SCOTCOUNTRY MUSIC NEWS

Multi-million selling Grand Ole Opry star JOE DIFFIE passed away on Sunday, March 29, following a brief illness. Diffie, 61, announced days earlier that he had tested positive for COVID-19, the coronavirus. He has now become the first music star to die from the disease.
One of the biggest country hit makers of the 1990s, Joe Diffie had more than 20 Top 10 hits. They include such No. 1 smashes as “Home,” “Third Rock from the Sun” and “Pickup Man.” He holds four Gold Record awards and two Platinum ones for his albums.
The virus also claimed the life of songwriting legend JOHN PRINE who passed away on Tuesday, April 7 at age 73, at Vanderbilt University Medical Center.
He wrote or co-wrote such hits as Don Williams’ “Love Is on a Roll,” Bonnie Raitt/Tanya Tucker's  “Angel From Montgomery,” Lynn Anderson’s “Paradise” and George Strait/Daniel O'Donnell's  “I Just Want to Dance with You.”
But his true importance is measured by his influence on other artists and their universally held respect for him.During a five-decade, 25-album career, the singer-songwriter amassed a devoted cult following. Two of his albums won Grammy Awards. The Americana Music Association named him an Artist of the Year in 2005 and 2017. BMI gave him its Troubadour Award in 2018. He was a pioneer in self-marketing music via his own record label.