Is Nanci Griffith’s Cause of Death Related to a Health Problem?
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There are some rumors about singer, guitarist, and songwriter Nanci Griffith’s cause of death after she passed away on Friday, (August 13, 2021) at the age of 68. May this angel rest in paradise.
The heartbreaking news is spreading on social media since the singer Suzy Bogguss first released Nanci Griffith lost her life in an Instagram post, writing, “My heart is aching😔A beautiful soul that I love has left this earth.”
The post added, “I feel blessed to have many memories of our times together along with most everything she ever recorded. I’m going to spend the day reveling in the articulate masterful legacy she’s left us🌺Rest my dear friend Nanci Griffith💖.”
Nanci Caroline Griffith was born July 6, 1953, raised in Austin, Texas, and lived in Nashville, Tennessee before her passing. Griffith performed many times on the PBS music program Austin City Limits kicked off in 1985 (season 10).
Nanci’s career had spanned a variety of musical genres, predominantly country, folk, and what she terms “folkabilly. She won a Grammy Award for Best Contemporary Folk Album in 1994 for her recording, Other Voices, Other Rooms. In this album, Griffith covered the songs of artists who are her major influences.
One of her famous songs is “From a Distance,” which was written and composed by Julie Gold, although Bette Midler’s version achieved greater commercial success.
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What’s the Tragedy Behind Nanci Griffith’s Cause of Death?
Although no official sources have clarified Nanci Griffith’s cause of death at this time, some claim she recently had health problems, which led to her sudden death.
US day News does not confirm any rumors, but our team is trying to find related information about the tragedy and provide the latest updates as soon as possible.
Griffith’s high school boyfriend, John, lost his life in a motorcycle accident following taking her to the senior prom and subsequently inspired several of her songs. She was married to singer-songwriter Eric Taylor from 1976 to 1982. In the early 1990s, she was engaged to singer-songwriter Tom Kimmel; nevertheless, they never married.
Griffith refers to her backing band as “The Blue Moon Orchestra.” This reference is believed to have been drawn from both the title of one of her earliest albums, Once in a Very Blue Moon, and its title selection, which reached number 85 on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart in 1986.
Similarly, other artists have occasionally achieved greater success than Griffith herself with songs she wrote or co-wrote. For instance, Kathy Mattea had a country music top five hit with a 1986 cover of Griffith’s “Love at the Five and Dime,” and Suzy Bogguss had one of her most significant hits with Griffith’s and Tom Russell’s “Outbound Plane.”
Reactions to Death News of Nanci Griffith
Celebrities’ death news always breaks many hearts; however, fans kindly remember memories, and their idols are alive in their hearts even after death.
Our thoughts and prayers are with Nanci Griffith’s family, friends, fans, bandmates, and all of her loved ones on these tough days. You can also leave a condolence message below the comment box to honor her; Fans widely ask, “what happened to Nanci Griffith?,” So if you have any related information about her passing, please share it with us.
Quickly after the tragic news was released, many of beloved Nanci’s friends and fans expressed their sadness on social media by posting their tributes:
Independent Senator, Singer, Founder of The RISE Foundation, Frances Black, said, “I’m so saddened to hear of the passing of the wonderful Nanci Griffith, I was lucky enough to record a few of Nanci’s songs for my first solo album ‘Talk to Me’ I was so honoured when she came over to Ireland & sang with me on the album. Sleep well, Nanci.”
Grammy-winning folk singer-songwriter Nanci Griffith left us.
A fan wrote, “I am absolutely stunned to learn that Nanci Griffith has died. One of my heroes and biggest influences. And absolute giant in the world of songwriting. My heart is broken,” while another said, “’m gutted. There are 4 artists that I have a complete record/album/music collection. She’s one of them. I’m forever grateful for her and her music. God, this past year and half has taken a chunk of my soul. #nancigriffith.”
