2017 Watermelon Festival Headliner Dead From Virus Complications

NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE – The Headliner for the 2017 Hope Watermelon Festival died Sunday, apparently from COVID-19 in Nashville, Tennessee. His company released the following statement:

“GRAMMY®-winning country music legend Joe Diffie passed away today, Sunday, March 29 from complications of coronavirus (COVID-19). His family requests privacy at this time.”

A Friday, March 27th Facebook posting from Diffie said, “I am under the care of medical professionals and currently receiving treatment after testing positive for COVID-19…We want to remind the public and all my fans to be vigilant, cautious and careful during this pandemic.”

In his Hope concert, held at Hempstead Hall, Diffie performed his hits, including, “Home,” “If the Devil Danced in Empty Pockets,” “Third Rock From the Sun,” “Pickup Man,” “Bigger than the Beatles,” and “Prop Me Up Beside the Jukebox.” All together he charted 35 songs on the Billboard country music charts.

Joe Diffie was 61 years old. (HopePrescott.com was one of the 2017 sponsors of his Hope concert.)