Blake Shelton paid tribute to his late friend Joe Bonsall, who passed away recently. Joe was a longtime member of The Oak Ridge Boys, a celebrated country and gospel group, from 1973 until his death in 2024.
On Tuesday, Blake, 48, shared a heartfelt photo on his Instagram Stories of himself performing alongside The Oak Ridge Boys. While the exact details of the photo’s location and date are unclear, Blake expressed his sorrow over Joe’s passing, saying: “I am deeply saddened to learn of the passing of my friend Joe Bonsall”.
He fondly recalled: “I have never seen Joe without a genuine smile on his face. He loved singing more than anyone I’ve ever met”. Blake extended his thoughts and prayers to Joe’s family and fellow bandmates, stating: “Today, we have all experienced the loss of someone truly important”.
In 2016, Blake and The Oak Ridge Boys collaborated on the song “Doing It to Country Songs”. Joe’s death was attributed to Lou Gehrig’s disease, or amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), a progressive condition affecting voluntary muscle control, which has no known cure. Fans became aware of Joe’s struggle with the illness in January 2024, four years after he announced his condition and retirement from the band.
Joe is survived by his daughters, Jennifer and Sabrina, from his marriage to Mary Ann, as well as two grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. The Bonsall family shared in a statement that Joe authored 11 books, with his memoir, I See Myself, scheduled for release in November. He cherished his time at the farm and was a devoted fan of the Philadelphia Phillies, but emphasized that his faith and family were his greatest priorities.
The Oak Ridge Boys, consisting of Joe, Richard Sterban, Duane Allen, and William Lee Golden, are famous for hits like “Elvira”, “Come On In” and “Bobbie Sue”. The band was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 2015 and has won five Grammy Awards. As the group embarks on a farewell tour that will last for about a few month, they reflect on their legacy, despite the original lineup no longer being intact. Joe’s love for music, reading, and writing, along with his skills on the banjo, will be fondly remembered by fans and loved ones alike.
Grandmother Reunites with Her Long-Ago Sweetheart at the Care Facility
As it was a usual Sunday afternoon, Emma told her granddaughter Mia that she would like to move to a retirement home. She told her granddaughter that she was thinking about moving once again.
As Mia understand that her grandmother wanted to be with people in her age, she stated that her grandmother deserves to be happy.
A woman and her grandmother talking in their living room | Source: Midjourney
As Emma stated again, she told her granddaughter that she is feeling like a burden while she was staying with them, and having people on her age around her would make her feel better.
Mia told her grandmother that she is supporting her in her decision. Few weeks later, they took Emma to her retirement home. The crew of the retirement house were great as they were constantly smiling, and the place was great too.
After the registration, the family were waiting for coffee in the local cafe. At that moment, Emma saw Jack, her long-lost lover.
“Is that you, Peter?”
“Emma? How long has it been?”
An elderly man standing in a nursing home | Source: Midjourney
Mia asked to her grandmother, “Grammy, who is this you’re talking to?”
“My dear Mia, this is Jack, and Jack, this is my granddaughter, Mia.”
Jack turned to Mia, “Nice to meet with you Mia. Emma and I were very close back in the day.”
As the family were shocked, they sat down together at the table. As they watched their Grammy and Jack talk, they were feeling as if they were watching a romantic movie.
As they shared their old stories with one another and with the family, suddenly, Emma started to cry silently. Jack hugged to Emma as she started to sobbing.
A very sad-looking elderly woman is sitting in a nursing home’s café | Source: Midjourney
“What’s wrong?” he asked.
“Jack, I can’t forgive myself for what I’ve done. You are the father of my son, James.”
Jack was shocked, as he couldn’t give a proper sentence. “How… But… Why did you… Why a secret…”
Then Emma continued, “My family were against you Jack. I was in love with you, but they told me that they would disown me if I would be with you. After the night we spent together, James was born.”
An extremely shocked elderly man in a nursing home café | Source: Midjourney
As Jack’s head was spinning, he hold his face in his hands. His breathing became heavier with each inhale.
But as life had to intervene, Jack had told Emma that his family were taking him to a different state so he could study more efficiently. Emma said that she was heartbroken, and Jack stated that he did that for Emma to not have a problem with her family.
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