Blake Shelton ‘Heartbroken’ Over The Death Of Jimmy Buffett

Blake Shelton is “heartbroken” over the death of Jimmy Buffett. 

The country superstar took to his Instagram stories to mourn the loss of the “Margaritaville” singer with a heartfelt message. 

“Heartbroken this morning hearing of Jimmy Buffett’s passing. What an incredible talent and man. His songs will live on forever,” Shelton wrote. 

He went on to share his special connection to the beloved singer/songwriter/entrepreneur.  

Heart broken this morning hearing of Jimmy Buffett's passing. What an incredible talent and man. His songs will live on forever. I’ll bet most of y’all don’t know that he wrote the theme song for @BarmageddonUSA for me about 2 years ago. Raising a glass today to the Son of a son…

— Blake Shelton (@blakeshelton) September 2, 2023

“I’ll bet most of y’all don’t know that he wrote the theme song for @barmageddonusa for me about 2 years ago,” Shelton stated. 

The Oklahoma native first opened up about Buffett’s surprising connection to his game show, Barmageddon, in an interview with USA Network. During the conversation, Shelton revealed how the song came about. 

“So when you do these television shows and you’re gonna perform a song, you have got to reach out to the writers of the song and get permission. I have a mutual friend with Jimmy Buffett  … and we reached out to get permission to sing ‘Margaritaville’ as one of the intro songs — every show opens with a sing-along song — and I got an email back from [them], they just forwarded Jimmy’s email back to him on to me that said, ‘Yeah, they can do this song …  I love the title of that TV show. That sounds like a good song,’” Shelton explained to the network. 

The superstar then took a chance in his reply when he asked Buffett to write a new song for the show. 

“I wrote Irving back I said, ‘Tell Jimmy to write a song for the show, I’ll record it,’” Shelton revealed. “I committed to recording this song before I ever heard it. I figured Jimmy Buffett can pull this off. If anybody in the world can, it’s got to be Jimmy Buffett.”

His intuition proved to be correct. Buffett wrote the song alongside famed songwriter Mac McAnally.  

“It ends up being perfect. I mean, it really is actually just [a] good, fun song. It gets stuck in your head, and I mean, who else can say that Jimmy Buffett wrote the theme song for the TV show?” Shelton laughed. 

When remembering the late Jimmy Buffett, Shelton closed his post by writing, “Raising a glass today to the Son of a son of a Sailor.”

Jimmy Buffett, the beloved leader of the Parrotheads, passed away at the age of 76. 

According to a statement shared on Saturday morning (Sept. 2) via Buffett’s social media, the singer/songwriter passed away late Friday evening (Sept. 1). 

“Jimmy passed away peacefully on the night of September 1st surrounded by his family, friends, music and dogs,” the statement read. “He lived his life like a song till the very last breath and will be missed beyond measure by so many.”

pic.twitter.com/hQ7BwPJFVz

— Jimmy Buffett (@jimmybuffett) September 2, 2023

While his official cause of death has not yet been revealed by the Buffet family. Sources told TMZ that the “Margaritaville” singer was diagnosed with skin cancer four years ago. That diagnosis eventually turned into lymphoma, which is a relatively aggressive cancer that can quickly spread through the body, according to Mayo Clinic.

The outlet also reported that Jimmy Buffett began receiving hospice care on Monday, August 28. Since being placed on hospice, the singer/songwriter/entrepreneur received an overwhelming amount of love from his closest family and friends. 

According to TMZ, one week ago Sir Paul McCartney paid Buffett a visit and performed for him and his family.

Most recently, he was forced to reschedule a concert in May after being hospitalized to address medical issues that need “immediate attention.”

In September of 2022, Jimmy Buffett canceled his entire tour and his team revealed that he would not be touring for the remainder of the year due to “due to health issues” and a “brief hospitalization.”

Buffett, whose real name is James William Buffett, was born on December 25, 1946, in Pascagoula, Mississippi and raised in Alabama. He moved to Nashville to pursue a career in music in the late 1960s and also spent most of his time in New Orleans and Key West. 

Jimmy Buffett’s musical career began in the late 1960s, and he soon became known for his unique blend of country, folk, and Gulf Coast rock, often referred to as “Gulf and Western.” 

In 1970, he released his debut album titled Down To Earth. Nevertheless, it wasn’t until 1977, with the release of his seventh studio album, Changes in Latitudes, Changes in Attitudes, that Jimmy Buffett and his band The Coral Reefers catapulted into mainstream fame, thanks to the project’s hit single “Margaritaville.”

“Margaritaville” has gone on to become a massive, world-renowned hit and was even included on The Recording Industry Association Of America’s list of Songs Of The Century. 

With his signature laid-back style and a guitar in hand, he enchanted audiences worldwide, transporting them to a world of sun-soaked beaches, swaying palm trees, and carefree days.

His timeless hits like “Fins,” “Come Monday,” “Margaritaville,” “Cheeseburger in Paradise,” and “Changes in Latitudes, Changes in Attitudes” became anthems of escapism and celebration, evoking the spirit of a never-ending beachside vacation.

Throughout his career, Jimmy Buffett has collaborated with several country artists, including Alan Jackson, Clint Black, Kenny Chesney, Toby Keith, Zac Brown Band and George Strait.

Beyond his chart-topping success, Jimmy Buffett was a prolific songwriter, author, and actor. 

He has released several novels, including Tales from Margaritaville and A Salty Piece of Land, which offered fans a deeper insight into the characters and stories behind his music. Buffett’s engaging storytelling also extended to the big screen, where he appeared in films such as Rancho Deluxe and Hoot.

Buffett’s indomitable spirit of adventure led him to explore diverse interests, from piloting planes and sailing the seas to founding the Margaritaville brand in 1985. The Margaritaville brand encompasses restaurants, hotels, and a lifestyle empire, all embodying his laid-back philosophy. 

Thanks to his lucrative businesses, Buffett was named one of the richest musicians in the world, with an estimated net worth of $1 billion, by Forbes as well as added to the World’s Billionaire List.

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A post shared by Jimmy Buffett (@jimmybuffett)

Jimmy Buffett’s philanthropic endeavors were equally admirable. He dedicated himself to environmental conservation, particularly marine and coastal protection, and established the “Save the Manatee Club” to safeguard the beloved aquatic creatures he cherished.

Buffett’s live performances were legendary, drawing thousands of fans, known as the Parrotheads, from all corners of the globe. His annual tours were more than concerts; they were vibrant celebrations of life, love, and the pursuit of happiness.

Jimmy Buffett is survived by his wife of over 40 years, Jane Slagsvol, and children Savannah Buffett, Sarah Delaney Buffett and Cameron Marley Buffett. 

He was expected to release his new album, Equal Strain On All Parts, later this year, which would serve as the follow-up to his 2020 project, Life On The Flip Side. It is now unclear if the project will still be released.