List of country music stars to die in 2026 closes in on 30 after Dolly Parton's passing

Dolly Parton’s death on Tuesday—coming days after other country music figures Dale Morris and Levi Herman also died—has pushed the year’s total losses in the genre to at least 28, according to the list compiled for 2026. The rundown includes Don Adams, a singer-songwriter and long-time band member for Johnny Paycheck and George Jones, who died Feb. 1 at age 85 after an intermittent battle with cancer. The piece also notes Brian Burns, a Texas songwriter known by top musicians in the region, who died at 57, with his wife posting details of his family and life online. The article continues with additional names beyond those shown.