A user announced, “So sad to hear of the passing of one of my all-time favourite singers – Nanci Griffith. Saw her many times including the night my mother passed away when it truly felt she was singing Gulf Coast Highway just to me.”
Another tweeted, “Awful to hear that Nanci Griffith has passed away. One of my biggest musical influences, who really reeled me into country music. I first heard her on the NME tape with no name in 1987 and I was hooked. Saw her live in concert 4-5 times. She was wonderful. A great communicator.”
Host of PBS tv show, Michael Londra, reacted to the news in a tweet, reading, “Gutted to hear of the passing of Nanci Griffith. One of my all-time favorite artists. Saw her many times. She loved Ireland.”
More about Nanci Griffith’s Career
In recent years, Griffith has traveled with many other artists, such as Buddy Holly’s band:
- The Crickets
- John Prine
- Iris DeMent
- Suzy Bogguss
- Judy Collins
She had recorded duets with various artists, including:
- Emmylou Harris
- Mary Black
- John Prine
- Don McLean
- Jimmy Buffett
- Dolores Keane
- Willie Nelson
- Adam Duritz
- The Chieftains
- John Stewart
- Darius Rucker
She has also contributed background vocals on many other recordings. Griffith suffered from severe writer’s block for a number of years after 2004, lasting until the 2009 release of her The Loving Kind album.
After some months of limited touring in 2011, her bandmates The Kennedys packed up their professional Manhattan recording studio and relocated it to Nashville, where they placed it in Nanci’s home.
There, Griffith and her backing team, including Pete & Maura Kennedy and Pat McInerney, co-produced her album Intersection over the course of the summer. The album included several new original songs and was released in April 2012 on Proper Records.
In July, it was reported that Griffith was among the incoming class of the Texas Songwriters Hall of Fame.
Griffith moved to a more pop-focused way with 1989’s Storms, produced by Glyn Johns, and resumed the trend with her last MCA album, Late Night Grande Hotel, in 1991.
She shifted to Elektra Records for a time, setting out the covers collection Other Voices, Other Rooms in 1993, with a guest list, including Emmylou Harris, Guy Clark, Iris DeMent, and John Prine, who sang on her version of “Speed of the Sound of Loneliness” and appeared in its video.
Nanci Griffith’s Studio Albums:
| There’s a Light Beyond These Woods | 1978 |
| Poet in My Window | 1982 |
| Once in a Very Blue Moon | 1984 |
| The Last of the True Believers | 1986 |
| Lone Star State of Mind | 1987 |
| Little Love Affairs | 1988 |
| Storms | 1989 |
| Late Night Grande Hotel | 1991 |
| Other Voices, Other Rooms | 1993 |
| Flyer | 1994 |
| Blue Roses from the Moons | 1997 |
| Other Voices, Too (A Trip Back to Bountiful) | 1998 |
| The Dust Bowl Symphony | 1999 |
| Clock Without Hands | 2001 |
| Hearts in Mind | 2004 |
| Ruby’s Torch | 2006 |
| The Loving Kind | 2009 |
| Intersection | 2012 |
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To Nanci’s family, and friends……she was such a HUGE musical inspiration to us over 30 years. She was my most favorite female singer, songwriter…..We loved the way she wrote, and over all these years we learned and performed many many of her songs….We loved her, like we knew her as a friend, although we never met. We saw her in concert and bought all her CD’s. Like you……our hearts are broken today with the loss of this incredible woman. We share in your tears and grief, even though you will never know us either…….She was like a band mate we never had.
Dear Marilyn Barcellos, thanks a million for sharing your heartwarming comment; as you explained, Nanci Griffith was a great personality and unforgettable artist. She will be alive in our hearts and minds forever.
Saddened to hear of Nanci Criffith’s death . First John Prine and now Nanci. The world is a worse place without them.
Dear John, we are so sad that we have to share this tragic news; nevertheless, Nanci Griffith died, she is still alive in our memories. Rest in peace.
