View source for Joe Diffie

{{short description|American country singer (1958–2020)|bot=PearBOT 5}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=November 2024}}
{{good article}}
{{Infobox musical artist <!-- See Wikipedia:WikiProject_Musicians -->
| name                = Joe Diffie
| image               = Joe Diffie 10-14-17 (cropped).jpg
| caption             = Diffie performing in 2017
| alt = Musician Joe Diffie holding an acoustic guitar.
| birth_name          = Joe Logan Diffie<ref name=pickup/>
| birth_date          = {{birth date|1958|12|28}}<ref name="whitburn" />
| birth_place         = [[Tulsa, Oklahoma]], U.S.
| death_date          = {{death date and age|2020|3|29|1958|12|28}}
| death_place         = [[Nashville, Tennessee]], U.S.
| instrument          = {{hlist|Vocals|guitar}}
| genre               = {{hlist|[[Country music|Country]]<ref name="allmusic"/>|[[neotraditional country]]<ref name="allmusic"/>}}
| occupation          = Singer, songwriter
| discography         = [[Joe Diffie discography]]
| years_active        = 1989–2020
| label               = {{hlist|[[Epic Records|Epic Nashville]]|[[Monument Records|Monument Nashville]]|[[Broken Bow Records|Broken Bow]]|[[Rounder Records|Rounder]]}}
| website             = {{URL|http://www.joediffie.com}}
}}
'''Joe Logan Diffie''' (December 28, 1958 – March 29, 2020) was an American [[country music]] singer and songwriter. After working as a [[demo (music)|demo]] singer in the mid 1980s, he signed with [[Epic Records]]' Nashville division in 1990. Between then and 2004, Diffie charted 35 singles on the ''[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]'' [[Hot Country Songs]] chart, five of which peaked at number one: his debut release "[[Home (Joe Diffie song)|Home]]", "[[If the Devil Danced (In Empty Pockets)]]", "[[Third Rock from the Sun (song)|Third Rock from the Sun]]", "[[Pickup Man]]" (his longest-lasting number-one song, at four weeks) and "[[Bigger Than the Beatles]]". In addition to these singles, he had 12 others reach the top 10 and ten more reach the top 40 on the same chart. He also co-wrote singles for [[Holly Dunn]], [[Tim McGraw]], and [[Jo Dee Messina]], and recorded with [[Mary Chapin Carpenter]], [[George Jones]], and [[Marty Stuart]].

Diffie released seven studio albums, a Christmas album, and a greatest-hits package under the Epic label. He also released one studio album each through [[Monument Records]], [[Broken Bow Records]], and [[Rounder Records]]. Among his albums, 1993's ''[[Honky Tonk Attitude]]'' and 1994's ''[[Third Rock from the Sun]]'' are [[music recording sales certification|certified platinum]] by the [[Recording Industry Association of America]], while 1992's ''[[Regular Joe (album)|Regular Joe]]'' and 1995's ''[[Life's So Funny]]'' are both certified gold. His album, ''[[Homecoming: The Bluegrass Album]]'', was released in late 2010 through Rounder. His style is defined by a [[neotraditionalist country]] influence with a mix of novelty songs and ballads.

Diffie died from complications related to [[COVID-19]] during the [[COVID-19 pandemic|pandemic]] on March 29, 2020, at the age of 61.

==Early life==
Joe Diffie was born into a musical family in [[Tulsa, Oklahoma]], in 1958.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Caramanica |first1=Jon |title=Joe Diffie, Grammy-Winning Country Music Star, Dies at 61 |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2020/03/30/arts/music/joe-diffie-dead-coronavirus.html |access-date=April 30, 2020 |work=[[The New York Times]] |date=March 30, 2020}}</ref> His first musical performance came at age 7, when he performed in "The Muffin Man".<ref name="allmusic">{{cite web |url=https://www.allmusic.com/artist/joe-diffie-mn0000787960/biography |title=Joe Diffie biography |access-date=July 19, 2010 |last=Huey |first=Steve |work=[[Allmusic]]}}</ref> Diffie's father, Joe R., played guitar and banjo, and his mother sang. Following in his father's footsteps, Diffie began to sing at an early age, often listening to the albums in his father's record collection. Diffie has said that his "Mom and Dad claimed that [he] could sing harmony when [he] was three years old."<ref name="stambler">{{cite book|last1=Stambler|first1=Irwin|last2=Landon|first2=Grelun|title=Country Music: The Encyclopedia|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=d18K8QWcEo8C&q=%22joe+diffie%22&pg=PA133|year=2000|publisher=MacMillan|pages=133–135|isbn=9780312264871}}</ref> His family moved to [[San Antonio]], Texas, while he was in the first grade, and subsequently to [[Washington (state)|Washington]], where he attended fourth and fifth grades. Later, he moved to [[Whitehall, Wisconsin]] for the years he was in sixth grade and through his sophomore year of high school at [[Whitehall School District]] (WSD), and eventually moved back to Oklahoma, where he attended high school in [[Velma, Oklahoma|Velma]]. In his last two years in high school, Diffie played football, baseball, and golf in addition to running track; in his senior year, he was recognized as Best All-Around Male Athlete.<ref name="stambler" /> 

After graduating, he attended [[Cameron University]] in [[Lawton, Oklahoma]]. Although he initially earned credits toward medical school, he decided against a medical profession after marrying for the first time in 1977 and ultimately dropped out before graduation.<ref name="stambler" /> Diffie first worked in oil fields, then drove a truck that pumped concrete in the oilfield in [[Alice, Texas]], before he moved back to Duncan to work in a [[foundry]]. During this period, he worked as a musician on the side, first in a gospel group called Higher Purpose, and then in a bluegrass band called Special Edition.<ref name="stambler" /> Diffie then built a recording studio, began touring with Special Edition in adjacent states, and sent [[demo (music)|demonstration]] recordings to publishers in [[Nashville, Tennessee|Nashville]]. [[Hank Thompson (musician)|Hank Thompson]] recorded Diffie's "Love on the Rocks", and [[Randy Travis]] put one of Diffie's songs on hold, but ultimately did not record it.<ref name="allmusic" /><ref name="stambler" />

