46-Year-Old Country Traditionalist Daryle Singletary Dies Unexpectedly
Saving Country Music has confirmed that country traditionalist and beloved performer Daryle Singletary unexpectedly passed away at his home in Nashville on Monday, February 12th. Singletary was not suffering from any known chronic ailments acknowledged publicly, nor had recently canceled any shows due to illness. Singletary had just played a show on in Lafayette on Saturday. Details on his unexpected death are still being determined as fans, family, and friends process the death of one of the men most devoted to keep the roots of traditional country alive.
Born Daryle Bruce Singletary on March 10, 1971 in Cairo, Georgia, he first showed interest in music singing gospel songs beside his brother and cousins in Georgia. During high school, Singletary took numerous vocal classes that would eventually create the foundation of one of the most sought-after voices in country. After high school, Singletary briefly worked at a tractor supply company before moving to Nashville to pursue a music career. When first arriving in town, Singletary would perform at open mics alongside other country hopefuls such as Tim McGraw and Tracy Lawrence, eventually finding work as a demo singer for his smooth delivery and perfect pitch.
After singing the original demo for “Old Pair Of Shoes” eventually recorded by Randy Travis, Singletary was able to sign a recording contract with Giant Records with Randy’s help. By the mid 90’s, Daryle Singletary became a popular country singer, earning three Top 5 hits in the mid 90’s with “I Let Her Lie,” “Too Much Fun,” and “Amen Kind Of Love.”
Later into the 90’s and into the 2000’s as the radio hits stopped coming, Singletary became a perennial favorite of traditional country fans for holding onto his staunch traditional sound. He would regularly make appearances on RFD-TV shows such as Larry’s Country Diner. His 2015 album There’s Still a Little Country Left was well received, including the song “Too Late To Save The World,” which became an unofficial theme song of SavingCountryMusic.com. In 2017, he released a beloved duets album with Rhonda Vincent called American Grandstand.
Singletary is survived by his wife Holly, and four children: 7-year-old twin boys Mercer and Jonah, 5-year-old daughter Nora Caroline and 3-year-old daughter Charlotte Rose.
“Might be too late to save the world, it may be already gone
So what say we shift our attention, to a good old 3-chord song
Now maybe I’m just talking crazy, I think together we can do this
It may be too late for the world, but can’t we still save country music?”
….from the song, “Too Late to Save The World.”
Marc
February 12, 2018 @ 8:42 am
Wow. RIP Daryl and thoughts and prayers to the Singletary family.
Lord Honky Of Crackersley
February 12, 2018 @ 8:43 am
Dang. This is horrible.
I would imagine it was a heart attack.
Trigger
February 12, 2018 @ 8:49 am
Seeing some info about a potential heart attack or blood clot, but nothing has been confirmed at this point. It was difficult to confirm the death this morning despite lots of rumors. It is still very early on and I’m sure we’ll get more information from the family soon. Very, very sad news.
Lord Honky Of Crackersley
February 12, 2018 @ 8:46 am
If we’re talking in terms of purely Country vocals, the ability to sing Country songs the way Country songs should be sung, Daryle was right there with the greatest of all time.
Trigger
February 12, 2018 @ 9:26 am
Even as Singletary’s commercial careered slowed, everyone wanted Daryle Singletary to sing on their demo because he would make any composition shine.
And for folks who may not know: after a song gets written by a Music Row publishing house, often they will record a “demo” version of it, meaning not the one everyone hears, but still a studio recording that gets passed along to bigger stars to consider cutting the song themselves. That’s how Singletary and others got their start in the business.
AT
February 13, 2018 @ 10:15 am
From reading comments on Facebook, Daryle was still recording demos for people. Someone had mentioned how just last week Daryle was doing the demo for their song.
gtrman86
February 12, 2018 @ 8:51 am
Thoughts and prayers to the Singletary family. What an incredibly huge loss to the Country Music world.
Gina
February 12, 2018 @ 9:02 am
Really sad. Especially hard when people my age are dying. Prayers for him and his family.
North Woods Country
February 12, 2018 @ 9:09 am
“I Let Her Lie” is one of the best country songs ever written and performed.
Kevin Davis
February 12, 2018 @ 9:29 am
Yes, “I Let Her Lie” and “She Sure Looks Good in Black” are my two favorites of his.