Having followed Nancy Griffith’s career almost from the start, I could write for days about her vast talent and inspired vision. But I’ll just say two brief things and leave space for others to weigh in.
The first live rock ‘n’ roll show that I ever saw was the Jimi Hendrix Experience at the Westchester County Center in New York in 1968, and I’ve seen countless shows by rock, jazz, blues, country, and other artists since then. But Ms. Griffith’s show on the night of Valentine’s Day at the Variety Arts Center in Los Angeles in 1992 remains one of the greatest concerts that I’ve ever seen.
KPFK-FM 90.7 Pacifica Radio for Southern California, and in particular Roy Tuckman’s “Something’s Happening” show, are currently fighting to stay on the air. At the moment, the show often begins with a song. I’ve suggested a number of songs that they’ve played including the Byrds’ “Change Is Now,” Sly and the Family Stone’s “Stand!,” Traffic’s “Hidden Treasure,” Todd Rundgren’s “Just One Victory,” and XTC’s “Sacrificial Bonfire.” But the song they played at my suggestion that might have given me the most personal satisfaction was “It’s a Hard Life Wherever You Go.” I hope Ms. Griffith received the email that I sent to her management about this a few weeks ago.
P.S. Microsoft Auto-Mistake apparently changed Nanci to Nancy in my comment above. And you can hear the “Something’s Happening” broadcast that started with “It’s a Hard Life Wherever You Go” streaming at kpfk.org.
Oh, dear Tom Silvestri, we are so sorry for losing your favorite celebrity. We appreciate you for sharing your related memory and heartwarming comment.
When my two girls were little, I played her CDs all the time around the old farmstead we called home. I loved the songs, the voice, the musicianship, everything. Certain lines from her tunes got called up as conventional wisdom around at our house. “Someshould have told her, when beauty’s all you offer hwo soon the world discovers that your beauty’s gone.” “When you can’t find a friend you still got the radio.” “Where would I be in times like these without the songs Loretta wrote?” and more.
Ms. Griffith may have left us, and yes I thought she was beautiful, but beauty was not all she had to offer. She showed her depth and humanity like a beacon.
We offer our deepest sympathies to you and your girls; losing favorite celebrities is one of the hard moments of our life, and yes, you’re right; she was beautiful out and inside as well.
Yet another of the great singer songwriters to leave us.
Rest in peace lovelly lady.
May they both rest in paradise.
I got to enjoy Nanci’s songs/singing many times on the David Letterman’s show, she will be missed
That would be great wouldn’t it. If there was a paradise….
So sad to hear Nanci is gone. I worked with her at”Whats Cooking” in Houston in the late 60’s. Went to see her at Anderson Fair in Houston. I have all her albums and attended 2 of her other concerts with my husband Mike. What happened to her son? She always talked about him when we worked together.
Jeannine Potter Jeannine Frank then.
She was great, undoubtedly. Our thoughts and prayers are with her family and friends.
Our thoughts and our prayers.. do you know what an empty stupid cliche that is?
I don’t pray but as a fan of this beautiful, talented woman since I first heard her in 1986, my thoughts have very much been with her since I had heard that she had died.
Her music and her words along with her beautiful personality and her courage and convictions meant so much to me and it is my regret that I can never tell her how much she meant to me.
Trouble In The Fields meant a lot to me for personal reasons at the time and always will.
But I hope she knew through good times or bad how much she was loved by people all over the world.
I will always remember the times I saw her live.
The first time right beside me in the small town of Carrickmacross in Ireland. I was captivated as much by her stories and anecdotes in her soft Texan accent between her songs as with the songs themselves.
Another time I saw her in a larger theatre venue in Dublin I bribed one of the theatre staff to give me one of the promotional posters from the front windows. I still have it! (It was the last night of a series of performances so they would have been coming down anyway!)
I will always have the regret that I never met her but I will always cherish the joy and memories her music and performances have given me and will continue to do so for the rest of my life.
May this wonderful and talented woman live on in our hearts for a long time to come.
