Country Stars React To Raul Malo’s Death – Read Their Thoughtful Tributes
Raul Malo of the Mavericks is being remembered by his fellow country stars, including Dwight Yoakam and Trisha Yearwood, following his death at the age of 60. (Photo Credits: Tim Mosenfelder / Getty Images, Kevin Winter / WireImage / Getty Images, & Justin McIntosh / Getty Images for Starstruck Entertainment)
The Mavericks’ Raul Malo Died On December 8 Following A Battle With Cancer
Tributes have poured in following Raul Malo’s death on December 8. The 60-year-old vocalist and guitarist was the frontman of the Grammy-winning country music group The Mavericks.
Raul passed away following a battle with cancer. He announced his diagnosis in June 2024, but did not go into detail about the nature of his particular cancer.
In September 2024, Raul shared he had been diagnosed with leptomeningeal disease (LMD). The Cleveland Clinic describes LMD as:
“…cancer in your cerebrospinal fluid and in your leptomeninges, the membranes that surround your brain and spinal cord. It happens when an advanced cancer spreads from part of your body to your cerebrospinal fluid and leptomeninges.”
Raul’s wife, Betty Malo, shared the heartbreaking news of his passing on his social media pages. She said:
“At 8:52 pm on December 8th, 2025, my love… our boys’ father… a devoted son and brother… and a friend to so many, gained his angel wings. He was called to do another gig — this time in the sky — and he’s flying high like an eagle.”
Raul was a beloved member of the country music community with many friends in the industry. Read some of his fellow artists’ tributes to him in the posts below.
Country Stars Pause To Pay Tribute To Raul Malo – See Messages From Dwight Yoakam, Trisha Yearwood, And More
The Mavericks
The Mavericks, the band that Raul co-founded and performed with for decades, shared their heartbreak over his death in an emotional post. Part of their tribute read:
“Anyone with the pleasure of being in Raul’s orbit knew that he was a force of human nature, with an infectious energy. Over a career of more than three decades entertaining millions around the globe, his towering creative contributions and unrivaled, generational talent created the kind of multicultural American music reaching far beyond America itself.“
Dwight Yoakam
Raul Malo and the Mavericks have worked closely with Dwight Yoakam for years, often touring together. So when Dwight learned about Raul’s death, he was understandably devastated.
Dwight shared a photo of Raul smiling while sitting onstage, captioning it:
“In loving memory of one of the greatest voices the world ever had the good fortune to hear… and one of the dearest souls I ever had the honor and privilege to have known. He was indeed one of the good ones… Rest in the sweet and lasting peace of His loving arms Raul…“
Trisha Yearwood
Trisha Yearwood was married to Raul’s bandmate, Mavericks bassist Robert Reynolds, from 1994 to 1999. She was around the band and Raul a lot during that time.
“I don’t have words to express my sadness at the passing of Raul Malo,” Trisha opened her tribute post.
She continued, “...[he was] one of the finest voices of our generation, with a larger than life personality to go with it. I’ve been sitting with my memories this morning, and just want to send my love and strength to Betty and the Malo family, to The Mavericks, and to everyone who loved Raul and his music. Gone too soon.“
Sawyer Brown
Like many other artists, Sawyer Brown was saddened to learn about Raul’s passing. They shared a thoughtful tribute to the singer and musician, writing:
“We are so saddened to learn that Raul Malo passed away yesterday. Raul was such an amazing singer and performer—and he and the Mavericks gave the world a lot of joy. Thank you for that. We’re praying for comfort and peace for Raul’s family and friends. God bless.”
T. Graham Brown
T. Graham Brown paid tribute to his “old buddy” Raul Malo in a heartfelt post. He paired his message with a picture of Raul performing onstage.
He wrote:
“Brother Raul Malo has passed away. He was a dear friend and a great human being. He led his band, The Mavericks, for almost 40 years. He was a soulful dude, an innovator and rule breaker. He could do it all and do it well. The entire music community is grieving. Please, pray for his family and loved ones. Rest in peace, old buddy.”
Shooter Jennings
Shooter Jennings paid tribute to Raul in a post on X (formerly Twitter). He recalled spending time with Raul and the Mavericks on several occasions over the years.
“[He was] a performer and craftsman of the highest order,” Shooter said.
Ana Cristina Cash
Ana Cristina Cash channeled her heartbreak over Raul’s death into a moving tribute and spoke of their shared connection as singers of Cuban descent. She wrote:
“This one hits very hard for me. @raulmalo01 was a true trailblazer in the Country Music, Latin, and rock spaces. He was an incredible talent. I always identified so much with Raul, I myself being raised by Cuban Immigrant parents in Miami, just as he was, and also working in Nashville in the Country music genre. He broke down so many barriers and was uniquely himself. He earned the respect of everyone around him, and I always viewed him as an example of what to aspire to be.”
Our thoughts and prayers are with Raul Malo’s family, friends, and bandmates during this difficult time. May he rest in peace…
