Joe Diffie's Widow Tara Shuts Down Rumors About His 'Real' Cause Of Death

Country music icon, Joe Diffie passed away on March 29 after contracting coronavirus (COVID-19). Since then, several conspiracy theories have developed, claiming that Diffie's cause of death was something else.

Tara Diffie, the country singer's widow, decided to speak out regarding the rumors. In a post shared on social media, Tara calls the reports claiming the singer died of anything but coronavirus "fake news."

"My husband @officialjoediffie did NOT HAVE LUNG CANCER. His father passed away, same name, November 2018 to stage IV lung cancer," she wrote in the caption. "STOP STARTING FAKE NEWS. I've seen multiple posts and it's upsetting to all of us."

Diffie was 61-years-old when he died in March. On March 27, just two days before passing, he publicly revealed he'd contracted the coronavirus. He was the first country celebrity death as a result of COVID-19, but since then John Prine has also died.

Following Diffie's death, tributes from fans, fellow country music artists, friends and family have poured in. Tara also turned to social media to remember her husband with a heartbreaking post.

"I love you so much @officialjoediffie," she writes in the caption next to the couple's final photo together. "You were the love of my life."

Diffie married Tara in May of 2018. He leaves behind four sons, Parker, Travis, Drew and Tyler, and two daughters, Kara and Kylie.

Diffie was one of the most iconic voices of the '90s, earning him five No. 1 singles in the first half of the decade: “Home,” “If the Devil Danced (In Empty Pockets),” “Third Rock From the Sun,” “Pickup Man,” and “Bigger Than the Beatles.” All in all, he charted 18 Top 10 singles during his illustrious career. The singer-songwriter also won a Grammy for his work on "Same Old Train" in 1998 and an CMA for "I Don't Need a Rocking Chair" in 1993.

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