Goodbye Nanci.
And my heartfelt condolences to all of her family, friends, fellow musicians and to all of her fans.
We are not the last of your true believers!
Nanci was an amazing person both inside and out. Her songs helped heal a lot of my pain over the years and bring me great joy. Chris Gibson, the words are only empty if they aren’t backed by true feelings. Nobody can bring her back, but thinking about and remembering someone whom you have lost is often the closest you can do to keep someone alive within you forever. Also, for people who believe in a higher being, sending messages of love and peace out to the universe may send a healing light to those who cared. Finding the right words when you are in pain and you know others are as well is not easy. Please try not to judge people who are hurting, but don’t know how to express it.
I’ve followed Nanci Griffith for 35 years. As sad as her death is, I believe she would have preferred to be hailed as a influential contributor to the music world. She has left a legacy and a lasting mark on her music genre. I celebrate her life and her contributions that have given me many hours of listening, sing-alongs and privilege seeing her live in concert. Rest In Peace. You have given more than most.
Stunned! Feel like part of my life is gone. I listened to her often.
God love this angel, coming your way!! Devastated at the news of her passing. Condolences to all family and friends. followed her in early days of career around Houston (Anderson Fair, Houlihan’s…)Always taken to the heights by her angelic voice and guitar virtuosity. R.I.P. Angel (“…boots…)💕🧖♀️🎶🎸✌😎
I didn’t know her, but I love her.
I first heard her on A Prairie Home Companion.
I sat listening in my car for at least 20 minutes, I HAD to know who she was!
I am so sad that she is gone.
Nancy what what a wonderful singer song writer she was my wife and i just loved her music
we played her tapes in my car in the early years of us going out together and as years went on we
got CDs of her music we would have loved to have met her in person but sadly never happened.
So Nancy we will miss u vert sad to hear of your passing may u rest in peace for ever.
Loved seeing Nanci and John Prine in concert in Northern CA. Both of them were at their best in my opinion. Approximately 1989.
Heaven has received a lovely, loving, singing angel. Deep condolences to everyone, her friends, her family, her fans, who loved her and whose lives were nourished by her presence and her music. I am one of those fans and was, like so many, shocked to learn of her passing. I first heard Nanci’s music and soaring voice playing in the background of a bookstore in Sante Fe New Mexico. “Who IS that” I asked in wonder. I had never heard such a haunting voice. I quickly bought all her CD’s and for over a year I did not listen to anyone else. I feel so fortunate to have seen her in concert and to have experienced the delight of her live performances. This may seem strange to some, but in her passing, Nanci has guided me back to trusting that there is a spirit that guides our lives, just as I was guided to her music during a searching for creativity time in my life. I delight in remembering this time, but while Nanci’s music had once been a dominant presence in my life, I had drifted away from solely listening to her. Still, I always treasured the way she magically came into my life and how I fell in love with her voice and her lyrics. No musical artist ever touched me like she did. Quite coincidentally, just a few days ago, without knowing she had died, I stumbled on a series of her appearances on David Letterman and again was drawn to her, watching her performances for over an hour. The next day I was making an 8 hour drive from Ojai to Oakland and was once again drawn to listen to only her CD’s. I have them all. As I made my journey home so many memories arose recalling the soundtrack her music had been for my life for so long. Upon arriving home, the first thing I saw was Nanci’s Obituary in our local paper that my husband had left out for me. Stunned and shocked and in disbelief at this very sad news, I was also amazed at feeling somehow Nanci had reached out from heaven drawing me to her music once again, just as she had so many years ago. In retrospect it feels very uncanny that I would just happen to see her Letterman performances and want to listen to only her music all the way home, not knowing she had been called home. I imagine many of us assign meaning to the unusual occurrences in our lives. Nanci reappearing as if “out of the blue” in my life is a reminder that when we are deeply connected to someone or something, that connection never dies. Gratefully Nanci remains with us through her music, but also in what she brought to our lives. I have a sense that Nanci would want us to honor, listen and express the song in our own hearts, just as I felt she listened to hers and had the gift of finding words to express what she found there. There was something ethereal in Nanci’s voice and her authentic presence, I know this is what drew me to her. I imagine this is what drew everyone to her. May her memory continue to be a blessing for her family, her friends, and her devoted fans. Rest in glorious melodic peace, gracious angel.
