Joe Diffie, 61, 1958–2020

The onset of the pandemic has claimed many lives, and the 61-year-old Joe Diffie had become one of them in March 2020. He started out working in the oil fields before he became a demo country singer. His career took a turn in the ’90s when he got a record deal and started producing chart-topping hits.

Diffie was married four times and would have five children. One of them was born with Down syndrome, and Diffie would work to raise money and spread awareness of children born with physical and mental impairments. For his work, he would receive a Humanitarian Award.