Sad news this morning as it has been announced that musician Justin Townes Earle has died. He was 38.
Earle was the eldest son of country-rock musician Steve Earle and suffered with addiction problems from an early age, previously stating that he had began using drugs from the age of 12. He had survived five heroin overdoses by the age of 21, and had been in rehab multiple times over the years, most recently relapsing in 2016. However, the cause of his death is not yet known.
He is survived by his wife Jenn Marie, and his three-year-old daughter, Etta.
Tributes to Earle have been pouring in from many sources across the celebrity world, including author Stephen King. You can see a selection of them below.
R.I.P.
It appears that Justin Townes Earle has died. I hope it's a hoax but fear it is not. What a loss.
— Stephen King (@StephenKing) August 24, 2020
I am beyond heartbroken. You were my muse, my friend, and my brother. I will always remember your kindness. Your songs will live forever. You can rest easy now. #justinTownesEarle pic.twitter.com/E9vKDlQSWh
— Sammy Brue (@SammyBrue) August 24, 2020
RIP Justin Townes Earle...
We had the pleasure of playing a few shows together. He was such an immense songwriter and authentic soul. This year is a thief.— The Head & The Heart (@headandtheheart) August 24, 2020
Holy shit this is unbelievable. Justin Townes Earle was such a singular, irreverent, fuck-all talent. A folk voice for punks. "Harlem River Blues" got me through some of the roughest times in my life. Heartbroken. https://t.co/2pQwyC4sPe pic.twitter.com/JrO853dOQj
— Andrew Kirell 🤙🏻 (@AndrewKirell) August 24, 2020
Somebody, somewhere is just learning about Justin Townes Earle tonight, and that person is going to look up his songs, and those songs will become part of that person's life.
— Pete Wells (@pete_wells) August 24, 2020
My friend, Justin Townes Earle, has passed away. Such a tremendous songwriter...he took me on 2 tours and always treated me so kindly....he understood struggle, he understood joy...I saw him at the peaks and valleys of both through the 13 years I knew him...we will miss you JT ❤ pic.twitter.com/rq74Qu3Hif
— Samantha Crain (@sjcrain) August 24, 2020
Justin Townes Earle was such an incredible writer of narrative -- stories that flourished beyond the music they were laid over. The people and places in his songs always felt so touchable to me. Sad to hear the news of his passing.
— Hanif Abdurraqib (@NifMuhammad) August 24, 2020
First John Prine and now Justin Townes Earle, what a fucking bullshit year. What a goddamn loss.
— professional malcontent (@dana_que_orson) August 24, 2020