RD
February 12, 2018 @ 9:11 am
This is just awful news. I think his children are still young.
Jf
February 12, 2018 @ 9:11 am
Damn. That guy was the real deal. RIP.
Todd Villars
February 12, 2018 @ 9:18 am
Very sad news this morning, please pray for his wife and 4 young children. Pride of Cairo, Georgia. It’s been a rough 2 year stretch for people like me, lovers of Traditional Country Music! Todd Villars
Trigger
February 12, 2018 @ 9:28 am
3 and 5-year-old daughters. Twin boys. He was just starting his family. Devastating.
OlaR
February 12, 2018 @ 9:19 am
R.I.P Daryle.
GH10
February 12, 2018 @ 9:20 am
Growing up in North Florida, a lot of people thought of Daryle as the “local kid making it big” since his hometown Cairo, Georgia was so close. In terms of pure voices, I’ll lump him in with Keith Whitley. I guess God needed a cowboy.
NCW
February 12, 2018 @ 9:20 am
I hate this…way too young. My heart goes out to his family. One of my favorites. Sad sad day.
Todd Villars
February 12, 2018 @ 9:20 am
It’s being reported that he died of a blood clot, do not know if this is a confirmed report. TV
Save Austin Country
February 12, 2018 @ 9:21 am
this saddens me today. Kinda hits home. I saw Daryle last year. He was a common man type country artist. I true gentlemen too.
Fesgrow Wubbudah
February 12, 2018 @ 9:34 am
His cover of Lefty Frizzell’s ‘I Never Go Around Mirrors’ is stellar. A true country singer. RIP
scott
February 12, 2018 @ 9:39 am
Spilled whiskey.
Justin
February 12, 2018 @ 9:42 am
Wow, sorry to hear that. Makes me feel like death could be right around the corner at age 37. Actually, for the past 4 years mortality has been at the forefront of my mind. Not a day has gone by in the past 4 years that I haven’t thought about death, dying, what it’s like to die.
Corncaster
February 12, 2018 @ 2:58 pm
After you turn 50, brother, it gets easier. People you know will pass with increasing frequency. So when death becomes more like a joining up than a leaving behind, it takes the edge off.
Hang in there.
Marc
February 12, 2018 @ 5:58 pm
I think thinking about death is normal. Just be careful when you say it’s at the forefront of your mind. Speaking from experience you don’t want it to affect your life and if it is you may need to talk things out. Anyways put on some Daryl raise a glass of wherever enjoy his music and smile. BTW 37 is young.
Johnny Law
February 12, 2018 @ 9:45 am
So sorry to hear of his passing. He was a childhood favorite of mine before I even became familiar with a lot of the “legends” and dug deeper into past country. His voice was definitely one of the best country voices and even voices period. I’ve always considered him among my all time favorite vocalists. I was fortunate enough to have had the chance to meet him outside the Ryman a few years back and also had the opportunity to hear him sing some amazing covers behind the Nashville Palace. Gonna miss this guys music for sure. Sad day for country music 🙁 Praying for his family.
Justin
February 12, 2018 @ 9:51 am
I wish the best for his wife and kids.
Gena R.
February 12, 2018 @ 9:57 am
RIP Daryle. 🙁
INDK
February 12, 2018 @ 10:22 am
Damn. I can’t imagine how hard it is to tell young children that they will never see their Daddy again…
RIP Daryl. May his family find peace someday…
ExcitedSouthnr
February 12, 2018 @ 10:22 am
RIP Daryle..a truly great country music singer. Praying for the family.
AT
February 12, 2018 @ 10:54 am
Rhonda Vincent was recording a Facebook live video this morning of herself and Dolly in the studio. She hadn’t heard of Daryle’s passing and all of the comments on the live video were regarding Daryle. It was incredibly heartbreaking when she reads the comments live and realizes what happened.
One of the greatest voices, ever.
Kim
February 12, 2018 @ 11:19 am
So very sad! Prayers for his family.
Dave
February 12, 2018 @ 11:23 am
Trigger, if there is any news of a scholarship fund for his family or anything along those lines, please keep us posted. Thank you.
Smokey J
February 12, 2018 @ 11:58 am
Wow. Only 46? If there was any justice on Music Row, this guy would have still been making hits. What a voice.
