With almost 30 signers or significant figures dying in 2024, the country music industry experienced its own share of sadness, which persisted well into the following year.
In January, two iconic country music artists tragically passed away.
Here is a glance at the people we lost:
Ed Askew
On January 4, Ed Askew, a painter and singer/songwriter of cult folk music, passed away.
He was eighty-four.
According to PEOPLE Magazine, Askew had been under hospice care and had been dealing with persistent health issues.
Jay Pluck, Askew’s manager and friend, told PEOPLE, “I hope more people come to know that Ed was a brave gay songwriter from the beginning.” Ed’s music has impacted and continues to influence individuals of all ages.
PEOPLE claims that Askew, who was born in Stamford, Connecticut, attended Yale Art School to study painting. According to the website, Askew was drafted in 1966 but chose to teach at a Connecticut prep school. That’s when he started writing his songs, it stated.
According to PEOPLE, Askew put out eleven albums over his career. In 1968, he released his debut album, Ask the Unicorn, and in 2020, he released his last album, London. He also painted a lot, according to PEOPLE.
Melba Montgomery
Taste of Country reports that Melba Montgomery, an icon in country music, has passed away.
Montgomery passed away on January 15, according to the website.
Her age was 86.
Melissa Solomon Barrett, her daughter, also shared information of her passing on Facebook.
“We regret to inform you that our mother, Melba Montgomery Solomon, has passed away,” she wrote. She was an amazing aunt to my cousins, sister-in-law to my aunts, grandmother to my uncle, and mother. After a protracted struggle with dementia, she is finally in heaven with her devoted husband, Jack Solomon. We are aware that Mom has been waiting more than a decade to hold Dad.
She also said, “Thank you for loving our mom as much as we have.” She was a generous, kind, and extraordinarily accomplished woman.
Montgomery was well-known for her duets with artists like George Jones and her 1974 No Charge, which peaked at number one, according to Taste of Country.
Montgomery began her career in 1958 after being born in Tennessee in 1938. In 1974, she was inducted into Nashvhille’s Walkway of the Stars and released 22 solo studio albums.
Georgette, George Jones’ daughter, posted a tribute to Montgomery on Facebook.
She tweeted, “Very sad news as the legendary Melba Montgomery passed away yesterday at age 86.” We Must Have Been Out among Our Minds is one among the many songs that Melba and my dad recorded. In addition to being a really lovely and great person, she was an amazing singer and songwriter. I ask that you join me in praying for her friends and family.
Chad Morgan
On January 1, Australian country music icon Chad Morgan passed away.
He was ninety-one.
Morgan was referred to as Scrubby Creek’s Sheik. He was regarded as a country music pioneer in his own nation and was well-known for his vaudeville approach.
Over the course of a 70-year career, Morgan recorded over 20 albums, according to Popculture.com.
Buck White
This week, country music icon Buck White passed away.
He was ninety-four.
On his Facebook page, another country music icon, Ricky Skaggs, shared the news of his passing from his four daughters.
According to the message from the daughters, Sharon, Cheryl, Rosie, and Melissa, the Lord heard our prayers and brought our father, Buck White, home in peace this morning at 8:00 a.m. His 94 years on our planet are greatly appreciated. He was a wonderful father who set an example for us by always putting Jesus first. His greatest passions were music, his family, our mother, and the Lord. The majority of people will remember him for being a fun-loving, mischievous person in addition to being a fantastic musician and entertainer. He finished successfully and lived a long life.
White, along with his daughters Sharon and Cheryl, formed the Grammy Award-winning trio The Whites. Per Taste of Country, the group had several top 10 and Top 20 singles in the 1980s. The Whites were inducted into the Grand Ole Opry in 1984, and in 2008 they were inducted into the Texas Country Music Hall of Fame.
According to Taste of Country,the group was nominated for five Grammys and won two.