Joe Ely, the Texas singer-songwriter who blended honky-tonk with rock and roll to create a distinctive sound that influenced generations of musicians, died Monday, Dec. 15, 2025, at his home in Taos, New Mexico. He was 78.
The country-rock trailblazer died from complications related to Lewy Body Dementia, Parkinson’s disease, and pneumonia, with his wife, Sharon, and daughter, Marie, at his side. His family shared the news on his Facebook page on Dec. 16, 2025.
Born Feb. 9, 1947, in Amarillo, Texas, and raised in Lubbock, Ely became a central figure in the progressive country music movement. In 1972, he founded The Flatlanders with fellow Lubbock musicians Jimmie Dale Gilmore and Butch Hancock. The band released their first album, “All American Music,” that same year before the trio split to pursue solo careers, though they would reunite periodically over the following decades.
After signing with MCA Records in the 1970s, Ely released his self-titled debut album in 1977, launching a solo career that would span more than five decades and produce more than 20 albums. His work embodied a southwestern blend of honky-tonk, rock and roll, roadhouse blues, western swing, and conjunto that could only have emerged from Texas.
Ely’s influence extended far beyond country music circles. While touring in London, he crossed paths with The Clash, the legendary British punk band. This chance meeting led to extensive touring together across the United States and the United Kingdom. Ely later provided backing vocals on The Clash’s 1982 hit single “Should I Stay or Should I Go.”
His rock credentials were further solidified when he opened for the Rolling Stones during their 1981 tour. These collaborations demonstrated Ely’s unique ability to bridge musical genres and connect with artists far removed from his country roots.
Perhaps no relationship better exemplified Ely’s cross-genre appeal than his friendship with Bruce Springsteen. The Boss collaborated with Ely on his 1995 album “Letter to Laredo” and again on 2024’s “Driven to Drive.” In April 2025, Springsteen presented Ely with a special award, praising his songwriting talent and distinctive voice.
“If the world was a fairer place, Joe Ely would have been huge! I mean huge!” Springsteen said at the ceremony. Springsteen said the artist truly had it all: an exceptional gift for songwriting, an easy, natural cool, a magnetic presence onstage always supported by a fantastic band—and the very kind of voice Springsteen wished could have been his.
Following news of Ely’s death, Springsteen took to Instagram on Tuesday to express his sadness, describing Ely as a singular American singer and great artist. He said he was lucky to count Ely as a true friend and would miss his voice and companionship, adding that the music world had lost an American classic.
Ely’s musical achievements included winning a Grammy in 1999 for Best Mexican American/Tejano Performance with the collective Los Super Seven. He was inducted into the Austin City Limits Hall of Fame in 2022, recognizing his contributions to the live music capital where he eventually settled after his Lubbock upbringing.
Kyle Young, CEO of the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum, characterized Joe Ely as an artist who performed American roots music with the fervor of a true believer, convinced of music’s power to transport souls. Young noted that Ely’s true greatness emerged in the dynamic intensity of his powerhouse live performances, where he held his own alongside fellow zealots such as Bruce Springsteen—who recorded duets with him—as well as the Rolling Stones and the Clash, who featured him as an opening act on tour.
Throughout his career, Ely remained connected to his Texas heritage. His family noted that he was a leader among the extraordinary parade of artists raised in Lubbock who later settled in Austin. He spent more than five decades recording and performing around the world while maintaining those deep roots.
His final album, “Love and Freedom,” was released in February 2025. The release came as Ely and his wife Sharon had been working through years of recordings he had made in his Austin studio.
Ely is survived by his wife Sharon and daughter Marie.