After the foundry closed in 1986, Diffie declared bankruptcy and sold the studio out of financial necessity. He also divorced his wife, who left with their two children. Diffie spent several months in a state of depression before deciding to move to [[Nashville, Tennessee]].<ref name="stambler"/> There, he took a job at [[Gibson Guitar Corporation]].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=7ccdAAAAIBAJ&pg=4695,2267203&dq=joe-diffie&hl=en|title=Diffie Turns Lost Job into New Career|date=January 13, 1991|work=[[The Victoria Advocate]]|access-date=July 20, 2010}}</ref> While at Gibson, he contacted a songwriter and recorded more demos, including songs that would later be recorded by [[Ricky Van Shelton]], [[Billy Dean]], [[Alabama (band)|Alabama]], and [[the Forester Sisters]].<ref name="opry">{{cite web|url=http://www.opry.com/artists/d/Diffie_Joe.html|title=Opry Member: Joe Diffie|work=Opry.com|access-date=July 27, 2010|archive-date=July 2, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100702082621/http://www.opry.com/artists/d/Diffie_Joe.html|url-status=dead}}</ref> By mid-1989, he quit working at the company  to record demos full-time. Diffie also met Debbie, who later became his second wife. That same year, Diffie was contacted by [[Bob Montgomery (songwriter)|Bob Montgomery]], a songwriter and record producer known for working with [[Buddy Holly]].<ref name="kings"/> Montgomery, who was then the vice president of [[A&R]] at [[Epic Records]], said that he wanted to sign Diffie to a contract with the label, but had to put the singer on hold for a year.<ref name="stambler" /> In the meantime, [[Holly Dunn]] released "[[There Goes My Heart Again]]", which Diffie co-wrote and sang the backing vocals.<ref name="allmusic" /><ref>{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=UDkgAAAAIBAJ&pg=7060,6118723&dq=joe-diffie&hl=en|title=Joe Diffie's Loss Was Joe Diffie's Gain|last=Sharpe|first=Jerry|date=November 24, 1990|work=[[The Pittsburgh Press]]|access-date=July 20, 2010}}</ref> Following this song's chart success, Diffie signed with Epic in early 1990.<ref name="whitburn" />

==Professional music career==

===1990–1991: ''A Thousand Winding Roads''===
The label released Diffie's debut album, ''[[A Thousand Winding Roads]]'', at the end of 1990,<ref name="allmusic" /> with Montgomery and Johnny Slate as producers.<ref name="kings">{{cite book|last=Kingsbury|first=Paul|title=The Grand Ole Opry history of country music|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=MgY5AQAAIAAJ&q=%22bob+montgomery%22+%22joe+diffie%22|year=1995|publisher=Villard Books|isbn=0-679-43556-5|page=238}}</ref> Its first single, "[[Home (Joe Diffie song)|Home]]", reached the top of the ''[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]'' [[Hot Country Songs]] chart. The song also reached number one on the country music charts published by ''[[Radio & Records]]'' and ''[[Gavin Report]]'', making him the first country music artist to have a number-one debut single on all three charts,<ref name="cst">{{cite web |url=http://www.countrystandardtime.com/d/article.asp?xid=397 |title=Joe Diffie gets back to roots |access-date=July 28, 2010 |last=Netherland |first=Tom |date=September 1999 |work=[[Country Standard Time]].com}}</ref> as well as the first country music artist to have a debut single spend more than one week in the number-one position at the latter two publications.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/chicagotribune/access/28773051.html?dids=28773051:28773051&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&type=current&date=Nov+11%2C+1990&author=Jack+Hurst%2C+Country+music+writer&pub=Chicago+Tribune+%28pre-1997+Fulltext%29&desc=A+%60Home%27+run+Joe+Diffie+trades+demos+for+a+hot+debut+single&pqatl=google|archive-url=https://archive.today/20120713032753/http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/chicagotribune/access/28773051.html?dids=28773051:28773051&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&type=current&date=Nov+11,+1990&author=Jack+Hurst,+Country+music+writer&pub=Chicago+Tribune+(pre-1997+Fulltext)&desc=A+%60Home'+run+Joe+Diffie+trades+demos+for+a+hot+debut+single&pqatl=google|url-status=dead|archive-date=July 13, 2012|title=A 'Home' run: Joe Diffie trades demos for a hot debut single|last=Hurst|first=Jack|date=November 11, 1990|work=[[The Chicago Tribune]]|page=14|access-date=July 29, 2010}}</ref> Diffie co-wrote the album's second and fourth releases, "[[If You Want Me To]]" and "[[New Way (To Light Up an Old Flame)]]";<ref name="stambler" /> both peaked at number two on ''Billboard'',<ref name="whitburn" /> and the former reached number one on the ''[[RPM (magazine)|RPM]]'' country music charts in Canada.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/rpm/028020-119.01-e.php?brws_s=1&file_num=nlc008388.1472&type=1&interval=24&PHPSESSID=6odu72s4r3jpla26nbgif20bk5|title=''RPM'' Country Tracks|date=March 23, 1991|work=RPM|access-date=July 27, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121017214154/http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/rpm/028020-119.01-e.php?brws_s=1&file_num=nlc008388.1472&type=1&interval=24&PHPSESSID=6odu72s4r3jpla26nbgif20bk5|archive-date=October 17, 2012|url-status=dead}}</ref> Between these two songs, "[[If the Devil Danced (In Empty Pockets)]]" became Diffie's second ''Billboard'' number one.<ref name="allmusic"/> The album itself peaked at number 23 on [[Top Country Albums]].<ref name="amgalbum">{{cite web|url={{AllMusic|class=artist|id=p1589|pure_url=yes}}|title=Joe Diffie: Billboard Albums|work=Allmusic|access-date=July 29, 2010}}</ref> Diffie also performed his first concerts in late 1990, touring with [[George Strait]] and [[Steve Wariner]].<ref name="stambler" /> That same year, ''[[Cash Box]]'' named him Male Vocalist of the year.<ref name="readinglaughs">{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=_H4xAAAAIBAJ&pg=3699,1520786&dq=joe-diffie+better-off-gone&hl=en|title=Joe Diffie leaving behind laughs for love|last=Rasmussen|first=Tracy|date=August 20, 1999|work=Reading Eagle|access-date=July 27, 2010}}</ref> In 1991, Diffie co-wrote the tracks "Livin' on What's Left of Your Love" and "Memory Lane" on labelmate [[Keith Palmer (singer)|Keith Palmer]]'s debut album.<ref>{{cite AV media notes |title=Keith Palmer |others=Keith Palmer |year=1991 |type=CD insert |publisher=Epic Records |id=48611}}</ref>

