In Memoriam: Honoring The Country Stars & Friends We’ve Lost In 2026
on Jul 15, 2026
Sadly, some of country music’s brightest stars and most beloved “friends” have passed away in 2026. This list honors them…
Although we’re only partway through the year, we’ve already said “goodbye” to major figures such as Bill Cody and David Allan Coe. Our prayers remain with their families and the loved ones of everyone in this list.
Remembering The Country Stars & Friends Of The Community Who’ve Passed Away This Year
Jim McBride
Jim McBride was one of country music’s greatest songwriters. He penned a ton of timeless hits, including several Alan Jackson songs, such as “Chattahoochee,” “Chasin’ That Neon Rainbow,” and “(Who Says) You Can’t Have It All.”
McBride was inducted into the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2017 and the Alabama Music Hall of Fame in 2023.
The country music community was saddened by the news that McBride passed away on January 6th. He was 78 years old. His son, Brent, told The New York Times that he died due to complications from a fall he suffered at his home.
The Alabama Music Hall of Fame remembered McBride in a touching tribute, writing:
“Our condolences go out to Jeanne and the entire McBride family on the passing of Mr. Jim McBride. Jim was a beloved Alabamian, songwriter, friend, mentor, and so much more.”
Alan Jackson posted a tribute on Instagram, which read:
“Jim was a good man and a great and genuine songwriter. He understood country music and touched many with his songs. Jim and I wrote some of my favorite songs together and I don’t know if my career would have ended up quite the same without his help, inspiration, and encouragement in my early years. Thank you Jim, rest in peace.”
Nancy Seltzer
Nancy Seltzer played a key role in championing the career of one of country music’s biggest stars. She served as Garth Brooks‘ publicist for many years and was one of his dearest friends.
Seltzer worked with a bunch of notable figures throughout her career, including Nicole Kidman, Annette Bening, Whitney Houston, and Julia Roberts. She also promoted and represented multiple blockbuster movies, including The Shawshank Redemption, A Few Good Men, and Misery.
Seltzer died on January 28th following a brief hospitalization. She was 79 years old.
Brooks remembered her in a statement posted on his official website:
“Public relations is the hardest job in show business,” he said. “She always handled every situation with the utmost class.”
Pete Finney
Pete Finney was a renowned steel guitarist who played for artists such as Vince Gill, Reba McEntire, and The Judds. He also toured with Patty Loveless for over 20 years.
Finney was a big history lover, and it should come as no surprise that music history was one of his greatest passions. He helped curate an exhibit at the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum called “Dylan, Cash, and the Nashville Cats: A New Music City.”
Country stars and other members of the community went into mourning when Finney passed away on February 7th at the age of 70. The Country Music Hall of Fame shared the news with their followers:
“[Finney] exemplified how top instrumentalists can adapt to a range of styles and settings, whether in a recording studio, a concert stage, or the corner of a small nightclub,” the Hall of Fame wrote in their tribute.
Jerry Kennedy
You can hear Jerry Kennedy’s phenomenal guitar playing on iconic songs such as “Harper Valley PTA” and “Oh, Pretty Woman.” The Louisiana native and four-time Grammy-winner also worked as a record producer and songwriter.
Kennedy passed away on February 11th at the age of 89. Country Music Hall of Fame CEO Kyle Young honored him in a moving tribute, writing:
“Jerry Kennedy was soft-spoken and understated, but his permanent impact on American music was anything but quiet.”
Augie Meyers
Augie Meyers was a beloved performer, musician, songwriter, record producer, and record label owner. He was a founding member of two groups: the Sir Douglas Quintet and the Texas Tornados.
Meyers died in his home state of Texas on March 7th. He was 85 years old.
A brief statement posted on his official Facebook page said he “passed away peacefully in his sleep” with his wife, Sara, by his side.
Ronnie Bowman
Ronnie Bowman was a bluegrass performer who first found success as a member of The Lonesome River Band. He also enjoyed a rewarding solo career and wrote songs for other artists, including Kenny Chesney, Lee Ann Womack, and Cody Johnson.
