Last Updated on March 22, 2026 9:46 pm
Ronnie Bowman, born William Franklin Bowman on July 9, 1961, in Mount Airy, North Carolina, died Sunday afternoon at Vanderbilt University Medical Center in Nashville. He was 64.
Bowman had been critically injured in a motorcycle accident Saturday in Ashland City, Tennessee. He died at approximately 3:00 p.m. Sunday. No additional details about the accident were released.
Bowman began performing at the age of three in a family band playing churches throughout North Carolina and Virginia. He later joined the acclaimed bluegrass band Lost and Found before moving on to the Lonesome River Band, where his voice became one of the most recognized in the genre. His arrival coincided with the recording of Carrying the Tradition, an album named IBMA Album of the Year in 1991.
Over the course of four more albums with the Lonesome River Band and four solo projects, Bowman built an extraordinary catalog. He was named IBMA Male Vocalist of the Year three times and earned two IBMA Song of the Year awards — for “Cold Virginia Night” and “Three Rusty Nails.” Three Rusty Nails also earned him the IBMA Gospel Performance of the Year.
His songwriting reach extended deep into mainstream country music. Both Brooks and Dunn and Kenny Chesney took Bowman originals to number one. Lee Ann Womack included one of his songs on her multiplatinum album I Hope You Dance. He also had three songs on Chris Stapleton's multiplatinum Traveller album — including “Nobody To Blame,” which won ACM Song of the Year. Traveller went on to win the ACM and CMA Album of the Year awards and a Grammy for Country Album of the Year.
He remained active in recent years, releasing a self-titled album in 2019 and continuing to perform at festivals.
Tributes poured in across the bluegrass and country music communities Sunday evening. “One of the greatest singers and songwriters in bluegrass and country music, and one of the kindest souls you could ever hope to know,” Bluegrass Life wrote in a statement. “We'll always love you, Ronnie.”
Funeral arrangements had not been announced as of Sunday evening.
