Hall Of Fame Songwriter Walt Aldridge Has Died
on Nov 20, 2025
Walt Aldridge Dies At 70
One of country music’s most accomplished and respected songwriters has passed away.
Walt Aldridge died on Wednesday (November 19) at the age of 70, following a prolonged battle with an undisclosed illness.
A year before his passing, Aldridge made an appearance at the Academy of Country Music Awards to accept the ACM Poet’s Award, honoring his lasting contributions to country music.
Who Was Walt Aldridge?
Over the course of his career, Aldridge earned more than twenty gold and platinum records, among them Ronnie Milsap’s 1981 chart-topping hit “(There’s) No Gettin’ Over Me” and Heartland’s “I Loved Her First.”
He also wrote or produced numerous additional successful songs for artists including Conway Twitty, Tim McGraw, and Travis Tritt.
FAME Recording Studios formally announced his death, saying they were “deeply saddened” to share the news.
“…Our dear friend and colleague Walt Aldridge has passed away,” FAME wrote in a statement on Facebook. “We cannot possibly put into words how much Walt meant to the the FAME family! There was a time in the 80’s when Walt’s songwriting along with Robert Byrne, Tommy Brasfield and Mac McAnally carried the most of the weight of the Muscle Shoals Music industry through a difficult time in our history.”
Aldridge was inducted into the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2017, and the following year he was honored with induction into the Alabama Music Hall of Fame.
He is survived by his wife Stephanie and his daughters Rachael and Hannah, in addition to his nine grandchildren.
“My dad’s fight came to an end yesterday,” Rachael wrote on Instagram. “He pushed through so many years of sickness and pain — always getting back up, always trying again. I’m grateful he’s finally at peace and no longer hurting.”
“Growing up, my dad gave me a front-row seat to the music business. There were so many things I experienced then that I only learned to truly appreciate later in life,” she continued. “Dad also frequently made mixtapes for me, filled with great songs from every genre, and I played them on repeat. All of those moments, plus many more, helped shape my own love for music — and that love has stayed with me through every stage of my life.”
Our thoughts and prayers are with Walt Aldridge’s family during this difficult time.
