Mitchell Tenpenny Mourns The Loss Of ‘Ducky,’ The Rescue Dog That Saved Him: ‘I’ll Never Forget What You’ve Done For Me’

Mitchell Tenpenny’s heart is weighing heavy today as he shares the devastating news that his rescue dog, “Ducky,” has passed away. 

He honored his four-legged friend with a heartfelt Instagram post featuring a slideshow of photos that captures all the love she has brought to him and his family over the years. In the caption, the hitmaker opened up about just how much the pit bulldog mix impacted his life at a time when he truly needed it.  

In 2014, Tenpenny lost his dad, James Mitchell Tenpenny, to cancer. He was just 55 years old at the time of his passing. While searching for comfort in this difficult time, the Tennessee native found himself at a shelter, where he met his new companion who would bring the joy back into his life. 

“I can’t even put to words how much you will be missed. Our sweet “Ducky” girl passed on today. After Dad died I needed a buddy. I went to a shelter and this girl came waddling up to me and sat right in front of me and we locked eyes. I knew she was going home with me. I thought that I was rescuing her as a puppy but truth is she rescued me,” he shared. 

Tenpenny went on to praise Ducky’s resilience in overcoming obstacles of her own and how their friendship gave them both the strength to conquer any ups and downs that have come their way over the past 10 years. 

“She was kept in a cage and abused which made it hard for her to walk. She had flat feet which is why I named her “Ducky”. But we got up together and became stronger together and walked through so much life together. I could never and will never have a more perfect companion and friend like Ducky. Thank you for getting me through the last ten crazy years. From Dad to record deals to family tragedies and into marriage, you have been there the entire time consistently by my side with pure innocence and joy every time I would come home.”

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There is no doubt that Tenpenny had tremendous love for this dog, and that she was an integral part of their family. 

“You were truly the most perfect dog in the world and I’ll never forget what you’ve done for me and your family. Rest In Peace sweet baby girl. All Dogs Go To Heaven. 🙏🏼 I love you so much Ducky,” he added in conclusion. 

The “We Got History” singer’s wife, Meghan Patrick also shared her condolences in the comment section, writing, “I love you so much. She truly was the perfect dog and I’m so glad I got to become her mom… rest in peace sweet Ducky girl 💛”

Tenpenny is still a proud dog dad to two other rescue pups – Cash, a pointer hound, and Annie, a mutt terrier, who he describes as being nothing short of “amazing.” 

“I don’t know what I’d do without them,” he said of his furry friends during his previous interview on Country Now’s Pupdate. “They kinda saved my life at a time when I needed it and I absolutely adore my dogs. They’re the greatest things Especially on the road when you come home to dogs, they’re just so happy to see you and I don’t know what I’d do without them.”

Tenpenny Pays Tribute To His Family On Forthcoming Album, ‘The 3rd’

The loss of Ducky comes at an especially emotional and sentimental time for Tenpenny as he is preparing to release an album that pays tribute to his family. The recently released title track of the forthcoming project is deeply personal to his life story as it was inspired by his name, James Mitchell Tenpenny the third, and what it means to him to carry down that name and legacy of his late father and grandad. With this song, Tenpenny says he hopes show just how proud he is of where he comes from and the men who raised him. 

“I wanted to share a story about where I come from. That’s important to me. I’m proud of where I come from. As far as naming it the record it just worked out being our third major release. Also just all-encompassing, I wanted to have a record that said ‘thank you’ to my dad and granddad for everything that they’ve done for me.”

“The 3^rd” marks another look into the 20-track collection dropping September 20, following “Woke Up In A Dream” his latest single, “Not Today,” “Bigger Mistakes,” “Breaking My Heart,” and his cover of the Goo Goo Dolls’ “Iris.”

As a whole, the album is expected to offer a bit of something for everyone as Tenpenny leans into his country music roots through his authentic storytelling. Sonically, he also incorporates elements of pop, rock genres as he unleashes a mix of narratives that are either inspired by his family’s history or simply highlight life lessons that Tenpenny has learned over the years. 

“Being proud of family means everything to me now and just being proud of where you come from and sharing those stories. So we do have a couple of those on the record, but the rest of the record is just a bunch of life lessons that I’ve learned over the years that I just wanted to share that I think people are going through. I just want to be honest and vulnerable and share my stories,” he explained. 

Just before dropping The 3^rd album, Mitchell Tenpenny will embark on his Woke Up In A Dream Tour, beginning September 12 in Las Vegas at the Theater at Virgin Hotels. The tour will run through mid-November with The Castellows appearing as special guests on the first weekend and Dylan Schneider serving as the opening act for the remainder of the shows. 

For more information, visit Mitchell10Penny.com.