marking 2024 as a year of sorrow for the country music community.
2024 has seen a tragic wave of deaths in the country music world, with songwriters, musicians, and industry leaders passing away, leaving a profound impact on fans and fellow artists alike.
Billy Edd Wheeler, known for his songwriting contributions to country classics performed by legends like Johnny Cash, Kenny Rogers, and Elvis Presley, passed away in September 2024 at the age of 91. Wheeler’s music helped shape some of the genre's most beloved songs, and his death leaves a significant void in country music.
Wheeler's career spanned decades, and his writing was crucial to many hits that still resonate today. Among his most famous contributions were songs like “Jackson,” which was immortalized by Johnny Cash and June Carter. His passing marks another loss in a difficult year for country music.
The grief surrounding Wheeler’s death was compounded by the loss of Tommy Cash, Johnny Cash’s younger brother, who died at age 84.
Tommy Cash, though often in the shadow of his legendary sibling, had a successful career in his own right, making significant contributions to the country music world. His death came a day after the anniversary of his brother Johnny's passing, adding poignancy to the tragedy.
In the same week, country music also lost Billy Sherrill, a legendary engineer and producer who had worked with countless country artists throughout his career. Sherrill’s contributions to the “Nashville sound” and his role in the careers of stars like Tammy Wynette and George Jones earned him a place in the industry’s history. He passed away in September 2024 at the age of 77.
These three losses represent a devastating week for the country music community, but they are just part of a larger trend of sorrow for the genre in 2024. This year has seen an alarming number of notable deaths, including other key figures such as Norah Lee Allen, the wife of Duane Allen of The Oak Ridge Boys, and Joe Bonsall, a longtime Oak Ridge Boys member, who passed away from ALS complications in July 2024.
Earlier in the year, the community said goodbye to Fran Boyd, former executive of the Academy of Country Music, who passed away in March 2024 at the age of 84. Boyd played a crucial role in shaping the industry, helping to elevate the careers of numerous artists throughout her tenure.
The loss of Gene Elders, George Strait’s longtime fiddle player, in March 2024, was another blow to the industry, as was the death of Tom Foote, George Strait’s former road manager, in May 2024. Both men had been significant figures in the careers of one of country’s biggest stars, and their deaths are still being felt by those who knew them.
In June 2024, country music said farewell to Buzz Cason, a songwriter and member of Nashville’s first rock band. Cason’s influence extended beyond country, but his contributions to the genre were substantial.
His passing was followed by the death of Kinky Friedman, a singer, songwriter, and satirist who had battled Parkinson’s disease for years. Friedman was known for his fearless writing and unique voice in country music, and his death marked another loss in a difficult year.
July 2024 brought further tragedy with the death of William "Rusty" Golden, son of Oak Ridge Boys’ William Lee Golden. The senior Golden expressed his heartbreak, stating, “This is the hardest thing ever for a father to have to face.” Rusty’s death, along with the passing of Sandy Posey, a country-pop singer, in the same month, added to the growing list of losses.
Other notable figures who passed away in 2024 include Mark James, a Grammy-winning songwriter responsible for hits like “Always on My Mind” and “Suspicious Minds,” and Mary Martin, a country music manager and executive who was renowned for spotting and nurturing great talent.
Mojo Nixon, a cult hero of outlaw country, died in February 2024 following a cardiac event. His family reflected on his legacy with the poignant statement, “How you should live is how you should die.” Likewise, Jo-El Sonnier, a Grammy-winning accordionist and singer, passed away in January 2024, leaving behind a legacy of powerful music and performances.
Roni Stoneman, known as the “first lady of the banjo” and a performer on the iconic show “Hee Haw,” also passed away in February. Her comedic talents and musical skill left a lasting impression on the genre and its fans.
As 2024 continues, the country music world also mourns the loss of Erv Woolsey, George Strait’s longtime manager, who passed away in May following complications from surgery. Woolsey’s contributions to the career of one of country’s biggest stars cannot be overstated.
The deaths of Billy Edd Wheeler, Tommy Cash, and Billy Sherrill in the same week have left the country music world reeling. They join a growing list of losses in what has been an especially tragic year for the genre.
The impact of these deaths is being felt not only by fans but by the many artists and industry figures who were close to these individuals.
