It’s unfortunate that country music star Joe Diffie became one of the casualties of the coronavirus pandemic. He passed away due to complications of the disease on March 29, 2020, at the age of 61. Being a huge fan of country music, I am saddened by this news. I am one with the entire country music community (artists, supporters/fans) in mourning the death of one of its talented artists.
Diffie tested positive of coronavirus just two days before his death. He was the first county music star who admitted his diagnosis publicly. “I am under the care of medical professionals and currently receiving treatment,” he said in a statement. He even urged the public to “be vigilant, cautious and careful during this pandemic.”
The Grammy award-winning icon had a string of chart-topping hits in the ’90s, including the “Pickup Man,” “If the Devil Danced (In Empty Pockets),” and “Bigger Than the Beatles.” Overall, 18 of his singles managed to reach the Top 10 and most of them entered the Top 5. Throughout his career, Diffie produced 13 albums, two of which went platinum while another two became gold certified. According to reports, he was supposed to release his first new album in seven years named “I Got This.” I presume this album is going to be released posthumously.
The singer, who was famously known for his lighthearted odes to country life, had been a member of the Grand Ole Opry since 1993. He won Grammy’s Best Country Collaboration With Vocals award in 1998 for the all-star recording of the song “Same Old Train” along with other country artists, such as Clint Blank, Randy Travis, Merle Haggard, Emmylou Harris, and many more.
The Oklahoma native’s fellow country superstar Jason Aldean honored him in his 2013 single “1994” by citing Diffie’s name and some of his hits several times in the song. Lines such as “1994, Joe Diffie comin’ out my radio,” “Hey Joe, come on and teach us how to Diffie,” So help me girl I’ll be your Pick-Up Man,” and “That your new favorite color is John Deere Green” are all attributed to the late singer.
My Favorite Song of His
I have listened to the song “A Night To Remember” several times before and liked it even before knowing who its singer was. When I was working as a content writer for a country music website, Joe Diffie was one of the artists I had written about. Of course, I didn’t let go of the chance to feature my favorite song of his.
“A Night To Remember” was Joe Diffie’s first single and also the title track of his album that was released in March 1999. While this song failed to reach the No. 1 spot of any music chart, it became a Top 10 hit on the Billboard Hot Country Singles Chart, peaking at No. 6. The single also entered the Top 40 of Billboard Hot 100, securing the 38th spot. It also managed to stay on the chart for a total of 29 weeks and ranked No. 18 on Billboard’s most played song of 1999.
Diffie’s powerful delivery of “an element of hope among the ashes of a relationship” in his song has contributed to its lengthy chart reign according to Billboard.
Diffie was the second country music star who died this month. On March 22, the “Islands in the Stream” singer Kenny Rogers died peacefully at his home in Sandy Springs, Georgia from natural causes. He was 81.
May these great legends of country music and our forever idols rest in peace.
Significant Difference 