Many country music stars have come to fame by detailing heartbreaking stories in their songs. For a handful of the singers, these experiences have been the result of real-life tragedies.
From lost loved ones to cancer, a number of musicians have had to overcome horrific situations in their past. Stars such as Reba McEntire and Blake Shelton are among the list. Fortunately, these artists seem to have been able to make a positive from an overwhelmingly sad situation.
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Keep scrolling to see country music stars that have suffered tragedies in their past.
Luke Bryan
Even though he seems to be one of the happiest people in country music, Luke Bryan has experienced serious tragedy in his past. At the time that the “Play It Again” singer was planning to move from Georgia to Nashville, his older brother, Chris, died in a car accident.
This kept the 41-year-old musician from pursuing his dreams for a time until his father convinced him to chase his goals once again. However, shortly after Bryan made his debut at the Grand Ole Opry, his sister, Kelly, passed away from unknown causes.
Blake Shelton and Reba McEntire
Blake Shelton
Theย Voiceย coach is another country music star that has suffered the loss of a family member before becoming famous.ย
When he was just a teenager, Shelton’s older brother,ย Richie, died in a car accident. Blake was 14 when his 24-year-old brother passed, according toย Taste of Country.
Shelton went on to pen a song with his then-wife, Miranda Lambert, about his brother’s death. The tune, “Over You,” went on to win aย CMAย award and live on as one of Shelton’s most popular songs.ย
Rebaย McEntire
In March of 1991, Rebaย McEntireย lost eight members of her band and crew in a horrific plane accident.
Her manager, the band, and the pilot and co-pilot were all killed when the charter jet crashed near San Diego. This had a major impact onย McEntire. She went on to dedicate her next album,ย For My Broken heart, to the lives lost in the incident.
Willie Nelson and Loretta Lynn
Willie Nelson
The country music icon’s son, Billy, was found dead on Christmas Day in 1991. He had committed suicide by hanging.
Billy,ย who was 33-years-old, was found in his home in Nashville by a friend, according to Orlando Sentinel.
Loretta Lynn
The “You Ain’tย Woman Enough” singer lost one of her six children, Jack Benny Lynn, in 1984.
Jack went for a ride on his horse, Black Jack, but never returned. He attempted to cross the river near the family farm but the water was too rough and he did not make it.
Joey + Rory and Craig Morgan
Joey + Rory
Joeyย Feek, of the country duo Joey + Rory, revealed in 2014 that she was battling cervical cancer shortly after delivering a baby.
A year later, her husband, Rory, shared that Joey was battling Stage 4 colorectal cancer. Despite receiving treatment, Rory explained that the doctors had done all theyย could.
On March 4, 2016, Joey passed away at the age of 40.
Craig Morgan
On July 10, 2016, Craig Morgan lost his 19-year-old son, Jerry. The “Redneck Yacht Club” singer’s son drowned in a tubing accident on a river inย Tennessee.
Jerry is one of four children that Morgan has with his wife, Karen.
Ricky Skaggs and Eddie Rabbit
Rickyย Skaggs
1986 was a difficult year for the bluegrass music legend.ย Skaggs’ 7-year-old son, Andrew, was shot by a truck driver in August of that year.
Andrew had been riding in the front seat of the family car with his mother, who was driving. They were cut off by a tractor-trailer and the mother honked the horn at the truck. The driver then fired a gunshot into the vehicle and Andrew was hit in the face.
He survived the incident but severely wounded and faced multiple reconstructive surgeries.
Eddie Rabbit
Eddie Rabbit’s second child, Timmy, was born with a disease that affected his liver calledย biliaryย atresia. Timmy lived in a Nashville hospital for two years before his family decided to go through with a liver transplant operation.
Timmy died a short time after the surgery as his body rejected the transplant.
Randy Rogers and Aaron Watson
Randy Rogers
In June 2015, Rogers’ infant daughter,ย Rumerย Rain Rogers, passed away only days after being born.
The singer andย frontmanย of the Randy Rogers Band explained thatย Rumerย was born with a rare condition. “Her brain…was very sick,” he said.
Aaron Watson
The 40-year-old “Outtaย Style” singer lost his daughter Julia Grace only hours after she was born prematurely in 2011.
Watson called the few hours that he spent with his daughter as the “highlight of his life.” While he quit music for a while after the tragedy, he would go on to write and record “Bluebonnets” in her honor.
Mindy McCready and Whitney Duncan
Mindyย McCready
In 2005, the “Guys Do It All The Time” singer’s boyfriend was arrested for attempted murder after he beat her. Two months after the incident,ย McCreadyย attempted suicide.
After some time,ย McCreadyย got back together with her boyfriend and became pregnant with his child. However, things didn’t get better. She attempted suicide once again during her pregnancy.
She later faced several bad situations including legal trouble, highly publicized affairs and several arrests. On February 17, 2003,ย McCreadyย killed herself on the porch of her home.
Whitney Duncan
In April of 2011, Whitney Duncan’s cousin, Hollyย Bobo, went missing. It took the authorities over three years to find her remains on September 7, 2014.
Bobo’sย remains were discovered in a wooded area of Decatur County, Tennessee. Three suspects were charged with the murder.