I met Nancy in about 2006 thru a mutual friend.I spent alot of time around her and we didnt talk to much about music.We were both interested in each others storys .I think she was a very humble person and was very respectful of others. R.I.P.
I was fortunate to see her twice: once at the Guthrie in Minneapolis and Artpark in Lewiston NY.
‘I’ve e been a fan for 31 years! Coincidentally the day she passed, and I was unaware, I played a Nanci Griffith Cd, Flyer. My childhood best friend, Taryn and I shared the song Mary Margaret!
I first saw a video of Nanci singing “Once in a Very Blue Moon” about 35 years ago. I instantly fell in love with this angelic lady. Her songs reach deep into a person’s soul. Like the rest of the world I was both shocked and heartbroken of her passing. I recalled a priest’s comment when I lost a relative at a young age “God takes the ripest fruit first”. May God and the angels enjoy her music on a different new shining cloud.
We do have a rock and roll heaven andNanci is a bandleader
I am unable to shake the dust off on my wings and the sleep out of my eye
Absolutely stunned and devastated to learn of Nanci’s passing. Have been a rabid fan since I first purchased “Lone Star State of Mind’ many full moons ago. The world has lost an angel and a really good human being. I’m sharing in the sadness with her family, friends, and many others as we mourn her loss. Thank goodness her legacy as a superior songwriter will live on in her music.
Thanks for sharing your heartwarming tribute. Nanci Griffith is alive in our memories forever.
I can only imagine the glorious lyrics and melodies being composed in heaven by John Prine and Nanci Griffith
It was “love” at first listen for me as well.
Nancy had a way of cutting to the heart of things and always kept it real.
When I saw her perform at The great American Music Hall in San Francisco,
I was mesmerized. I also remember thinking how beautiful and graceful her hands were.
She’s right up there with the likes of Gordon Lightfoot in her ability to tell a story so poignantly
and succinctly in a 3-4 minute song. I learned her song titled “Down And Outer” which I often sang
at the SF folk music club. We will all carry her music and lovely spirit with us one way or another.
I envision her jamming in the heavenly realm with John and other dear friends who have left us.
Thank-you Nancy!
Thanks for sharing your heartwarming comment. She will be remembered with her beautiful face and white heart. Nanci Griffith is alive in our memories.
It’s been a week now and I’m still thinking of Nanci and the wonderful music that she brought my way. All of us that know the Kerrville Folk Festival will miss her. There’s a light beyond these woods Nanci!
Steve
She left instructions that the cause of her death was not to be revealed until a week after she died. It must not of been as sudden as we are to believe. I wish those that know the truth would just come forward with it because stuff like this gives rise to rumor.
now she has the wings to go with her voice.
It was my husband Simon who first introduced me to Nanci Griffiths music back in 1988. We saw her performing in the Royal Albert Hall in London in Oct 1994. Simon treated us to seats in one of the Royal boxes as I was heavily pregnant with our first child . I was able to put my feet up , sit back relax and listen to THE most wonderfully talented singer song writers of our time. We feel so blessed to have heard her playing and singing live 💕 a wonderful memory and she has been a magical part of our lives together since. My daughter born a few weeks after the concert is gifted with music and a beautiful voice.
I think her hearing Nanci may have had something to do with it!! Thank you Nanci for sharing your world and talents with us. Forever in our hearts. Maeve and Simon
Nanci was truly one of the finest singer songwriters on the planet. Her passing leaves a hole in all of her fans hearts. RIP my friend
Gary
Why won’t they tell us how she died? We kived her, and we want to know the whole story.
