R.I.P. Joe Diffie

The last few weeks have been a very trying time. Businesses closing, financial strains, social distancing, and no “fun-stuff” being allowed.

You never know what will break you in a time like this.
I finally put my finger on my breaking point.

Sunday afternoon, March 29, I got the word that Joe Diffie had passed away. Immediately, my stomach fell and my heart hurt. Surely it could not be true, I thought!

But true it was - this world lost Joe Diffie to the complications related to the new coronavirus. He was only 61 years old.

Joe Diffie was a legendary country singer. He hit the country charts in 1991 and scored top hit singles all the way through the 1900’s and early 2000’s.

I listened to Joe Diffie all through my 20’s and loved all his songs. He was one of my favorite country singers.
Then, one of my very best friends from high school years, Theresa Crump, married Joe in the year 2000.

I then got to know Joe, personally, in the following years. My visits to Tennessee to stay/visit with Theresa and Joe were always memorable. I most remember Joe as one who walked through the house singing songs to himself. Not “his” songs necessarily, but just songs; songs from the radio or demo songs he had listened to and he sung especially while he cooked. Joe was always in the kitchen cooking, for he loved to cook. He even wrote a cookbook once and he and I traded off his cookbook for my Dad’s Florida Cookin’ Wildstyle Cookbook.

Not only were my trips to Tennessee memorable, but anytime Joe was anywhere around our area we would go see him in concert. We would either hang out with him on his bus or backstage before the concert.

Joe went public on Friday, March 27 saying he had tested positive with the coronavirus. He died two days later, on Sunday, March 29, with what was confirmed as complications from the virus.

Joe Diffie was a household name to anyone that listened to country music in the 1990’s. He scored more than 20 top 10 hits – 5 of which were #1 singles. Among his favorite hit titles are “Pickup Man,” “John Deere Green,” “Third Rock From The Sun,” “Prop Me Up Beside the Jukebox,” “If The Devil Danced In Empty Pockets,” “Ships That Don’t Come In,” “Home,” So Help Me Girl,” and “A Night To Remember.”

As in any generation, all upcoming singers look up to those in the industry ahead of them. The same held true for the young singers looking up to Joe. In 2013, country music singer Jason Aldean even released a county song about Joe Diffie entitled “1994.”

“Famous people” have never impressed me. I personally know several and have had the opportunity to interview many through my years in the newspaper business.

But Joe, he was not an “I’m famous” or “I’m important” sort of person. He loved being home. He loved cooking. He loved his family. And yes, he loved singing!

From the time I heard of his death, I have been heart-broken.

Joe was one of the most down-to-earth people you could know. He was dubbed as one of the easiest going celebrities on stage and one that connected to his audience more than most anyone else. I can also contribute to that! Joe loved being on stage; he loved singing and he loved his fans. It never bothered him when people stopped him for autographs or for pictures. He often said, during interviews, that he always considered it a privilege when people recognized him and came up to him to meet him or for autographs. Even in restaurants, Joe would stop eating in order to meet and greet his fans.

Joe left this world way too soon, in my opinion. But I guess God had different plans. Maybe Joe is in Heaven playing concerts with his good friend, and mentor George Jones, now.

Rest In Peace Joe, I will miss you!
Go rest high upon that mountain!