Country music star Joe Diffie, who tested positive for coronavirus, dies at 61

Country singer Joe Diffie who had a string of hits in the 1990s with chart-topping ballads like Home and Pickup Man lost his battle to the novel coronavirus and died after announcing that he tested positive for COVID-19 on Friday. He was 61. 

Diffie was the first country singer to go public with his diagnosis. The news of his death was shared by his publicist Scott Adkins who said that the singer died Sunday in Nashville, Tennessee, due to complications from the virus.

"Country music lost one of the good guys today," Naomi Judd said in a statement, while Tanya Tucker said, "Joe Diffie, one of our best singers and my buddy, is gone. We are the same age, so it's very scary. I will miss his voice, his laughter, his songs." Several other singers also shared their best memories with Joe and mourned his death. 

Singer John Rich said in a statement, "Joe was a real true honky-tonk hero to every country artist alive today. No one sang our music better than he did, and to see his life and artistry cut short is beyond tragic. He was loved, cherished and respected by all of the country music and beyond." While Deanna Carter said she was "shell shocked" by the news and had hoped to perform again with Diffie this year. "He was a powerhouse that stopped people in their tracks, both on and off stage." 

Joe is survived by his wife, Tara Terpening Diffie, and seven children from four marriages.