Loved her, not kived her. Sorry. So why won’t they tell us? What could have been a few days of sadness, has become weeks of wonder.
This beautiful soul I followed from the inception of her career. She is the inspiration behind my learning guitar. I saw her twice in person at Ravinia, and will never forget the experience. My political views which aligned with hers, her spirit, graciousness, beautiful nature, were always so impressive to me. My mother was from the Lone Star state, loved blue bonnets, grandpa worked the rails, and I know they are greeting Nancy somewhere up above the clouds. RIP you wonderful, talented, beautiful woman. Go catch that black bird’s wing. You will always be in all of your ardent fans’ hearts. ❤️❤️❤️
You will be missed Nanci. So talented and honest. RIP
I can’t believe that we’ve lost this beautiful woman with the voice and soul of an angel. God bless your beautiful soul, rest in peace and know that you are missed so very much by so many of us. If heaven wanted an angel’s voice well I guess it got the best. Love always.
I followed this wonderful lady’s music from the first time I heard a song from her, 35 years ago. I travelled all over the UK to see her perform. I can’t believe we’ll never see her again, listen to her stories or hear her sing live so beautifully.
We Love you Nanci!! Such beautiful, one of a kind songs similar to John s live on indefinitely….
XOX W Pa folksters
Still researching Nanci Griffith’s cause of death. If the cause is now ready to be released please advise. I am a late comer to her wonder ways.
Thank you,
Bob
So many, many happy hours listening to Nanci’s music, a lasting gift to the hearts of all. She caught that blackbird’s wing….
It’s been over a month now. I am seeing some sources reporting her death as August 6th, but most say the 13th because thats when Gold Enterprises put out their statement. Why is this so private? Fans & supporters want to know! You can message me at [email protected] if you know something. Love, Bonny in New Mexico.
Did she get the vaccine? Did John Prine get put on remdesivir when he was in hospital? Did Jerry Jeff Walker get put on remdesivir? Remdesivir causes people to drown in fluid because it shuts down the kidneys. Then the medical community blames it on covid. Just curious because there’s thousands of people dying in their sleep or developing heart disease after taking the vaccines. Look at all the collapsed athletes and people in their teens and 20’s dying of heart attacks. It’s unprecedented and I am very suspicious. I see red flags everywhere.
This beautiful American Lady and singer/songwriter/Story Teller came to my ears late in 2022 and she came not with a BANG1 but instead with a quiet introduction to her fantastic voice/guitar mastery and a slight detection of sadness.
No doubt Nanci had experienced her highs and lows through her journey yet she had this remarkable gift offered to any who cared to listen with their heart. Thank you sweet angel for everything I have had the pleasure of listening to. You gave me a mission in life to gather as much music as I could, and am delighted to say my Nanci Griffith library is now complete, all bought and paid for.
May you continue to entertain your God in heaven as I am sure he would give you star billing in the heavens.
You were and will continue to be much loved this life and whatever comes in the next.
Wayne (Dusty) Miller. Vietnam Veteran Australian Army 1969 – 73.
Over here in England , Nanci seemed like a ray of sunshine in a drab world of punk rock and worse. When her records were played on the radio, black and white turned to colour. When artists die they are with us always in the music that will immortalise them. RIP sweet bird of innocence.
I am very late loving Nanci and her music: I just happened to see her on a “Austin City Limits ” TV show. about three months ago. Since then, I have tried to read as much about her life and music as I could find. Her soft beauty was stunning and her unique voice wrapped her lyrics around my heart. I have download the lyrics of my favorite songs of hers and read (or sing along) when listening to them. She used to hold hands while in the school bus with her John. I don’t think she ever got over her loss of him, who she included in the lyrics of two of her songs. Ditto for the passing of her brother John Philip Griffith. I am a cynical, 75 year-old, disabled Vietnam vet and not into hero worship, but I have made exception for her. How could I not.