The country music world suffered its share of heartbreak and loss in 2025, and while any death is tragic, there were a handful that just rocked folks.
Some fell into the category because cans simply didn’t see it coming. Others made the list because of impact of the individuals and in the case of The Mavericks frontman Raul Malo, the way he openly and bravely fought a horrific disease.
The following is a look back at six deaths that rocked country music across the past year:
Carl Dean
Country music legend Dolly Parton announced the heartbreaking news on March 6 that her husband, Carl Dean, had died.
A posted statement to her X page, said that Dean, who was 82, died in Nashville.
“He will be laid to rest in a private ceremony with immediate family attending,” the statement read. “He was survived by his siblings Sandra and Donnie.”
Parton provided a quote in the statement.
“Carl and I spent many wonderful years together,” she said. “Words can’t do justice to the love we shared for over 60 years. Thank you for your prayers and sympathy.”
The statement said the family asks for privacy during this time.
Parton and Dean were known for keeping their relationship out of the public eye, and they did so on purpose.
“I married a really good man, a guy that’s completely different than me,” Parton told Parade Magazine in 2015. “He’s not in show business.”
Parade reported that the duo first met at a laundromat in Nashville when Parton was just 18-years-old.
“I was surprised and delighted that while he talked to me, he looked at my face (a rare thing for me),” she wrote on her website, per Parade. “He seemed to be genuinely interested in finding out who I was and what I was about.”
Parade said the two “snuck off one weekend” about two years later to get married.
They renewed their vows in 2015.
“We just had a simple little ceremony at our chapel at our place,” she told Rolling Stone.
Brett James
The country music world was heartbroken in September when beloved singer/songwriter Brett James and was killed in a plane crash in North Carolina.
James’ wife, Melody Carole, 59, and her daughter, Meryl Wilson, 28, were also killed in the crash.
And now we know more about how their final moments played out.
The National Transportation Safety Board has now released its report on the crash which includes the final radio transmission from James. According to the report, James approached Macon County Airport at around 2:48 p.m. at around 6,800 feet and reported that he “intended to perform a 360 degree turn to land,” on the runway there.
That was the chilling last transmission from James. Everything seemed to be going fine, and then tragically it wasn’t.
The plane reportedly descended to 6,300 feet and made a turn to approach the runway at 3,300 feet.
“Surveillance video showed the airplane flying over the runway before initiating a descending left turn,” the NTSB report said. “The airplane continued descending in the left turn before entering a tightening spiral and impacting the ground.”
No signs of engine failure were detected.
James, a Grammy-winning songwriter and a member of the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame, was in the plane that went down near an elementary school in Franklin, North Carolina.
The news spread quickly and folks turned out on social media to express their heartbreak in the wake of his death.
“Brett James died today,” Alison Bonaguro wrote on X. “I am still in a state of shock. Nashville lost one of its very best — and most humble — songwriters in history (heartbreak emoji).”
The American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers noted that James was a two-time ASCAP Country Songwriter of the year.
“Brett was a trusted collaborator to country’s greatest names and a true advocate for songwriters,” a statement from the organization on X read. “We miss him dearly.”
The Nashville Songwriters Association International account on Facebook posted, “The NSAI family is stunned by the death of board member and legendary songwriter Brett James. The loss is profound.”
James, 57, began his career as a solo artist in 1995, and charted three singles that year. But he became best known for his ability as a songwriter with 494 songs being recorded by other artists. He is perhaps best known for writing Carrie Underwood’s 2006 number one hit, “Jesus, Take the Wheel.” He has also written songs for the likes of Martina McBride, Jason Aldean, Kenny Chesney and Rodney Atkins.
Mark Laws
Mark Laws, the drummer for popular country music singer Alex Miller, was shot and killed on May 25 in Cumberland Gap, Tennessee.
Taste of Country reported that Laws’ stepson, Maxwell Madon, has been charged in his death.
Laws, 62, has worked as Miller’s drummer and band leader for the past five years, according to The Tennessean. The outlet said Laws also worked with Little Jimmy Dickens, Larry Cordle and Bill Carlilse.
Miller shared his thoughts on Instagram following Laws’ death.
“My heart is truly broke at the passing of my drummer Mark Laws,” Miller wrote. “My grandad once told me that you’ll have lots of friends in your life, but finding a (true) friend is something that is rare and special. My grandad was a true friend, and so was Mark Laws. His loss to me is devastating. Please pray for his family for me.”