===1992: ''Regular Joe''===
Diffie's second album, titled ''[[Regular Joe (album)|Regular Joe]]'', was released in 1992 and was certified gold by the [[Recording Industry Association of America]].<ref name="riaa">{{cite web|url=https://www.riaa.com/goldandplatinumdata.php?table=SEARCH_RESULTS&artist=Joe%20Diffie&format=ALBUM&go=Search&perPage=50|title=RIAA – Gold & Platinum – April 3, 2010: Joe Diffie certified albums|publisher=[[Recording Industry Association of America]]|access-date=July 29, 2010}}</ref> The first two singles from the album both peaked at number five on ''Billboard'': "[[Is It Cold in Here]]" and "[[Ships That Don't Come In]]",<ref name="allmusic" /> with the latter reaching number one on ''Radio & Records''.<ref name="stambler" /> "Ships That Don't Come In" was co-written by [[Dave Gibson (American songwriter)|Dave Gibson]], also recording on Epic at the time as a member of the [[Gibson/Miller Band]]. The album's third single, "[[Next Thing Smokin']]", made its chart debut one month before "[[Not Too Much to Ask]]", a duet that Diffie recorded with Mary Chapin Carpenter for her album ''[[Come On Come On]]''.<ref>{{cite AV media notes |title=Come On Come On |title-link=Come On Come On |others=Mary Chapin Carpenter |year=1992 |type=CD booklet |publisher=Columbia Records |id=48881}}</ref> Both of these songs made the country top 20, respectively reaching 16 and 15, and the duet was nominated for a [[Grammy Award for Best Country Collaboration with Vocals]] at the 35th Grammy Awards in 1993.<ref name="oldies">{{cite web |url=http://www.oldies.com/artist-biography/Joe-Diffie.html |title=Joe Diffie Biography |access-date=July 19, 2010 |work=Oldies.com}}</ref> The final single from ''Regular Joe'' was "Startin' Over Blues" (originally the [[B-side]] to "Ships That Don't Come In"), which peaked at number 41.<ref name="whitburn" /> Also included on the album was the ballad "[[Goodnight Sweetheart (Joe Diffie song)|Goodnight Sweetheart]]", later a top-10 country hit in 1996 for [[David Kersh]].

[[Brian Mansfield]] gave the album a positive review in [[Allmusic]], saying that it "has all the clichés of country music, and all the good stuff, too."<ref>{{cite web|url={{AllMusic|class=album|id=r123500|pure_url=yes}}|title=''Regular Joe'' review|last=Mansfield|first=Brian|work=Allmusic|access-date=July 20, 2010}}</ref> ''[[Richmond Times-Dispatch]]'' reviewer Norman Rowe referred to Diffie as a "pleasant surprise" and called "Is It Cold in Here" "the sort of tear-jerker [[George Jones]] has worked wonders with in the past".<ref>{{cite news|url=https://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/timesdispatch/access/614585041.html?dids=614585041:614585041&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&type=current&date=Feb+16%2C+1992&author=NORMAN+ROWE&pub=Richmond+Times+-+Dispatch&desc=%27+REGULAR+JOE%27+DIFFIE+PROVES+SUCCESS+OF+DEBUT+WAS+NO+FLUKE&pqatl=google|archive-url=https://archive.today/20120730051033/http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/timesdispatch/access/614585041.html?dids=614585041:614585041&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&type=current&date=Feb+16,+1992&author=NORMAN+ROWE&pub=Richmond+Times+-+Dispatch&desc='+REGULAR+JOE'+DIFFIE+PROVES+SUCCESS+OF+DEBUT+WAS+NO+FLUKE&pqatl=google|url-status=dead|archive-date=July 30, 2012|title='Regular Joe' Diffie proves success of debut was no fluke|last=Rowe|first=Norman|date=February 16, 1992|work=Richmond Times-Dispatch|access-date=July 21, 2010}}</ref> [[Alanna Nash]] of ''[[Entertainment Weekly]]'' thought that Diffie "[sang] in his natural voice", but thought that its material "punches all the predictable thematic buttons."<ref>{{cite magazine|url=http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,309599,00.html|title=''Regular Joe'' review|last=Nash|first=Alanna|date=February 21, 1992|magazine=Entertainment Weekly|access-date=July 21, 2010|archive-date=December 21, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091221102643/http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,309599,00.html|url-status=dead}}</ref>

Also in 1992, Diffie was nominated by the [[Academy of Country Music]] for Top New Male Vocalist, along with [[Billy Dean]] and [[Mark Chesnutt]], but lost to Billy.

===1993: ''Honky Tonk Attitude''===
''[[Honky Tonk Attitude]]'' (1993) shipped a million copies in the United States and was certified platinum.<ref name="allmusic" /> The first three singles from the album all reached the top 10 on the country singles charts: the [[Honky Tonk Attitude (song)|title track]] (which Diffie co-wrote) and the [[Dennis Linde]] composition "[[John Deere Green]]" both peaked at number five, with the number-three "[[Prop Me Up Beside the Jukebox (If I Die)]]" in between. "John Deere Green" also accounted for Diffie's first appearance on the [[Billboard Hot 100|''Billboard'' Hot 100]], where it peaked at number 69.<ref name="whitburn" /> "[[In My Own Backyard]]", the last release from ''Honky Tonk Attitude'', reached number 19 on the country charts. Diffie told the ''[[Fort Worth Star-Telegram]]'' that the album was "a little rowdier than the first two."<ref>{{cite news|url=http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=ST&s_site=dfw&p_multi=ST&p_theme=realcities&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&p_topdoc=1&p_text_direct-0=0EAF8F134A502DC0&p_field_direct-0=document_id&p_perpage=10&p_sort=YMD_date:D&s_trackval=GooglePM|title=Joe Diffie has a new 'Attitude' these days|date=August 1, 1993|work=Fort Worth Star-Telegram|access-date=July 21, 2010}}</ref> Nash rated the album more favorably than the ones before it, saying that Diffie "is maturing into a first-rate interpreter of working-class woes."<ref>{{cite magazine|url=http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,306286,00.html|title=''Honky Tonk Attitude'' review|last=Nash|first=Alanna|date=April 23, 1993|magazine=Entertainment Weekly|access-date=July 21, 2010|archive-date=April 21, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090421070248/http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,306286,00.html|url-status=dead}}</ref>

Also in 1993, Diffie was inducted into the [[Grand Ole Opry]].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=bxoyAAAAIBAJ&pg=5633,3877242&dq=joe-diffie&hl=en|title=Joe Diffie joining Grand Ole Opry|date=November 23, 1993|work=[[Reading Eagle]]|access-date=July 21, 2010}}</ref> Several other artists and he  won that year's [[Country Music Association]] award for Vocal Event of the Year, for their guest vocals on George Jones's "[[I Don't Need Your Rockin' Chair]]".<ref name="rockin">Stambler and Landon, p. 226</ref> Tim McGraw also included two of Diffie's songs on his 1993 [[Tim McGraw (album)|debut album]]: another version of "Memory Lane", which he released as a single, and "Tears in the Rain".<ref>{{cite web|url={{AllMusic|class=album|id=r169755|pure_url=yes}}|title=''Tim McGraw'' review|last=Mansfield|first=Brian|author2=Thom Jurek |work=Allmusic|access-date=March 8, 2010}}</ref>

