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Country singer Joe Diffie dies of coronavirus complications

Joe Diffie
Posted at 3:35 PM, Mar 29, 2020
and last updated 2020-03-29 16:35:45-04

NEW YORK — Country singer Joe Diffie, who had a string of hits in the 1990s with chart-topping, rock-tinged singles such as “Home” and “Pickup Man” has died after testing positive for COVID-19. He was 61.

A spokesman for Diffie on Friday announced he had contracted the coronavirus, becoming the first country star to go public with such a diagnosis.

Diffie's publicist said the singer died Sunday due to complications from the virus.

Diffie was a native of Tulsa, Oklahoma. He was a member of the Grand Ole Opry for more than 25 years. His hits included “Honkey Tonk Attitude" and “Prop Me Up Beside the Jukebox (If I Die)."