WRIL-FM reported that Claiborne County Sheriff Bob Brooks said that Madon, who is 25, lived with his grandparents. Brooks said Madon got in an argument with his grandparents about cleaning his room and assaulted his grandfather. That is when, according to the sheriff, the grandmother called Laws to come to their home and help.
He told the site that Laws and Madon began arguing when he got there, and that a short time later Madon show and killed him. Brooks told the site that Madon also shot himself in the hand during the incident.
The site said he has been charged with criminal homicide and that more charges are expected to come.
Raul Malo
Raul Malo, the beloved frontman for The Mavericks, died on Dec. 8 after a long battle with cancer.
The group made the announcement on its Instagram.
“It’s with the deepest grief we share the passing of our friend, bandmate and brother Raul Malo on December 8th, 2025 at the age of 60,”the statement read. “Anyone with the pleasure of being in Raul’s orbit knew that he was a force of human nature, with an infectious energy. Over a career of more than three decades entertaining millions around the globe, his towering creative contributions and unrivaled, generational talent created the kind of multicultural American music reaching far beyond America itself.”
Malo’s death comes just days after he was honored by his group and a long list of country music stars with a two-night show at the Ryman Auditorium in Nashville on Dec. 5-6. Malo had planned to be in attendance, but his wife, Betty Malo, shared the news that he had to be rushed to the hospital last Thursday and would not be able to attend.
In an emotional scene, The Mavericks went to their frontman’s hospital room and serenaded him with a bedside concert over the weekend.
“Though his earthly body may have passed, Raul’s spirit will live on forever in heaven, and here on earth through the music, joy, and light he brought forth,” the group’s statement Tuesday added. “His contributions to American and Latin music will be everlasting, as his songs and voice touched fans and fellow artists around the world.”
The band’s statement noted that the singer is survived by his wife, Betty, sons Dino, Victor and Max, his mother, Norma and sister Carol.
Jeannie Seely
Reba McEntire and Carly Pearce were among those who shared their heartbreak Friday following the news of country music legend Jeannie Seely’s death.
Seely, 85, died on Aug. 1 at Summit Medical Center in Hermitage, Tennessee due to complications from an intestinal infection.
“I’ve always loved this woman!” McEntire wrote on X while sharing a photo of herself with Dolly Parton and Seely. “She was a little spitfire, opinionated team player! Rest in peace, Jeannie.”
Reba McEntire and Carly Pearce were among those who shared their heartbreak Friday following the news of country music legend Jeannie Seely’s death.
Seely, 85, died on Friday at Summit Medical Center in Hermitage, Tennessee due to complications from an intestinal infection.
“I’ve always loved this woman!” McEntire wrote on X while sharing a photo of herself with Dolly Parton and Seely. “She was a little spitfire, opinionated team player! Rest in peace, Jeannie.”
Seely, a native of Titusville, Pennsylvania, revealed to People Magazine back in May that she had dealt with multiple health issues this year.
“Over the past several weeks, I’ve received so many wonderful messages of love and concern about being missed on the Grand Ole Opry and on ‘Sundays with Seely’ on Willie’s Roadhouse,” she told People then. “Thank you for those, and I assure you that I miss you just as much! Hopefully I can count on that support as I struggle through this recovery process from multiple back surgeries in March, as well as two emergency abdominal surgeries in April, followed by eleven days in the intensive care unit and a bout with pneumonia.”
Seely told People she was still focused on the future and even planned to release new music. She told the outlet she also planned to return to her SiriusXM show as well as the Grand Ole Opry stage.
“Rehab is pretty tough but each day is looking brighter and last night, I saw a light at the end of the tunnel,” she said. “And it was neon, so I knew it was mine!
“The unsinkable Seely is working her way back.”
Seely was also hospitalized last year for dehydration and diverticulitis while on a trip to Pa. And, her husband, Eugene Ward, died at the age of 92 in December.
Her love for the Grand Ole Opry began at a young age when her family would gather around the radio to listen to the shows on Saturday nights.
“I knew at 8 years old what I wanted to be,” she told People back in 2022. “And I knew I wanted to be at the Opry.”
