Beloved Singer Lari White Dies After A Brief Cancer Battle

Lari White

Singer, songwriter and actress, Lari White has passed away at the age of 52 after a brief battle with cancer.

Her family shared the news on her GoFundMe page saying, “With a heavy heart, we share the news of the passing of Lari. She passed at home surrounded by her family, comforted with the knowledge that her family has so much support from her friends and the music community that loves her.”

The news was shared across social media Tuesday morning (January 23) from friends of Lari including fellow singer Anita Cochran who called Lari a “woman full of life and talent” and Great American Country host Suzanne Alexander who said “Gone too soon and from something that we should not be dying from anymore! #EradicateCancer #TooManyAreLeavingUs Lari White Cannon.”

White was first diagnosed in September of 2017 and underwent exploratory surgery in early October. That surgery revealed that the singer had advanced peritoneal cancer.

White had been placed in a hospice care facility in Nashville on January 19th, according to a post made by her mother on Lari’s Caring Bridge page.

“Last night Lari was admitted to a wonderful Hospice facility here in Nashville, where she has all the Care she needs to make her comfortable and quiet for this part of the Journey, and where she is completely surrounded by loving family… Chuck, the children, her sister and brother, nephew and sisters-in-law, Mother and Father,” Yvonne White wrote. “This Mother’s Heart is broken tonight for the horrendous illness that attacked our amazing daughter so viciously and quickly, as we know yours is, too.  But tonight this Mother’s Heart is also filled with an abundance of love and comfort…and Peace that She has so much love surrounding her, and for the gentle, competent Care of Hospice.”

Lari first got her start in country music as the winner of You Can Be A Star in 1988. In 1993 White released her debut album Lead Me Not. But it was her sophomore album Wishes that earned White three Top 10 singles, “That’s My Baby,” “Now I Know” and “That’s How You Know (You’re In Love).”

White went on to win two Grammy Awards for her participation in the 1996 “Amazing Grace” compilations album and the 1999 soundtrack to “The Apostle,” a movie starring Robert Duvall and Farrah Fawcett.

Lari White also appeared alongside Tom Hanks in the 2000 movie Cast Away. 

After filming the movie, White turned her focus to raising her three children with husband Chuck Cannon, a songwriter best known for “I Love The Way You Love Me,” a song he wrote about his wife that was recorded by John Michael Montgomery.

Our thoughts and prayers are with Lari’s husband, Chuck Cannon, their three children M’Kenzy, Jaxon and Kyra, and extended family and friends during this time.