Ronnie Milsap's Wife & Son Died Within 3 Years – His Family Story

Ronnie Milsap's career is a remarkable testament to talent and the power of music. However, while his professional life was marked by accolades and achievements, his personal life was shaped by profound heartbreak, particularly in recent years.

Ronnie Milsap is one of the most influential figures in country music history, known for blending traditional country sounds with elements of pop, rock, and R&B to create hits that crossed genre lines.

Throughout his long career, he became a household name, producing 35 No. 1 country hits — the third most in country music history, behind only George Strait and Conway Twitty.

Songs like "It Was Almost Like a Song" and "(There's) No Gettin' Over Me" propelled him to fame in the 1970s and 1980s, and he became a trailblazer for other country artists looking to appeal to wider audiences.

His success didn't happen by accident, though. Early on, the singer was encouraged to pursue music by none other than singer and pianist Ray Charles, who convinced him to turn down a full scholarship to study pre-law at Emory University.

It turned out to be a life-changing decision, as Ronnie became a dominant force on the country charts. He earned seven back-to-back No. 1 singles between 1976 and 1978.

This included the breakout hit "It Was Almost Like a Song," which crossed over to No. 16 on the Billboard Hot 100 and No. 7 on the Adult Contemporary chart.

His biggest crossover success came in 1981 with "(There's) No Gettin' Over Me," which topped the country charts and climbed to No. 5 on the Hot 100.

He met his wife, Joyce Reeves, at a dinner party in the early 1960s and Ronnie said it was "love at first sound." The couple went on to build a beautiful life together.

Joyce played a pivotal role in his career, encouraging him to move to Nashville in 1972 and carefully vetting songs that were pitched to him. Their relationship became the foundation of his success, with Joyce serving as his biggest inspiration.

She influenced many of his best-known hits, including "She Keeps the Home Fires Burning," "Daydreams About Night Things," "Smoky Mountain Rain," and "What a Difference You've Made in My Life."

Sadly, tragedy struck the couple's family in 2019. On February 23 of that year, their only son, Todd, was found dead at the age of 49. Todd's son discovered his father's body on a houseboat at Four Corners Marina in Nashville after not hearing from him for two days.

The Metropolitan Nashville Police Department confirmed that Todd's death appeared to be medically related in a post shared on X, formerly Twitter. However, the exact cause was not immediately clear.

The loss of his son devastated the legendary singer. In a heartfelt statement, he described Todd as "a force of joy, life, creativity, and giving from the moment he was born."

Ronnie added, "He made such a mark on our world in his years on this planet. Everyone who met him was richer for it. It is too soon to even understand this loss, and I hope it's something no one else has to bear."

He also had a request for fans, saying, "Please keep his three children, their mothers, and Joyce, and I in your prayers at such a fragile time."

The heartbreak of losing Todd was unimaginable, but a little over two years later, the country star faced another devastating blow. On September 6, 2021, his wife passed away at the age of 81.

Her death marked the end of a partnership that had lasted more than five decades. In an emotional official obituary, Ronnie paid tribute to the woman who had been his greatest supporter and the love of his life.

"There are no words, and not enough songs in the world to explain how much I love my Sapphire," he stated, referring to Joyce by his nickname for her. "She was the music and the feeling inside all of those songs, so if you loved my music, you understand some of how much I loved my beautiful, beautiful wife."

Joyce's influence on her husband's career was profound, and he made sure fans knew just how deeply she was connected to his music. "When people tell me they love my music, I always smile, because that music is pure Joyce," he shared.

"We went through lean times laughing, good times beyond our imagination, tough times where we held on to each other for dear life," the country star further noted.

Though the loss of both his son and wife weighed heavily on the singer, he found comfort in the belief that Joyce was now reunited with Todd.

"Blessedly, she's in heaven with our Todd — and I know somehow from heaven, she's still here with me every day, because that's just how she was," he revealed.

In addition to serving as the inspiration behind many of Ronnie's romantic hits, Joyce was also the reason the singer explored themes of loss in songs like "Still Losing You," "I Wouldn't Have Missed It for the World," and "Lost in the '50s Tonight."

According to reports, Joyce battled leukemia in 2014, which left her unable to attend the ceremony when her husband was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame.

Then, in 2023, with both Joyce and Todd gone, Ronnie prepared to say goodbye once more — to the stage in Nashville that had brought him so much joy over the years.

At 80, he participated in a farewell concert at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, performing in front of a packed crowd during an all-star celebration of his career.

The lineup featured some of the biggest names in country music, including Kelly Clarkson, Little Big Town, Parker McCollum, Justin Moore, Scotty McCreery, and many others who came together to pay tribute to the iconic singer.

The final Nashville concert was deeply emotional for Ronnie, who said, "This is a big, big thing." He was particularly excited to see Kelly's performance of his hit "Almost Like a Song."

For many of the performers, the night was personal. The singer had been a huge influence on their careers, and for some, like Scotty, Ronnie's music was tied to cherished family memories. Scotty recalled riding in the car with his family and singing along to the classic hit "Smoky Mountain Rain."

Reflecting on the event, Ronnie shared that it was a "thrill" to have "these incredibly gifted folks honor my music and me. Each one is a great talent in their own right. I'm humbled by their participation and thankful for their friendships."

Despite the farewell concert being billed as his final show in Nashville, Ronnie made it clear that he wasn't planning to retire completely. "I'll be doing more work, I'm sure, in the upcoming years," he shared.

The country star revealed that he was already working on a new album slated for release in 2024. The project would be a follow-up to his 2004 album "Just for a Thrill," which featured covers of pop and jazz standards.

Turning 82 this year, the singer has shown no signs of slowing down, despite the personal losses he has endured. When asked about retirement, he laughed, saying, "We're gonna keep doing it 'til I can't do it anymore."

Ronnie Milsap's career stands as a monumental achievement in country music, but his personal life has been marked by profound loss.

However, after losing his son and wife in just a few years, he turned to the one constant in his life — music. As the singer wraps up his legendary journey, his story remains one of resilience, love, and an enduring legacy that will continue to inspire.