Country music tragedy: 2 deaths, one day and the brutal start to 2024

George Strait had an unthinkable week.

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The country music legend was hit by not one but two deaths close to him on the same day. The first was his manager, Erv Woolsey, and the second was the fiddle player in his band, Gene Elders.

The tragedies were, unfortunately, the continuation of what has been a brutal year for country music. Below is a look at the tragic losses in the country music world already in 2024:

Fran Boyd

Fran Boyd, a country music groundbreaker and champion of the genre, died earlier this month.

She was 84.

Billboard wrote that she died on March 9. The site said that Boyd “played a key role in shaping and advancing the (Academy of Country Music) from its early years in California in the late 1960s, through the start of the millennium.”

Boyd was reportedly the first paid employee of the ACM, coming onboard in 1968 as executive secretary. She worked her way all the way up to executive director. Per Billboard, she “oversaw nearly every aspect of the annual (ACM) awards” show.

She worked for the ACM for more than three decades before retiring in 2002.

The Academy of Country Music posted on X, formerly Twitter, regarding Boyd’s death.

You can see that post, here.

“Fran Boyd played an essential part in the Academy’s history, stretching way back to the 1960s and steering the ship through decades of change, innovation, and growth, all while fostering an incredible passion for country music,” Gayle Holcomb, ACM Board Sergeant-At-Arms told Billboard. “Fran will always be remembered as a champion for our industry, its artists, and this organization. On behalf of the ACM Officers and Board of Directors, I send our gratitude, prayers and condolences to the Boyd family.”

Larry Collins

Larry Collins, a former country music child star turned legendary guitarist and song writer, died on Jan. 5.

He was 79. Per reports, Collins died of natural causes.

He first made his splash in country music alongside his older sister, Lorrie, when they formed the “The Collins Kids” duo when Larry was just 9 years old. They recorded a series of hits — “Hop, Skip and Kump,” “Hoy Hoy,” and “Beetle Bug Bop” — with music catering to children. The became regulars on “Town Hall Party” in 1954 and they performed together into the 60s.

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Per reports, Lorrie had her first child in 1961 and stepped away from music to focus on family. The duo did reunite years later in the 90s.

While Lorrie, who died in 2018, focused on building her family, Larry moved on to a solo career where he made, perhaps, his biggest mark as a songwriter. He is credited as the co-writer for “Delta Dawn,” which became Tanya Tucker’s first hit song among other songs.

Allison Cornell

Allison Cornell died in February.

She was a part of Shania Twain’s band for years.

“Allison Cornell was such a talented and wonderful person,” Twain wrote on X, formerly Twitter. “It was a privilege, as an artist, to have her on stage with me through a lot of my touring career. Feeling very sad. Allison’s memory will live on but sadly another beautiful human has gone too soon. Rest in Peace (heart emoji).”

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A post on Cornell’s artist management page also addressed her death.

“It is with great sadness that we say farewell to Allison Shropshire Cornell,” the post began. “Rest in Peace. Heaven has opened up its gates to an incredible talent!”

Gene Elders

Gene Elders, a longtime fiddle player in Country Music Hall of Famer George Strait’s legendary Ace in the Hole Band, has died.

No cause of death has been reported.

It was the second heartbreaking death to rock Strait in a day’s time after his manager, Erv Woolsey, also passed away.

“Hard to believe we lost two of our music family members on the same day,” Strait posted on X, formerly Twitter. “Our Ace in the Hole treasured band member Gene Elders passed away yesterday afternoon shortly after we lost Erv. All of our prayers go out to both families. We loved him so much.”

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Elders’ website said he played in Strait’s band since 1984. It said he also played in Lyle Lovett’s Large Band for 11 years, and also played on recordings for Joan Baez, Lucinda Williams and Dan Fogelberg.

Fans took to social media following the news to remember Elders.

“I’ve been fortunate enough to watch Gene Elders play that haunting fiddle outro on ‘Amarillo By Morning’ live several times,” one person wrote. “The arena goes dark except for a long spotlight on Gene, it sends chills every time. RIP Gene Elders.”

