Country stars who died in 2024

The year 2024 may only be a few months old, but fans have already mourned the deaths of numerous artists and industry members of the country music genre.

Even though they are gone, their legacy is still strong and will continue to influence and shape country music for generations to come. Their fans, friends and loved ones will never forget them.

Although fans knew Toby Keith was battling cancer, the country music world was shocked by his death on February 5, and condolences quickly poured in from stars, fans, and the children of the late legend.

The star of “Should’ve Been a Cowboy” was 62 years old when he died. Just two days later, another shock followed: Mojo Nixon, the rockabilly/country great whose country music also included punk and comedy, died of a heart attack while performing as a performer on board the Outlaw Country Cruise. He was 66 years old.

The rockabilly format was hit hard in early 2024: West Coast rockabilly guitarist Larry Collins died in early January at the age of 79; he was best known as one half of the duo The Collins Kids and holds a special place in country music history as co-writer of Tanya Tucker’s “Delta Dawn.”

Also in January, we said goodbye to Margo Smith, the country chart-topping singer of the late ’70s who left behind a catalog full of country and Christian hits.

The year 2024 also saw the passing of a number of cross-genre icons, many of whom left a painful loss for country fans. Beach Boys legend Brian Wilson mourned the death of his wife Melinda in late January. We also lost Rocky Star Carl Weathers, All my children Star Alec Musser and Jimmy Van Eaton, a rock’n’roll drummer who played for the likes of Johnny Cash and Jerry Lee Lewis.

Scroll through the gallery below to remember the country artists who have died so far in 2024.