===1994–1996: ''Third Rock from the Sun'', ''Mr. Christmas'', and ''Life's So Funny''===
[[File:Gary Barlow performing in Glasgow, 2017 (2).jpg|200px|thumb|right|Joe Diffie's "So Help Me Girl" was later covered by Gary Barlow.|alt=A waist-up shot of Gary Barlow, singing into a microphone.]]
''[[Third Rock from the Sun]]'' was Diffie's highest-charting top country album (where it reached number six<ref name="amgalbum"/>), as well as his second consecutive platinum album.<ref name="riaa"/> It was also the first album that he co-produced, doing so with Johnny Slate.<ref>{{cite AV media notes |title=Third Rock from the Sun |others=Joe Diffie |year=1994 |type=cassette insert |publisher=Epic Records |id=64357}}</ref> The album included two consecutive number-one singles in its [[Third Rock from the Sun (song)|title track]] and in "[[Pickup Man]]". The latter of those two songs was Diffie's longest-lasting number one, at four weeks. Both songs also entered the hot 100, respectively peaking at 84 and 60.<ref name="whitburn" /> In 2005, "Pickup Man" was repurposed by the [[Applebee's]] restaurant chain for use in its television commercials.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.cmt.com/news/news-in-brief/1495181/diffies-pickup-man-remade-for-applebees-ad.jhtml |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100325084351/http://www.cmt.com/news/news-in-brief/1495181/diffies-pickup-man-remade-for-applebees-ad.jhtml |url-status=dead |archive-date=March 25, 2010 |title=Diffie's "Pickup Man" Remade for Applebee's Ad |access-date=July 19, 2010 |work=CMT.com}}</ref> The album's next single, "[[So Help Me Girl]]", peaked at number two on the country charts and 84 on the pop charts, in addition to topping the ''RPM'' country charts.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/rpm/028020-119.01-e.php?brws_s=1&file_num=nlc008388.9044&type=1&interval=24&PHPSESSID=pbmhin1cp8jd8p8q5scdlmudc0|title=RPM Country Tracks|date=May 1, 1995|work=RPM|access-date=July 27, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121017214135/http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/rpm/028020-119.01-e.php?brws_s=1&file_num=nlc008388.9044&type=1&interval=24&PHPSESSID=pbmhin1cp8jd8p8q5scdlmudc0|archive-date=October 17, 2012|url-status=dead}}</ref> The song was covered in 1997 by English singer [[Gary Barlow]].<ref>{{cite magazine|last=Bronson|first=Fred|date=October 25, 1997|title=Jackson Lassoes No. 1 with 'Rope'|magazine=Billboard|page=102|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=0wkEAAAAMBAJ&q=%22Gary+barlow%22+%22joe+diffie%22&pg=PA102}}</ref> Diffie followed the song with [[I'm in Love with a Capital "U"|"I'm in Love with a Capital 'U{{'"}}]] and "[[That Road Not Taken]]", which respectively reached country peaks of 21 and 40.<ref name="whitburn" /> ''Third Rock from the Sun'' received critical praise for adding more rock and up-tempo material. Thom Owens wrote that he began "adding more rock flourishes" on this album,<ref name="owens">{{cite web|url={{AllMusic|class=album|id=r203090|pure_url=yes}}|title=''Third Rock from the Sun'' review|last=Owens|first=Thom|work=Allmusic|access-date=July 20, 2010}}</ref> and Nash said that Diffie "not only understands the blue-collar ethic from the inside out – he's also familiar with its humorous underbelly."<ref>{{cite magazine|url=http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,303121,00.html|title=''Third Rock from the Sun'' review|last=Nash|first=Alanna|date=July 29, 1994|magazine=Entertainment Weekly|access-date=July 20, 2010|archive-date=April 21, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090421105833/http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,303121,00.html|url-status=dead}}</ref>

In mid-1995, he recorded the title track for [[Columbia Records]]'s ''Runnin' Wide Open'', an album comprising [[NASCAR]]-themed songs by various artists.<ref>{{cite web|url={{AllMusic|class=album|id=r229148|pure_url=yes}}|title=''Runnin' Wide Open'' review|last=Phares|first=Heather|work=Allmusic|access-date=July 21, 2010}}</ref> He issued two albums later in the year. The first was a Christmas project titled ''[[Mr. Christmas (Joe Diffie album)|Mr. Christmas]]'', which comprised covers of traditional Christmas songs, as well as newly written songs. One of these original songs, "LeRoy the Redneck Reindeer", was issued as a Christmas single late in the year, peaking at number 33 upon its initial release and re-entering the country music charts for the next two years based on Christmas airplay.<ref name="whitburn" /> Of this album, [[Stephen Thomas Erlewine]] said, "it's pleasant, but it's not particularly distinguished."<ref>{{cite web|url={{AllMusic|class=album|id=r229321|pure_url=yes}}|title=''Mr. Christmas'' review|last=Erlewine|first=Stephen Thomas|author-link=Stephen Thomas Erlewine|work=Allmusic|access-date=July 20, 2010}}</ref>

His other release that year was the studio album ''[[Life's So Funny]]''. It was led off by "[[Bigger Than the Beatles]]", the last number-one single of his career. The album's other two singles were "[[C-O-U-N-T-R-Y]]" and "[[Whole Lotta Gone]]" (previously the B-side of "Bigger Than the Beatles"), both of which peaked at 23 on the country music charts in 1996.<ref name="whitburn">{{cite book|last=Whitburn|first=Joel|author-link=Joel Whitburn|title=Hot Country Songs 1944 to 2008|publisher=Record Research, Inc|year=2008|pages=125–126|isbn=978-0-89820-177-2}}</ref> ''[[Country Standard Time]]'' critic George Hauenstein praised the album for containing "songs that are slightly different from [what] those other artists sing."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.countrystandardtime.com/d/cdreview.asp?xid=1424|title=''Life's So Funny'' review|last=Hauenstein|first=George|work=Country Standard Time|access-date=July 20, 2010}}</ref> Owens thought that it was a "varied collection of ballads and midtempo rockers", but said that it was not "as consistently engaging" as ''Third Rock from the Sun''.<ref>{{cite web|url={{AllMusic|class=album|id=r229369|pure_url=yes}}|title=''Life's So Funny'' review|last=Owens|first=Thom|work=Allmusic|access-date=July 20, 2010}}</ref> Nash gave "Bigger Than the Beatles" a C-minus rating, calling it "just a lame device to evoke the names of beloved rock heroes."<ref>{{cite magazine|url=http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,290929,00.html|title="Bigger Than the Beatles" review|last=Nash|first=Alanna|date=January 12, 1996|magazine=Entertainment Weekly|access-date=July 21, 2010|archive-date=April 27, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090427124255/http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,290929,00.html|url-status=dead}}</ref>