Perhaps most famously, Bowman joined Chris Stapleton and Barry Bales to co-write “Nobody to Blame,” which Stapleton recorded. The track won the ACM Award for Song of the Year in 2016.
Bowman died on March 21st following a serious motorcycle accident. News of his passing at the age of 64 left many country stars and bluegrass artists shocked and heartbroken.
Don Schlitz
Don Schlitz had one of the most impressive catalogs of any songwriter in country music history. He penned an extraordinary number of songs, including “When You Say Nothing At All” (Keith Whitley, Alison Krauss), “Cheatin'” (Sara Evans), “Forever and Ever, Amen” (Randy Travis), and “Deeper Than the Holler” (also Travis).
Additionally, Schlitz was the sole songwriter behind “The Gambler,” which Kenny Rogers turned into a chart-topping hit after its 1978 release.
Schlitz was a member of four halls of fame, including the Country Music Hall of Fame. He became a member of the Grand Ole Opry in 2022, making him the only non-artist songwriter to earn Opry membership.
Sadly, Schlitz died on April 16th after developing a sudden illness. He was 73 years old.
Wayne Moss
Even if you didn’t know Wayne Moss by name, you knew his guitar playing. He recorded with some of the biggest names in the business, including Kris Kristofferson, Bob Dylan, and Roy Orbison.
Most notably, Moss is the guitar player you hear on Dolly Parton‘s timeless tune, “Jolene.” Anyone who’s ever listened to “Jolene” will know that the guitar plays an integral role in the song.
Moss passed away on April 20th at the age of 88. The late Roy Orbison’s son, Roy Orbison Jr., shared a tribute to Moss on social media, writing:
“My dear friend, the great guitarist Wayne Moss, has died.”
Dylan Carter
The greater world was introduced to Dylan Carter when he auditioned for Season 24 of The Voice in 2023. He auditioned with an emotional cover of Whitney Houston’s “I Look to You,” and earned a four-chair turn.
Carter chose country music queen Reba McEntire to be his coach. He was eventually eliminated during the Battle Round.
Carter continued singing after The Voice and also co-founded a non-profit organization, The Local Voice, which aims to provide care to women battling breast cancer.
The Local Voice shared the heartbreaking news that Carter died on April 25th. He was only 24 years old.
Thomas Hamilton Jr., the mayor of Moncks Corner, South Carolina, later confirmed that Carter had been killed in a car accident.
David Allan Coe
One of the country stars we lost in 2026 was singer-songwriter and musician David Allan Coe.
Coe was known as a major player in the “outlaw” country scene. His hits include “The Ride,” “Mona Lisa Lost Her Smile,” and “You Never Even Called Me by My Name.”
Few fans realize that Coe, not George Jones, recorded the original version of “Tennessee Whiskey.” Coe’s rendition came out in 1981, followed by Jones’ recording in 1983, and then Chris Stapleton’s version in 2015.
Coe’s representative confirmed with Country Rebel that he passed away in the hospital on April 29th after spending some time in the intensive care unit. Coe was 86 years old.
The rep also provided a short statement to Country Rebel, saying, “David loved his fans and music.”
Bill Cody
Bill Cody was the beloved host of WSM Radio’s Coffee, Country & Cody morning program for over three decades. He also served as an announcer at the Grand Ole Opry for just as long, and would often lead the fan-favorite Opry Country Classics shows.
On May 31st, Cody’s daughter took to social media to ask fans for prayers. She said her dad had been admitted to the ICU in heart and kidney failure three weeks prior, and he needed a heart and kidney transplant.
Cody qualified for the transplant list, but his health entered “a downward spiral.” Unfortunately, a little over a week later, on June 9th, WSM broke the news that Cody had passed away that day. He was 67 years old.
“More than his accolades, Bill will be remembered for his kindness, humility, and genuine gift for connection,” WSM wrote in their tribute. “He was a trusted voice, a generous friend, and a constant companion to generations of listeners.”
Losing Bill Cody was another heartbreaking blow to the country music community, on top of what has been an already devastating year.
May everyone remembered in this list rest in peace…