“It is with a heavy heart we say goodbye to a true icon to us here at the Opry, Mrs. Jeannie Seely,” the Opry shared on X Friday. “Jeannie is the definition of a mentor and dear friend to many in the country music community. She fist appeared at the Opry in 1966 and while it was her first time being shoulder to shoulder with some of her heroes, she officially joined our family the next year in 1967 and has stood on that stage ever since with a special grace, sass, style, and of course — her wit and humor to top it all off.
“Having performed at the Grand Ole Opry mor than any other artists in history, 5,397 times to be exact, there’s no doubt this place was home to her,” the statement continued. “In her 57 years as an Opry member, she is recognized for changing the image of female country performers with her bold fashion statements, championed efforts to support and enhance women’s roles in the music industry and was quite proud to be the first female to host a segment of the Opry. Beyond the Opry, she became the third female artists to win a Grammy and penned chart-topping hits for herself and many others. She also regularly hosted ‘Sundays with Seely’ on Willie’s Roadhouse on Sirius XM.
“Your legacy will always live on here at the Opry House, ‘Miss Country Soul.’ We will miss you dearly.”
Todd Snider
Popular singer/songwriter Todd Snider died on Nov. 14 just one day after his team announced that he had been hospitalized after battling walking pneumonia.
He was 59.
“Aimless Inc. Headquarters is heartbroken to share that our Founder, our Folk Hero, our Poet of the World, the Vice President of the Abrupt Change Dept., the Storyteller, our beloved Todd Daniel Snider has departed this world,” a post Saturday on his Instagram read.
The lengthy statement closed with, “We love you Todd, sail on old friend, we’ll see you again out there on the road somewhere down the line. You’ll always be a force of nature.”
This came after a concerning post to his Instagram on Friday.
“We have some difficult news to share,” a post to his Instagram account read. “After Todd returned home to recover last week, he began having trouble breathing and was admitted to the hospital in Hendersonville, TN. We learned from his doctors that he had been quietly suffering from an undiagnosed case of walking pneumonia.
“Our beloved brother’s condition has become more complicated, and he’s since been transferred for additional treatment,” the statement continued. “His care team and those closest to him are by his side and doing everything they can. Right now we’re asking everyone who loves Todd to hold him in your thoughts in whatever way feels right to you. Say a prayer, light a candle, roll one up, send strength, or just keep him close in your heart. You’ve carried him through so much over the years, and he needs that from all of us now more than ever.”
This comes on the heels of police releasing bodycam footage of Snider, who appeared disoriented, being arrested outside of a Salt Lake City hospital back on Nov. 3. Snider’s show that night was cancelled, and his team announced via his Instagram that he was violently assaulted outside of his hotel.
“We are heartbroken to announce the cancellation of the High, Lonesome and Then Some 2025 Tour dates,” the statement read. “Ahead of Todd Snider’s show in Salt Lake City, Todd sustained severe injuries as the victim of a violent assault outside of his hotel.
“Todd will be unable to perform for an undetermined amount of time,” the statement continued. “We deeply apologize for the cancellation and any inconvenience it causes. We appreciate your understanding as Todd receives needed medical treatment. We hope to have more information on new dates soon.”
That was not the end of the story, though, obviously. Following that announcement, Snider was taken into custody, and in the bodycam footage a representative from the hospital explains that he had already been treated at one of their sister hospitals.
“He was assaulted like last night,” the person told police. “He was just discharged from one of our sister hospitals about 12:30. He came today and I just straight up asked him, ‘What is it that you want us to do for you that they haven’t already done for you?’ And he said his whole body hurts, and then he said he just wanted a place to sleep overnight. And I said that we are not a place you can sleep overnight. If you need a place to sleep overnight, you’re going to have to find some place else. That is when everything escalated.”
The person from the hospital said that Snider was “being loud and obnoxious.” A security guard said that Snider said he wanted to “kick my ass.”
Video showed police reading an emotional Snider his rights.
“I just want to be treated,” he said. “I need to be in the hospital not in the jail. Please! I checked out and I tried to check back in.”
Police then told Snider that the hospital said he was looking for a bed, and he can’t stay there.
“I’m sick,” he pleaded. “Where can I stay?”
That is when police asked him if he was homeless.
“I’m not homeless,” Snider said. “I live in Nashville. I have a band. I’m famous.
“I’m not a bad person,” he added. “I promise. I promise you can check my record. I just need help.”
Police asked Snider where his pain was.
“It’s in my neck and my back, my arms and my legs and my stomach,” he said. “It’s everywhere. It’s excruciating.”