===1997–1998: ''Twice Upon a Time'' and ''Greatest Hits''===
''[[Twice Upon a Time (Joe Diffie album)|Twice Upon a Time]]'' followed in 1997. Its singles all failed to make the top 10 on the country charts, with lead-off "[[This Is Your Brain]]" reaching number 25, followed by "[[Somethin' Like This]]" at number 40 and "The Promised Land" at number 61, the lowest-peaking single of his career.<ref name="whitburn" /> The album also failed to achieve a gold certification. Doug Virden and Drew Womack, who then recorded on Epic in the band [[Sons of the Desert (band)|Sons of the Desert]], sang backing vocals on it.<ref>{{cite AV media notes |title=Twice Upon a Time |others=Joe Diffie |year=1997 |type=CD booklet |publisher=Epic Records |id=67693}}</ref> Also included on the album was "I Got a Feelin'", which [[Tracy Lawrence]] previously recorded on his 1994 album ''[[I See It Now]]''.<ref>{{cite AV media notes |title=I See It Now |others=Tracy Lawrence |year=1994 |type=cassette |publisher=Atlantic Records |id=82656}}</ref> Jeffrey B. Remz criticized the two novelty songs on ''Twice Upon a Time'' for lacking substance, and thought that most of the ballads were well-sung, but that the production "lacks any soul."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.countrystandardtime.com/d/cdreview.asp?xid=1423|title=''Twice Upon a Time'' review|last=Remz|first=Jeffrey B.|work=Country Standard Time|access-date=July 20, 2010}}</ref> Owens said that it "doesn't offer anything new or especially remarkable from Joe Diffie."<ref>{{cite web|url={{AllMusic|class=album|id=r260000|pure_url=yes}}|title=''Twice Upon a Time'' review|last=Owens|first=Thom|work=Allmusic|access-date=July 20, 2010}}</ref>

In mid-1998, Epic Records released Diffie's ''[[Greatest Hits (Joe Diffie album)|Greatest Hits]]'' package, which featured three new cuts. Among these were "[[Texas Size Heartache]]", and its B-side, "Poor Me", which respectively reached numbers four and 43 on the country charts. At the end of the year, Diffie recorded a cover of [[Charlie Rich]]'s "[[Behind Closed Doors (Charlie Rich song)|Behind Closed Doors]]" for the multiple-artist album ''[[A Tribute to Tradition]]'' on Columbia Records. Diffie's version of the song peaked at number 64 based on unsolicited airplay.<ref name="whitburn" /> He also contributed to another cut on that album, "Same Old Train", which featured [[Marty Stuart]] and 11 other country music singers. This song peaked at 59 on the country charts and won the 1999 [[Grammy Award for Best Country Collaboration with Vocals]] for all artists involved.<ref>Whitburn, p. 367</ref>

===1999–2000: ''A Night to Remember''===
His final album for Epic Records, titled ''[[A Night to Remember (Joe Diffie album)|A Night to Remember]]'', was released in 1999. As he did with the new cuts for his ''Greatest Hits'' package, Diffie worked with producers [[Don Cook]] and [[Lonnie Wilson]], a friend of Diffie's who worked primarily as a session drummer and songwriter, and formerly fronted the band [[Bandana (country band)|Bandana]].<ref name="night">{{cite magazine|last=Price|first=Deborah Evans|date=April 3, 1999|title=Epic's Diffie Makes Some Changes for 'Night to Remember'|magazine=Billboard|pages=44–45|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=SQ0EAAAAMBAJ&q=%22joe+diffie%22&pg=PA45}}</ref> Its [[A Night to Remember (Joe Diffie song)|title track]] spent 29 weeks on the country charts and peaked at number six; it was his only top 40 on the hot 100, where it reached number 38.<ref name="whitburn" /> After this song came "[[The Quittin' Kind]]" and "[[It's Always Somethin']]&nbsp;", which respectively reached 21 and five on the country charts, and 90 and 57 on the hot 100. The latter spent 37 weeks on the country music charts, the longest chart run achieved by any of his singles.<ref name="whitburn" />

''Country Standard Time'' gave the album a positive review for having "nary a novelty tune in the bunch",<ref name="cstnight">{{cite web|url=http://www.countrystandardtime.com/d/cdreview.asp?xid=1421|title=''A Night to Remember'' review|last=Netherland|first=Tom|work=Country Standard Time|access-date=July 21, 2010}}</ref> and Nash wrote that it had a "surprising depth of feeling."<ref name="ewnight" /> Erlewine also noted that the album did not contain any novelty songs, and called it the "purest country album he's ever made."<ref>{{cite web|url={{AllMusic|class=album|id=r415807|pure_url=yes}}|title=''A Night to Remember'' review|last=Erlewine|first=Stephen Thomas|work=Allmusic|access-date=July 21, 2010}}</ref>

===2001–2004: ''In Another World'' and ''Tougher Than Nails''===
In 2001, Sony Nashville transferred Diffie from its Epic division to the [[Monument Records]] division due to a corporate decision that Epic had too many artists and Monument had too few.<ref name="diffieworld">{{cite magazine|last=Waddell|first=Ray|date=October 27, 2001|title=Diffie's 'World' View on Monument|magazine=Billboard|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=kBEEAAAAMBAJ&q=%22joe+diffie%22&pg=PA13}}</ref> Cook and Wilson also produced his only album for Monument, which was titled ''[[In Another World (Joe Diffie album)|In Another World]]''. Regarding this album, Diffie told ''Billboard'' that its material had a common theme of love, and that he wanted to create a more contemporary sound through the production.<ref name="diffieworld" /> The album's [[In Another World (song)|title track]] peaked at number 10 on the country charts and number 66 on the hot 100. Only one other single was released from the album: "This Pretender" (co-written by [[Rascal Flatts]] lead singer [[Gary LeVox]]), which failed to make the country music Top 40.<ref name="whitburn" />

''In Another World'' received mixed reviews. ''[[Country Weekly]]'' reviewer wrote that Diffie "deals with adult emotions" and described the title track as "a shimmering ballad perfect for his expressive tenor."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://web.countryweekly.com/reviews/85|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130812185338/http://web.countryweekly.com/reviews/85|url-status=dead|archive-date=August 12, 2013|title=''In Another World'' review|last=Marymont|first=Mark|date=February 19, 2002|work=[[Country Weekly]]|access-date=July 21, 2010}}</ref> William Ruhlmann called the album "sturdy formula country",<ref name="another" /> and Jeffrey B. Remz of ''Country Standard Time'' said that he "easily interpret[s]" the songs, but "doesn't seem to be doing anything too dramatically different."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.countrystandardtime.com/d/cdreview.asp?xid=1420|title=''In Another World'' review|last=Remz|first=Jeffrey B.|work=Country Standard Time|access-date=July 21, 2010}}</ref> After Monument closed its Nashville branch, Diffie began touring with [[Mark Chesnutt]] and [[Tracy Lawrence]] on the Rockin' Roadhouse Tour, which began in 2002.<ref name="cmt1" /> That same year, Diffie was inducted into the [[Oklahoma Music Hall of Fame]].<ref name="opry" />

