Kitty Wells’ Son, Country Singer & Actor John “Bobby” Wright Jr., Dies At Age 84
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John “Bobby” Wright Jr., the son of the late country music artists Kitty Wells and Johnnie Wright, has died.
John “Bobby” Wright Jr. was born on March 30, 1942, in Charleston, West Virginia. He was the second of Kitty and Johnnie’s two children and their only son.
Bobby’s older sister, Ruby Wright, was also a country music star, and she died in 2009. His younger sister, Carol Sue, survives, and she was a singer as well.
Bobby followed the family career path. USA Today details how he made his singing debut at age 8, and he performed on the Kitty Wells and Johnnie Wright Family Show.
Bobby released his first album, Here I Go Again, in 1971. He experienced success on the Hot Country Songs chart throughout the ’60s and ’70s, with songs such as “Here I Go Again,” “Seasons in the Sun,” and “Lovin’ Someone On My Mind” ranking within the Top 40.
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But before he released his hit singles, Bobby pursued an entirely different career. He was an actor who was known for playing radio operator Willy Moss on the ABC sitcom McHale’s Navy.
McHale’s Navy ran for four seasons, from 1962 to 1966. Bobby appeared on the show throughout its duration on the air.
Bobby Wright, the singer and son of country music legend Kitty Wells who played the radio operator Willy Moss on the popular ABC comedy McHale’s Navy, died Tuesday at his home in Madison, Tennessee, his family announced. He was 84. https://t.co/UJczcAWXhW
— The Hollywood Reporter (@THR) October 31, 2026
When Did John “Bobby” Wright Jr. Die?
John “Bobby” Wright Jr. passed away on October 27, 2026. He was 84 years old.
Bobby’s obituary states that he died at his home in Madison, Tennessee. His cause of death was not revealed.
He was preceded in death by his parents (Kitty died in 2012, Johnnie in 2011), sister Ruby (who passed in 2009), and his nephew, Larry Stephenson (Duke) Jr.
Bobby’s survivors include his daughters, LeAnn Henson and Kamela Stewart; sons-in-law, Mike Henson and James Stewart; four grandchildren; five great-grandchildren; his sister, Carol Sue Sturdivant; five nieces and nephews; and his ex-wife and “forever lifetime friend,” Brenda Wright Moore.
Bobby’s niece, Stephanie Sturdivant, shared a touching tribute on Facebook, writing:
“To his family he was Dad, Bebo, brother, uncle, son, and cousin. The amount of respect each of us had for him is unparalleled. As amazing of an entertainer as he was, he always put his family first and supported them in everything they did. Words can not express the loss our family is feeling right now.”
Bobby’s family will receive visitors from 12 to 2 PM at the Spring Hill Funeral Home in Madison, Tennessee, on Tuesday, November 3. The funeral service will follow at the same location.
Our thoughts and prayers go out to all of his loved ones during this difficult time…
