Cancer touches everyone in some way — whether it’s through a loved one, a friend’s battle or a personal diagnosis — and country stars are no exception.
What Are the Cancer Statistics in America?
The NIH’s National Cancer Institute estimates that around 2 million people are diagnosed with cancer in the United States alone each year. In 2025, an estimated 618,120 people in the United States are expected to die of the disease.
Those grim statistics are a stark reminder of just how many families are affected by this terrible disease.
In country music, many artists have shared their personal stories, putting a face on the battle against cancer.
Read More: Country Stars Who Are Living With Serious Health Conditions
Which Country Stars Have Had Cancer?
Jo Dee Messina, Lari White and Joey Feek are three country singers who have publicly shared their experiences with cancer. Messina has recovered from her bout with the disease and continues to tour and perform.
Tragically, White and Feek both died of the disease.
In recent years, the devastation caused by cancer has weighed on country fans’ minds more heavily than ever. Toby Keith died after a battle with stomach cancer in February 2024, leaving the country music world in mourning.
Fans have also followed the story of Joshua Ray Walker, who announced his colon cancer diagnosis in late 2023. He was just 31 years old at the time.
Thankfully, he’s currently facing a good prognosis: In late 2024, he updated fans to say he’s on the road to recovery, with “no discernible cancer anywhere in my body at the moment.” That was a massive pivot from a month earlier, when he’d been told that the cancer had spread to his lungs.
In this list, you’ll find 35 country stars who’ve fought various forms of cancer. Keep reading to learn their stories.
These Country Stars Have Battled Cancer
Cancer touches almost every family at some point, and country stars are no exception. Tragically, some of them have died of their illnesses. Read on to learn the stories behind stars who have faced cancer diagnoses.
Gallery Credit: Carena Liptak
13 Country Stars Who Are Living With Serious Health Conditions
Carly Pearce, Mark Chesnutt and Colt Ford have all made headlines recently for serious medical problems, but they are not the only country stars living with chronic illness.
Gallery Credit: Sterling Whitaker