Diffie signed to the independent [[Broken Bow Records]] in 2003. His only album for the label was ''[[Tougher Than Nails]]'', which Wilson and he produced with [[Buddy Cannon]]. It included five songs that Diffie co-wrote, as well as a duet with George Jones entitled "What Would Waylon Do".<ref name="cmt1">{{cite web |url=http://www.cmt.com/news/country-music/1489563/joe-diffie-resurfaces-with-tougher-than-nails.jhtml |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100325091820/http://www.cmt.com/news/country-music/1489563/joe-diffie-resurfaces-with-tougher-than-nails.jhtml |url-status=dead |archive-date=March 25, 2010 |title=Joe Diffie Resurfaces With "Tougher Than Nails" |access-date=July 19, 2010 |work=[[Country Music Television|CMT]].com}}</ref> ''Tougher Than Nails'' produced a top-20 hit in its [[Tougher Than Nails (song)|title track]], followed by "If I Could Only Bring You Back", which peaked at number 50 and spent only eight weeks on the charts. This latter song was also his last charting single.<ref name="whitburn" /> Erlewine said of the album's content, "there's nothing new, but there doesn't need to be",<ref>{{cite web|url={{AllMusic|class=album|id=r690464|pure_url=yes}}|title=''Tougher Than Nails'' review|last=Erlewine|first=Stephen Thomas|work=Allmusic|access-date=July 21, 2010}}</ref> and ''Country Standard Time'' said that the album "shows that he's still got the talent that took him to stardom in the first place."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.countrystandardtime.com/d/cdreview.asp?xid=1419|title=''Tougher Than Nails'' review|last=Weisberger|first=Jon|work=Country Standard Time|access-date=July 21, 2010}}</ref>

[[File:Jo-dee-messina-2016.jpg|200px|thumb|left|Jo Dee Messina had a hit single in 2005 with a cover of Diffie's "My Give a Damn's Busted".|alt=Singer Jo Dee Messina standing on a stage.]]

In 2005, Jo Dee Messina released "[[My Give a Damn's Busted]]", which Diffie co-wrote and originally recorded on ''In Another World''. Her version of the song, included on her album ''[[Delicious Surprise]]'', was a number-one single that year.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.bmi.com/news/entry/234448 |title=Success Floods Messina Via "My Give a Damn's Busted" |access-date=July 19, 2010 |work=[[Broadcast Music Incorporated]]|date=May 17, 2005 }}</ref>

===2004–2020: ''The Ultimate Collection'' and later activity===
After leaving Broken Bow, Diffie continued to tour, primarily playing smaller venues and [[county fair]]s.<ref name="ledger">{{cite web|url=http://www.maysville-online.com/news/article_032d6f2e-fb75-51cf-9bd2-e0d012282221.html|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130128101324/http://www.maysville-online.com/news/article_032d6f2e-fb75-51cf-9bd2-e0d012282221.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=January 28, 2013|title=Joe Diffie ready to entertain at Brown County Fair|last=Carlson|first=Carrie|date=September 25, 2006|work=The Ledger Independent|access-date=July 21, 2010}}</ref> In 2007, he joined with [[Lonestar]], [[Charlie Daniels]], and [[Craig Morgan (singer)|Craig Morgan]] to perform a benefit concert for Sgt. Kevin Downs, a soldier who was severely wounded in [[Iraq]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cmt.com/news/articles/1564872/20070716/lonestar.jhtml|archive-url=https://archive.today/20120723092615/http://www.cmt.com/news/articles/1564872/20070716/lonestar.jhtml|url-status=dead|archive-date=July 23, 2012|title=Lonestar, Daniels and Morgan Perform for Wounded Soldier|date=July 16, 2007|work=CMT.com|access-date=July 21, 2010}}</ref> In 2008, Diffie compiled and released a live album,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.gactv.com/gac/nw_headlines/article/0,3034,GAC_26063_5918664_,00.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081122033556/http://www.gactv.com/gac/nw_headlines/article/0,3034,GAC_26063_5918664_,00.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=November 22, 2008 |title=Joe Diffie Tackles Live Album |access-date=August 8, 2008 |work=gactv.com }}</ref> and he signed to [[Rounder Records]] later in that year.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.countrystandardtime.com/news/newsitem.asp?xid=2145|title=Joe Diffie signs with Rounder|date=September 28, 2008|work=Country Standard Time|access-date=July 20, 2010}}</ref> Rounder released an album called ''The Ultimate Collection'', which comprised re-recordings of his hits for Epic.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.countrystandardtime.com/d/cdreview.asp?xid=4347|title=''The Ultimate Collection'' review|last=Sudhalter|first=Michael|work=Country Standard Time|access-date=July 21, 2010}}</ref>

His next project for Rounder, ''[[Homecoming: The Bluegrass Album]]'', was released on October 26, 2010. It includes collaborations with [[The Grascals]], [[Rhonda Vincent]], and other bluegrass artists. Diffie toured at various county fairs in August 2010 in support of it.<ref name="grass">{{cite web|url=http://www.countrystandardtime.com/news/newsitem.asp?xid=4135|title=Diffie returns with bluegrass CD in August|date=May 18, 2010|work=Country Standard Time|access-date=July 20, 2010}}</ref> He co-produced the album with Luke Wooten, and included on it the song "Tennessee Tea", which Diffie originally recorded while he was in Special Edition.<ref name="poet">{{cite web|url={{AllMusic|class=album|id=the-bluegrass-album-homecoming-r1787551/review|pure_url=yes}}|title=''Homecoming'' review|author=j. poet|work=Allmusic|access-date=October 29, 2010}}</ref> Allmusic reviewer j. poet gave this album a positive review for showing Diffie's bluegrass influences.<ref name="poet"/>

[[File:Jason Aldean 2022 (cropped).jpg|200px|thumb|right|Jason Aldean recorded the song "1994", which makes several references to Diffie and his music.|alt=A bust shot of singer Jason Aldean.]]

In late 2012, [[Jason Aldean]] recorded the song "[[1994 (song)|1994]]", co-written by [[Thomas Rhett]], [[Luke Laird]], and Barry Dean. The song, which was released in February 2013 as the third single from Aldean's album ''[[Night Train (Jason Aldean album)|Night Train]]'', name-drops Diffie and incorporates several of his song titles into the lyrics. Upon hearing about the song, Diffie said, "it's really an honor" to be mentioned in the song, and that it was "flattering".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://tasteofcountry.com/jason-aldean-1994-joe-diffie/|title=Joe Diffie 'Stunned' by Shoutouts in Jason Aldean's '1994′|last=Nicholson|first=Jessica|date=November 4, 2012|work=Taste of Country|access-date=March 2, 2013}}</ref> Later in the year, Diffie collaborated with [[Aaron Tippin]] and [[Sammy Kershaw]] on the album ''All in the Same Boat'', and cut the single "Girl Riding Shotgun" with D Thrash of the [[Jawga Boyz]]. This was followed in 2019 by a vinyl album called ''Joe, Joe, Joe Diffie''.<ref name=pickup/>

In 2023, [[Hardy (singer)|Hardy]] paid tribute to Diffie during the [[Academy of Country Music]] ceremony, where he joined [[Morgan Wallen]] and [[Post Malone]] in live renditions of "Pickup Man" and "John Deere Green". A studio recording of the "Pickup Man" cover, featuring Hardy, Post Malone, and a vocal track recorded by Diffie in 2006, was released soon afterward as the first single from Hardy's album ''[[Hixtape: Vol. 3: Difftape]]'', which was released in March 2024. This project includes Hardy and other artists covering Diffie's songs.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.billboard.com/music/chart-beat/post-malone-pickup-man-first-country-airplay-1235471783/ | title=Post Malone Secures His First Hit on Country Airplay Chart With 'Pickup Man' | publisher=Billboard | date=November 14, 2023 | accessdate=November 14, 2023 | author=Xander Zellner}}</ref>