Strait Country 81
February 12, 2018 @ 12:12 pm
One day I’ll see Lefty when my work is through
He’ll say son you were country oh ain’t it the truth
Mike Honcho
February 12, 2018 @ 12:32 pm
RIP. Cant say I was a big fan until I saw him perform Old Violin on a TV show. His performance choked me up a little, as it did the old country artists that were present. Great talent, gone too soon.
Mark
February 12, 2018 @ 5:32 pm
Same for me.
choked me right up.
Mike Honcho
February 12, 2018 @ 12:37 pm
Here is the performance: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bgiMzMmCGEU
Strait Country 81
February 12, 2018 @ 12:45 pm
My comment seriously got deleted? What a joke!
Trigger
February 12, 2018 @ 6:59 pm
Didn’t delete any comments from you.
Greg
February 12, 2018 @ 12:50 pm
I’m glad I got to see him in Cincinnati Ohio once and meet him after the concert.A real nice man and an evening of great real country music.He is missed.
Don
February 12, 2018 @ 1:36 pm
I remember back in ’95 when I had just returned from a standard MEU deployment, my buddy and I went on leave together back home in Michigan. Two weeks of drinking beer and hell raising; our unofficial theme song was Too Much Fun. Don’t know how many times we sang that one while cruising in my friends Camaro most likely headed to some bar. I was just thinking the other day how fast time fly’s by. Dang it.
ScruffyCity
February 12, 2018 @ 1:44 pm
This is just heartbreaking. My heart just bleeds for Daryle’s wife and young children. Will be praying for them for quite a while.
Loved Daryle’s voice … he will be greatly missed.
the pistolero
February 12, 2018 @ 2:11 pm
Well, that’s some shitty news to wake up to. Daryle Singletary was the real deal, from day one to the end.
Corncaster
February 12, 2018 @ 2:55 pm
Damn, damn, and damn. His family must be completely devastated. A tremendous loss, with so much left to give!
truth5
February 12, 2018 @ 3:22 pm
HE was one of the greatest vocalists of all time. The guy was seriously an all time great vocalist and he was traditional country. This is devastating.
Taylor
February 12, 2018 @ 3:47 pm
So sad to hear this, prayers for him and his family. May God told them close in this difficult time. His song Too Much Fun I always remember as when he sings about 14 people in the back of the truck, there were 14 kids in my preschool class and the song came out about the same time.
Jamie
February 12, 2018 @ 4:08 pm
I am still in shock over this. Such terrible news. We also just lost Lari White not long ago, and now this. Daryle has been one of my favorites since I was a child in the mid 90’s. Even though I was very young during his commercial peak, there was something about his deep, pure country voice and the songs he sang that I always loved. I remember when I first heard “I Let Her Lie,” I could’ve sworn it was a Keith Whitley song I’d never heard before. That one, along with “Amen Kind Of Love” and “The Note” are still among my all time favorites today. I also love all three of his 90’s albums on Giant Records. This is such a huge loss for traditional country. To lose a singer with a voice as great as his at such a young age is simply tragic. Thoughts and prayers go out to his family and friends.
Drew
February 12, 2018 @ 4:54 pm
As much as Mark Chesnutt may have shown it on the charts, I’ve always thought of Daryle as Keith’s real heir as a singer. “I Never Go Around Mirrors”, “Will These Arms Be in Your Way”, “Miami, My Amy”, et al. … he killed it on all of these.
I think another reason this is bumming me out so much, is that Daryle was fairly active on Instagram-nothing pandering or obnoxious, just updates from the road, about shows, etc., enough to feel like you were (or at least I was) keeping tabs on his life, both inside and also outside of music. And now, like that, he’s gone.
Jamie
February 12, 2018 @ 5:51 pm
I absolutely love his version of “Would These Arms Be In Your Way.” In fact, I was just listening to it earlier today after hearing the news.
I also agree that Daryle’s passing is even more sad because he was still very much an active artist, and he continued to record the kind of music he loved, regardless if radio played it or not. He was the kind of artist that Alan Jackson was speaking about in his HOF speech that we need more of today. Daryle also truly loved and cared about traditional country music.
DJ
February 12, 2018 @ 5:16 pm
Tonight I feel like an old violin- soon to be put away and never played again- don’t ask me why I feel like this, I can’t say, I only wish this feelin would just go away.
I heard his version long before I did Paychecks. One of, if not, the most poignant songs I’ve ever heard.