“Today was a devastating day for the Strait camp,” another person wrote. “Our hearts are hurting. Rest in Peace Gene Elders. Rest in Peace Erv Woolsey. We will miss you both.”

Toby Keith

Toby Keith died on Feb. 5 following a battle with stomach cancer.

He was 62.

It was tragic news, especially, for a man who battled so bravely such a horrible disease, but if there’s any solace to be found for his fans, it could be in some of his final words. Because, in his final days, Keith sat down with News 9 in Oklahoma to talk about his journey.

He was noticeably thinner as he talked about battling cancer, gave his thoughts on dying and, yes, even talked about death.

He called cancer a “long dark hallway,” but he also approached the subject in a way that only a man at complete peace could. And that is something he pinned on faith.

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“You take it for granted on the days that things are good, and you lean on it when days are bad,” he said. “It has taught me to lean on it a little more every day.”

And that is when Keith talked about thinking about, at times, the possibility that he might die.

“I was going through all the chemo, radiation, surgery, and I got to the point where I was comfortable with whatever happened,” he said. “I had my brain wrapped around it, and I was in a good spot either way.”

That, he said, was a point that people with faith are not able to so easily get to.

So, if there is any comfort in news like this, perhaps it is that Keith had faith. And, mentally, he was prepared and comforted by his faith.

Mojo Nixon

The headline in Rolling Stone called Mojo Nixon an “unabashed outlaw cult hero,” and if you dig into the story you quickly find out that’s just about a perfect way to sum the guy up.

Nixon was one heckuva interesting guy.

He died on Feb. 7 at the age of 66, and even how he went was out of the ordinary. He was a host aboard the Outlaw Country Cruise and his family said he suffered a “cardiac event,” that took his life.

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“How you should live is how you should die,” the family told Rolling Stone. “Mojo Nixon was full-tilt, wide-open rock hard, root hog, corner on two wheels + on fire. Passing after a blazing show, a raging night, closing the bar, taking no prisoners + a good breakfast with bandmates and friends.

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“A cardiac event on the Outlaw Country Cruise is about right… & that’s just how he did it, Mojo has left the building,” they added. “Since Elvis is everywhere, we know he was waiting for him in the alley out back. Heaven help us all.”

Rolling Stone wrote that Nixon “enjoyed a supremely weird yet singular career.”

His big break came in 1987 with his hit novelty song “Elvis is Everywhere,” that became a regular on MTV.

He put out six albums alongside Skid Roper, and five more solo projects. He also served as a DJ for SiriusXM’s Outlaw Country for years, too.

Margo Smith

Margo Smith might not be a name that most young country music fans know, but if you Google her you will see “legend” right there next to her name.

Sadly, the headlines will also mention that she has died at the age of 84. According to multiple reports, Smith actually passed away on Tuesday, Jan. 23. A cause of death has not been reported.

Smith was reportedly a kindergarten teacher in Ohio for around a decade before her career took off.

Known as “The Tennessee Yodeler,” she then churned out 18 studio albums between 1971 and 2005.

Smith was named ASACP Country Artist of the Year in 1979 and won the CCMA Living Legend Award in 2001.

The Academy of Country Music tweeted Monday about her death.

“Please join the Academy in mourning the passing of Country star Margo Smith,” it said in a statement on X, formerly Twitter. “Nominated for ACM Most Promising Female Vocalist in 1976, she had two #1 hits in the 1970s: “Don’t Break the Heart That Loves You” and “It Only Hurts for a Little While.” Boasting a show-stopping talent for yodeling, she was known as “The Tennessee Yodeler.” We send our love and healing to her family, friends and fans.”

Jo-El Sonnier

Jo-El Sonnier might not be a name that most fans of modern country music would know well but read up and it doesn’t take long to realize the guy was a legend.

Check out the videos of performances and it becomes obvious, too, that seeing him perform in person was a high-energy affair.

He put his heart and soul into a show, and apparently, he did that right up until the end. Sonnier died back on Jan. 13, and now new details are being reported and it turns out he actually died after a performance.