==Musical styles==
Steve Huey of Allmusic wrote that Diffie "lent his traditional sensibilities to humorous, rock-tinged novelties and plaintive ballads."<ref name="allmusic" /> His early albums for Epic mostly consisted of ballads, but starting with ''[[Honky Tonk Attitude]]'', he began to include more up-tempo and novelty numbers.<ref name="allmusic" /> Starting with ''[[A Night to Remember (Joe Diffie album)|A Night to Remember]]'', Diffie returned to a more ballad-oriented sound; Mike Kraski, then the senior vice president of sales for Sony Music Nashville, thought that the albums before it had over-emphasized his novelty releases.<ref name="night" /> Diffie's influence on music was recognized with his name being mentioned in the 2019 hit song ''[[Raised on Country]]'' by artist [[Chris Young (singer)|Chris Young]].<ref>{{cite magazine |last1=Shafer |first1=Elise |title=Here Are the Lyrics to Chris Young's 'Raised On Country' |url=https://www.billboard.com/music/lyrics/chris-young-raised-on-country-lyrics-8527460/ |magazine=Billboard |access-date=June 10, 2024}}</ref>

[[Alanna Nash]] regularly compared Diffie's voice to that of [[George Jones]]. In her review of ''[[A Thousand Winding Roads]]'', she contrasted the album with [[Mark Chesnutt]]'s debut ''[[Too Cold at Home]]'' by saying, "While Chesnutt merely takes his inspiration from Jones, Diffie mimics Jones' delivery&nbsp;... But now that he's making records himself, [his vocal imitation] drops him to the rear of the pack, as a stylist with little style of his own."<ref>{{cite magazine|url=http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,20199859,00.html|title=''Too Cold at Home''/''A Thousand Winding Roads'' review|last=Nash|first=Alanna|date=December 17, 1990|magazine=[[Entertainment Weekly]]|access-date=July 20, 2010|archive-date=December 21, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091221081717/http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,20199859,00.html|url-status=dead}}</ref> She thought that Diffie began to move away from his George Jones influences on ''A Night to Remember''.<ref name="ewnight">{{cite magazine|url=http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,273462,00.html|title=''A Night to Remember'' review|last=Nash|first=Alanna|date=May 21, 1999|magazine=Entertainment Weekly|access-date=July 21, 2010|archive-date=October 19, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121019022641/http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,273462,00.html|url-status=dead}}</ref> William Ruhlmann wrote that Diffie "has put together a decade-plus career in country largely on his ability to succeed" in "scour[ing] Nashville publishers for 10 good compositions in the established style", and that he was an "adequate but undistinguished singer."<ref name="another">{{cite web|url={{AllMusic|class=album|id=r558459|pure_url=yes}}|title=''In Another World'' review|last=Ruhlmann|first=William|work=Allmusic|access-date=July 21, 2010}}</ref>

==Personal life and death==
Diffie was married four times. His first wife was Janise Parker, whom he married while in college. The couple had two children, Parker and Kara, then divorced in 1986.<ref name="people">{{cite journal|last=Sanz|first=Cynthia|date=April 26, 1993|title=The Difference in Diffie|journal=[[People (magazine)|People]]|volume=39|issue=16|url=http://www.people.com/people/archive/article/0,,20110245,00.html}}</ref> Parker Diffie later worked as Diffie's stage manager in the mid-2000s,<ref name="ledger" /> and in mid-2010, he and Kara auditioned for ''[[American Idol]]''.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.theboot.com/2010/07/16/joe-diffie-american-idol/|title=Joe Diffie's Kids Try Out for 'American Idol'|last=Hughes|first=Donna|date=July 16, 2010|work=The Boot|access-date=July 27, 2010}}</ref> Two years after divorcing Janise, Diffie married Debbie Jones, a nurse technician. They had two sons, Drew and Tyler, the latter of whom was born with [[Down syndrome]] and nearly died in 1991 following complications from a [[tonsillectomy]].<ref name="stambler" /><ref name="people" />

In 2000, Diffie married Theresa ([[Birth name|née]] Crump), whom he met at a concert, at the [[Opryland Hotel]] in Nashville.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.cmt.com/news/news-in-brief/1476778/joe-diffie-ties-the-knot.jhtml |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100325084345/http://www.cmt.com/news/news-in-brief/1476778/joe-diffie-ties-the-knot.jhtml |url-status=dead |archive-date=March 25, 2010 |title=Joe Diffie Ties the Knot |access-date=July 19, 2010 |work=CMT.com}}</ref><ref name="crump">{{cite news|url=https://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/mcall/access/119215455.html?dids=119215455:119215455&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&type=current&date=May+11%2C+2002&author=Alan+Sculley+Special+to+The+Morning+Call+--+Freelance&pub=Morning+Call&desc=Just+being+himself+makes+a+difference+for+Joe+Diffie&pqatl=google|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121103081137/http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/mcall/access/119215455.html?dids=119215455:119215455&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&type=current&date=May+11,+2002&author=Alan+Sculley+Special+to+The+Morning+Call+--+Freelance&pub=Morning+Call&desc=Just+being+himself+makes+a+difference+for+Joe+Diffie&pqatl=google|url-status=dead|archive-date=November 3, 2012|title=Just being himself makes a difference for Joe Diffie|last=Sculley|first=Alan|date=May 11, 2002|work=Morning Call|access-date=July 21, 2010}}</ref> They have one daughter, Kylie, born in 2004.<ref name="tougher1">{{cite web|url=http://www.countrystandardtime.com/d/article.asp?xid=399|title=Joe Diffie is tougher than nails (page 1)|last=McIntosh|first=Dan|date=June 2004|work=Country Standard Time|access-date=July 21, 2010}}</ref> The couple divorced in 2017. Diffie married Tara Terpening at The Musicians Hall of Fame in Nashville in 2018.