Lord Honky Of Crackersley
February 12, 2018 @ 5:36 pm
DJ,
How did an old codger like you hear the remake before the original?
DJ
February 13, 2018 @ 7:01 am
I’ve never asked that question of myself. All I know is I heard his version before I heard Paychecks. When I heard/saw Paycheck sang it I wasn’t sure I wanted to hear Paychecks version since I was never really a fan of his, but, as it turns out I liked Paychecks version and it seemed fitting…. he actually sounded like I sometimes feel (in a melancholy sorta way) , more so than Singletary even though Singletary’s voice is smoother it’s also much younger and doesn’t have the gravitas of age (old codgerly speaking).
Kevin Smith
February 13, 2018 @ 7:58 am
Paycheck sang that song and it was released around the time he was going to prison. It really seemed appropriate at the time. The emotional depth in his version is riveting.
I have been to Hillsboro, the town where John shot the guy in the bar, which led to his prison sentence. The bar is no longer there, but I know a few folks in the town who have met the fellow John shot, he survived , and they tell me he’s a real character.
Google the story , it’s interesting reading.
Lone Wolf
February 12, 2018 @ 6:30 pm
I got an update on my phone about his passing this afternoon. Thoughts, prayers and condolences to the entire Singletary family. Let’s presume Daryle is creating some fantastic music with some of the greats before him who have passed on.
Farmer Brian
February 12, 2018 @ 6:38 pm
Damn, this is terrible news. Rest In Peace Daryle and thanks for the great music. Too much fun will always be a favorite song of mine. God bless his family.
Chris
February 12, 2018 @ 8:48 pm
I’m from North Carolina and Daryle had a string of shows booked here throughout the weekend. I’m actually the lead guitarist for a band that was scheduled to open for him on Friday. The club canceled the gig last week because they failed an inspection but none of the other gigs had been canceled. I grew up listening to him and re-discovered him in high school. This is all so surreal!!
Countrygirl
February 12, 2018 @ 9:31 pm
I stood next to him in the wings at The Opry as he waited to go on. We watched The Whites and Ricky Skaggs, who I just learned was a major influence. I knew that night was pretty special, but this makes it even more so. I hope the community bands behind this young family as I’m sure they’ll appreciate all the support they can get. R.I.P Daryle. I hope the youngins honor him by singing real country.
Luckyoldsun
February 12, 2018 @ 9:34 pm
Daryle came along a little bit too late in the ’90s to become a star. In the wake of Garth and Clint and Alan, a handful of “New Traditional” artists–Chesnutt, Diffie, Kershaw ,Tracy Lawrence, Aaron Tippin– came along in the early ’90s and enjoyed pretty commercially successful careers. A few that came along just a couple of years later–Wade Hayes, Singletary–managed to get a couple of hits, but never gained long-term traction before radio moved on to a different sound.
Jackie Treehorn
February 12, 2018 @ 9:37 pm
My my my, this is bad news. Prayers for his family, I can’t imagine what they are going through. Daryle was on my list of artists to see live as I have always loved his music and his voice was the embodiment of what country vocals should sound like. Rest in peace mr singletary.
Madwolfe
February 12, 2018 @ 10:36 pm
This is terrible news. I just spent the weekend with his guitar player (Phil Valdez)…my heart is aching.
Countrygirl
February 12, 2018 @ 10:39 pm
Just wanted to say that Porter Waggoner was also on that show. I got my picture made with him! The whole time Daryle and I were just going omg… I love Ricky Skaggs sooo much!!!! 😆💕
GrantH
February 12, 2018 @ 11:49 pm
This is astounding. I literally got a couple of his 90’s albums on cassette off eBay just about a week ago and was listening to them the other day. I’m in disbelief as I’m typing this. He was one of the most underrated voices of his generation and will always be underappreciated, I fear. God rest his soul.
colon cancer stage 3 symptoms
February 13, 2018 @ 1:00 am
raying for peace and comfort for Daryles family.
We have been following Daryle since 1995. Saw him in 5 different states!
Since his marriage to Holly and birth of 4 beautiful children he noticeably became a great Christian family man. We loved his music and came to love the man he had become.
Batterycap
February 13, 2018 @ 6:11 am
Who can’t sing every word to “Too Much Fun”. I loved the guy. My heart hangs heavy with his passing. May God hold up his family, and grant them strength and comfort.