Louisiana Music Hall of Fame Executive Director Mike Shepard told WWL Radio New Orleans that the 77-year-old Sonnier “died doing what he loved.”

“Jo-EL’s death on stage after a successful encore is actually the only way a musician should go out,” he said.

The station reported that Sonnier, a singer/songwriter who played the accordion, had a long list of accolades that included a Grammy in 2015 and an ACM Male Vocalist of the Year nomination. He was reportedly inducted into seven different Music Hall of Fames and worked as a studio musician for a long list of stars including Dolly Parton and Johnny Cash.

“He loved the idea of being honored for his music,” Shepard told WWL, “being honored for what he loved to do, pure as his heart.”

Roni Stoneman

Country music legend Roni Stoneman died on Feb. 22.

She was 85. No cause of death was given.

While her name may not be familiar to modern-day country music fans, Stoneman was known as the “first lady of the banjo,” and was a popular performer on the hit TV show, “Hee Haw.”

Stoneman was a native of Washington, D.C.

She was the daughter of Ernest “Pop” Stoneman, who was reportedly one of the first performers to make a career of recording country music.

Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum and CEO Kyle Young said country music was “a birthright and her life’s work.”

“The second youngest of 23 children born to Hattie and Ernest ‘Pop” stoneman, Roni was an integral part of a bedrock country music family, who were longtime fixtures in the country music scene of Washington D.C.” Young said. “For 18 years on ‘Hee Haw,’ she stole scenes as both a skillful banjo player and as a comical, gap-toothed country character. She was a great talent and a strong woman.”

Banjo News said Stoneman said she glued picks to her fingers so she could play the banjo faster.

Erv Woolsey

Legendary country music figure Eugene Ervine “Erv” Woolsey has died.

He was 80.

Woolsey reportedly died Wednesday from complications following surgery, according to multiple reports.

While Woolsey may not be known to country music fans as an artist, he was one of the genre’s most influential managers. Most notably, he was the long-time manager of Country Music Hall of Famer George Strait, as well as stars Lee Ann Womack, Dierks Bentley, Ronnie Milsap and Clay Walker.

Strait posted about Woolsey on X, formerly Twitter, on Wednesday.

“My manager for around 45 years and most importantly my friend for even longer, Erv Woolsey, passed away this morning,” he wrote. “He had complications from surgery and just couldn’t overcome it. He was a very tough man, and fought hard, but sadly it was just too much. We will miss him so very much and will never forget all the time we had together. Won’t ever be the same without him.”

According to a Billboard report, Woolsey worked for several labels before moving to Nashville in 1973 and become the head of promotions for ABC Records. The site said that Woolsey helped guide the careers of several top artists there, but it was during his time as the owner of The Prairie Rose, a club in Texas, that he first met Strait and began to book him for regular shows at there.

Billboard said Woolsey worked for MCA in the 1980s and helped artists such as Loretta Lynn, Tanya Tucker, Conway Twitty and the Oak Ridge Boys find radio success. And, then in 1981, he reportedly got MCA records to sign Strait.

He wasn’t just a manager, though.

Per Billboard, Woolsey did write “I Too Deep” for Strait and also had a hot country chart topper that he wrote, “I Can Still Make Cheyenne.”

Arch Yancey

Arch Yancey, a Country Radio Hall of Famer, died in March.

He was 88. No cause of death was reported.

Country Air Check reported that Yancey died on Monday.

The site said that Yancey got his first break way back in 1955 when he beat out Johnny Cash for a job at WBIP in Boonesville, Mississippi. The site reported that just three years later, Yancey was at Top 40 KNUZ-AM in Houston.

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He reportedly spent 31 years on the air before retiring in 1989.

Country Air Check reported that, among his awards, he won Gavin Country Personality of the Year in 1971 and was ACM Personality of the Year in 1982.

It said he was inducted into the Country Radio Hall of Fame in 2006.

“It was one big blur of good times,” Yancey said back in 2005 of his career. “It was pretty wild.”