From 1992 to the early 2000s, Diffie held a charity concert and golf tournament benefiting First Steps, a nonprofit organization for the education of mentally  and physically impaired children.<ref name="readinglaughs" /><ref>{{cite web|url=http://new.music.yahoo.com/joe-diffie/news/joe-diffie-holds-10th-annual-first-steps-benefit--12060970|title=Joe Diffie Holds 10th Annual First Steps Benefit|date=February 12, 2002|work=[[Yahoo!]] Music|access-date=July 27, 2010}}</ref> His contributions to this organization won him a Humanitarian Award from the Country Radio Broadcasters in 1997.<ref name="readinglaughs" /> Diffie later became a country music radio broadcaster himself, fronting a midday program for Tulsa radio station [[KXBL]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.bigcountry995.com/story/41698384/joe-diffie |title=Joe Diffie |work=bigcountry995.com |access-date=March 30, 2020 |archive-date=March 27, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200327020222/https://www.bigcountry995.com/story/41698384/joe-diffie |url-status=dead }}</ref>

On March 27, 2020, Diffie announced that he tested positive for [[COVID-19]]. Two days later, on March 29, he died in Nashville at the age of 61 from complications related to the illness.<ref name=pickup>{{cite magazine |last1=Betts |first1=Stephen L.|title=Joe Diffie, Nineties Country's 'Pickup Man,' Dead at 61 From Coronavirus |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-country/joe-diffie-country-singer-dead-obituary-974556/ |magazine=Rolling Stone |date=March 29, 2020|access-date=March 29, 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url = https://apnews.com/311a45b00086bb8c61de422e59b37231|title = Country singer Joe Diffie dies of coronavirus complications|work = [[Associated Press]]|date = March 29, 2020|access-date = March 29, 2020}}</ref>

==Discography==
{{main|Joe Diffie discography}}

===Studio albums===
*''[[A Thousand Winding Roads]]'' (1990)
*''[[Regular Joe (album)|Regular Joe]]'' (1992)
*''[[Honky Tonk Attitude]]'' (1993)
*''[[Third Rock from the Sun]]'' (1994)
*''[[Mr. Christmas (Joe Diffie album)|Mr. Christmas]]'' (1995)
*''[[Life's So Funny]]'' (1995)
*''[[Twice Upon a Time (Joe Diffie album)|Twice Upon a Time]]'' (1997)
*''[[A Night to Remember (Joe Diffie album)|A Night to Remember]]'' (1999)
*''[[In Another World (Joe Diffie album)|In Another World]]'' (2001)
*''[[Tougher Than Nails]]'' (2004)
*''[[Homecoming: The Bluegrass Album]]'' (2010)
*''All in the Same Boat'' (2013)

===''Billboard'' number-one hits===
*"[[Home (Joe Diffie song)|Home]]" (1 week, 1990)
*"[[If the Devil Danced (In Empty Pockets)]]" (1 week, 1991)
*"[[Third Rock From the Sun (song)|Third Rock From the Sun]]" (2 weeks, 1994)
*"[[Pickup Man]]" (4 weeks, 1994)
*"[[Bigger Than the Beatles]]" (2 weeks, 1995-1996)

==Awards and nominations==
=== Grammy Awards ===

{{awards table}}
|-
|[[35th Grammy Awards|1993]]
|"[[Not Too Much to Ask]]"{{Ref|1|[A]}}
|rowspan=2| [[Grammy Award for Best Country Collaboration with Vocals|Best Country Collaboration with Vocals]]
|{{nom}}
|-
|[[41st Grammy Awards|1999]]
|"Same Old Train"{{Ref|2|[B]}}
|{{won}}
|}

=== TNN/Music City News Country Awards ===

{{awards table}}
|-
|[[26th TNN/Music City News Country Awards|1992]]
|Joe Diffie
|Star of Tomorrow
|{{nom}}
|-
|rowspan=2| [[27th TNN/Music City News Country Awards|1993]]
|[[Mary Chapin Carpenter]] and Joe Diffie
|rowspan=2| Vocal Collaboration of the Year
|{{nom}}
|-
|[[George Jones]] and Friends{{Ref|3|[C]}}
|{{nom}}
{{end}}

=== Academy of Country Music Awards ===

{{awards table}}
|-
|[[27th Academy of Country Music Awards|1992]]
|Joe Diffie
|[[Academy of Country Music Award for New Male Artist of the Year|Top New Male Vocalist]]
|{{nom}}
|-
|[[28th Academy of Country Music Awards|1993]]
|[[Mary Chapin Carpenter]] and Joe Diffie
|Top Vocal Duo of the Year
|{{nom}}
|-
|rowspan=2| [[30th Academy of Country Music Awards|1995]]
|"[[Third Rock From the Sun (song)|Third Rock From the Sun]]"
|Single Record of the Year
|{{nom}}
|-
|Joe Diffie
|[[Academy of Country Music Award for Male Artist of the Year|Top Male Vocalist of the Year]]
|{{nom}}
|-
|[[34th Academy of Country Music Awards|1999]]
|"Same Old Train"{{Ref|2|[B]}}
|Top Vocal Event of the Year
|{{nom}}
|}

=== Country Music Association Awards ===

{{awards table}}
|-
|[[1992 Country Music Association Awards|1992]]
|Joe Diffie
|[[Country Music Association Award for Male Vocalist of the Year|Male Vocalist of the Year]]
|{{nom}}
|-
|[[1993 Country Music Association Awards|1993]]
|"[[I Don't Need Your Rockin' Chair]]"{{Ref|4|[D]}}
|rowspan=2| [[Country Music Association Award for Musical Event of the Year|Vocal Event of the Year]]
|{{won}}
|-
|[[1999 Country Music Association Awards|1999]]
|"Same Old Train"{{Ref|2|[B]}}
|{{nom}}
|}

{{Note|1|[A]}}<small>Nominated alongside [[Mary Chapin Carpenter]]</small><br />{{Note|2|[B]}}<small>Nominated alongside [[Clint Black]], [[Merle Haggard]], [[Emmylou Harris]], [[Alison Krauss]], [[Patty Loveless]], [[Earl Scruggs]], [[Ricky Skaggs]], [[Marty Stuart]], [[Pam Tillis]], [[Randy Travis]], [[Travis Tritt]] and [[Dwight Yoakam]]</small><br />{{Note|3|[C]}}<small> George Jones' "Friends" also includes: [[Vince Gill]], [[Garth Brooks]], Travis Tritt, [[Mark Chesnutt]], [[Alan Jackson]], Pam Tillis, [[T. Graham Brown]], Patty Loveless and Clint Black</small><br />{{Note|4|[D]}}<small>Nominated alongside George Jones and Friends</small>

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
* {{IMDb name|0226441}}
* {{find a Grave|208520033}}
* {{Official website|http://joediffie.com}}

{{Portal bar|Biography|Music|Oklahoma|COVID-19}}

{{Joe Diffie}}
{{Joe Diffie singles}}
{{Grand Ole Opry members}}
{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Diffie, Joe}}
[[Category:1958 births]]
[[Category:2020 deaths]]
[[Category:American country singer-songwriters]]
[[Category:American male singer-songwriters]]
[[Category:BBR Music Group artists]]
[[Category:Cameron University alumni]]
[[Category:Country musicians from Oklahoma]]
[[Category:Deaths from the COVID-19 pandemic in Tennessee]]
[[Category:Epic Records artists]]
[[Category:Foundrymen]]
[[Category:Grammy Award winners]]
[[Category:Grand Ole Opry members]]
[[Category:Monument Records artists]]
[[Category:Musicians from Tulsa, Oklahoma]]
[[Category:Rounder Records artists]]
[[Category:Singer-songwriters from Oklahoma]]