Blake Shelton is mourning the loss of his good friend and musical collaborator Joe Bonsall. The longtime Oak Ridge Boys member died on July 9, 2024, at the age of 50 due to complications of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS).
After learning the heartbreaking news, Shelton took to social media to reflect on the singer’s legacy. “I’m heartbroken to hear of my friend Joe Bonsall’s passing. I’ve NEVER seen Joe when he wasn’t smiling and completely full of life,”
The Voice alum wrote on X (formerly Twitter). He added: “He absolutely loved singing like no one I ever met. My thoughts and prayers are with his family and his @oakridgeboys brothers. We all lost a special person today.”
Bonsall had been a member of the Southern gospel group for over 50 years, and the quartet collaborated with Shelton on his hit 2016 single “Doing It to Country Songs.” The musician’s death comes less seven months after he announced his retirement from the Oak Ridge Boys on Instagram.
“Many of you know I have been battling a slow onset (over four years now) of a neuromuscular disorder,” he wrote in a statement. “I am now at a point where walking is impossible, so I have basically retired from the road. It has just gotten too difficult. It has been a great 50 years, and I am thankful to all the Oak Ridge Boys, band, crew, and staff for the constant love and support shown to me through it all.”
He added: “I will never forget and for those of you who have been constantly holding me up in prayer I thank you and ask for you to keep on praying.”
Bonsall first joined the Oak Ridge Boys in 1973, replacing Ben James as the tenor voice. He played a large part in the group’s evolution, contributing to their distinctive sound and helping them achieve mainstream success with hits like “Elvira” and “Bobbie Sue.” Bonsall and his bandmates were eventually inducted into the prestigious Grand Ole Opry, the Vocal Group Hall of Fame, the Gospel Music Hall of Fame and the Country Music Hall of Fame. The Philadelphia native was also inducted into the Philadelphia Music Hall of Fame in 1994.
In addition to Shelton, several other country stars dedicated tributes to Bonsall, including the other Oak Ridge Boys members. “Joe could do anything he set his mind to do, but what impressed me the most was the energy, love, and compassion he put into everything he did and his unique gift to communicate those emotions and feelings into every performance, song, and book,” Oak Ridge Boys’ Duane Allen said in a statement. “Joe was ‘that’ best friend that every person hopes to have in his life.”
In his own statement, Richard Stern said: “For many years, Joe was my best friend. We knew each other long before we both became members of The Oak Ridge Boys. He was a special person, who was loved by everyone and was a true inspiration to us all.” The group’s manager, Jim Halsey, also spoke out, calling Bonsall an “inspiration” to “fans, friends, and family.” He added: “Especially to me for 52 years. This is a very rough day.”
Bonsall leaves behind his wife of 41 years, Mary Ann Bonsall; his daughters, Jennifer Stevens and Sabrina Carver; two grandchildren; and two great-grandsons. Per his request, there will be no funeral, but he encouraged donations be made to The ALS Association or to the Vanderbilt Medical Center ALS and Neuroscience Research Center.
