Martina McBride Mourns the Loss of Her Father, Daryl Martin Schiff: ‘Our Hearts Are Broken’
McBride revealed that her father passed away “suddenly and peacefully.”
Martina McBride, Daryl Martin Schiff; Photo Provided
Martina McBride is mourning the loss of her father, Daryl Martin Schiff. Schiff passed away “suddenly and peacefully” at the age of 86 on Tuesday, January 14 at his home.
The country music icon took to social media earlier this week to pay tribute to her late father, admitting, “I really don’t have the right words” as she began her post.
“My dad passed away Tuesday night,” she revealed. “Our hearts are broken.”
McBride reflected on her father’s life in a heartfelt post as shared bittersweet memories that she shared with him throughout her life.
“He was 86 and had an amazing life. He was a third-generation family farmer. He was also the leader of our family band, The Schiffters. He taught me so much about music, about life, about how to treat others,” she wrote.
The “Independence Day” singer revealed that every single day since her mother passed five years ago, she and her father talked on the phone “every single night” and also sometimes throughout the day.
“Over 1800 conversations that I am so grateful I had. I was able to record some of them, some of his stories, and they are priceless to me. He kept active, still driving and living in his home, and “going down for coffee” with his friends at the local CO-OP,” she shared.
She revealed that her father passed down many traits to her, including a love for cooking and gardening and that they often shared photos and videos of their meals and gardens with each other.
“He loved to tell me what he had bought on his almost daily trips to the grocery store. He loved to sit on his porch and always told me when someone stopped by to visit. He loved his family, his friends, and our mom. Having lived here all of his life, he was such an important member not only of the Sharon community but many communities in the area. People remember going to the Schiffters dances and hearing him sing,” she continued. “He had the kindest blue eyes and a great laugh. So much of who I am came from him. There is so much more I could write, and probably will.”
In closing McBride thanked fans for keeping her family in their prayers.
Daryl Martin Schiff was remembered during a visitation on Monday, Jan. 20. His funeral took place today, Tuesday, Jan. 21 at First Christian Church in Medicine Lodge, KS. He will be laid to rest in the Highland Cemetery in Medicine Lodge, KS, according to his obituary.
The family kindly requests that donations be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, in care of the funeral home.
Lauren Jo Black is a longtime country music journalist, editor, host, and media personality whose work has helped shape the conversation around country music for nearly two decades. As the current Editor-in-Chief of Country Now, she has become one of the genre’s most respected voices, interviewing hundreds of country music’s biggest stars, including Dolly Parton, Garth Brooks, Reba McEntire, Shania Twain, Randy Travis, Luke Bryan, Carrie Underwood, Blake Shelton, Luke Combs, and countless others. Over the course of her career, Black’s written work and interviews have reached billions of country music fans worldwide. A 2009 graduate of the University of Central Florida, Black began her career by founding Country Music Is Love, one of country music’s earliest independent digital publications, which she later sold to a major record label in 2015 before it was rebranded as Sounds Like Nashville. She then served as the publication’s Editor-in-Chief for more than two years. Her work has also appeared in Forbes, and she previously served as the Country Music Expert for Answers.com. Widely recognized for her expertise, Black has appeared as a featured guest on The Bobby Bones Show, BobbyCast, and Scripps News Morning Rush, providing insight on country music’s biggest moments. She has also hosted Country Now Live, a concert series featuring performances from artists including Lady A, Dierks Bentley, Riley Green, Jordan Davis, Dustin Lynch, Gabby Barrett, Brett Young, Jon Pardi, Kip Moore, Chris Young, and more. The series has welcomed thousands of fans in person while reaching millions more online. In addition, she hosted Connect With Country Now, a weekly interview series featuring conversations with rising country stars. Throughout her career, Black has earned a reputation for discovering and championing artists long before they become household names. She has covered Luke Bryan since the early days of his career, beginning when he was writing songs for other artists, including Billy Currington’s No. 1 hit “Good Directions,” before stepping into the spotlight with his debut single, “All My Friends Say” and eventually becoming one of biggest names in music. She also gave Megan Moroney her first opportunity to walk a major red carpet as Country Now’s official guest correspondent at the 2022 CMA Awards. An interview she conducted in 2018 for Forbes.com with Luke Combs that inspired his multi-week No. 1 hit, “Doin’ This.” She has also hosted stages at CMA Fest, moderated an industry panel at Country Radio Seminar, and helped lead important conversations about the evolving landscape of country music media. Beyond journalism, Black has also used her platform to support charitable causes and highlight organizations making an impact. Through Country Now Live, she has helped raise awareness and support for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, while also advocating for animal rescue through Country Now’s Pupdate series, spotlighting organizations including MuttNation Foundation, Wags & Walks, and Proverbs 12:10 Animal Rescue. Black has been recognized as one of Country Aircheck’s Women of Influence and received the 2012 Rising Star Award from the University of Central Florida. She is a longtime member of both the Country Music Association (CMA) and the Academy of Country Music (ACM). After nearly 20 years covering country music, Lauren Jo Black has spent her career telling the stories behind the artists, songs, and moments that have shaped the genre. Her first-ever book, Country Music Forever: An A-to-Z Celebration of Icons, Songs and Stories, brings that same passion and firsthand knowledge to the page, celebrating not only the legendary artists and timeless songs that have become the soundtrack to generations of fans, but also the places, traditions, and cultural moments that have made country music one of the most beloved genres around the world.
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