Blake Shelton paid tribute to his late friend Joe Bonsall, who passed away recently. Joe was a longtime member of The Oak Ridge Boys, a celebrated country and gospel group, from 1973 until his death in 2024.
On Tuesday, Blake, 48, shared a heartfelt photo on his Instagram Stories of himself performing alongside The Oak Ridge Boys. While the exact details of the photo’s location and date are unclear, Blake expressed his sorrow over Joe’s passing, saying: “I am deeply saddened to learn of the passing of my friend Joe Bonsall”.
He fondly recalled: “I have never seen Joe without a genuine smile on his face. He loved singing more than anyone I’ve ever met”. Blake extended his thoughts and prayers to Joe’s family and fellow bandmates, stating: “Today, we have all experienced the loss of someone truly important”.
In 2016, Blake and The Oak Ridge Boys collaborated on the song “Doing It to Country Songs”. Joe’s death was attributed to Lou Gehrig’s disease, or amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), a progressive condition affecting voluntary muscle control, which has no known cure. Fans became aware of Joe’s struggle with the illness in January 2024, four years after he announced his condition and retirement from the band.
Joe is survived by his daughters, Jennifer and Sabrina, from his marriage to Mary Ann, as well as two grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. The Bonsall family shared in a statement that Joe authored 11 books, with his memoir, I See Myself, scheduled for release in November. He cherished his time at the farm and was a devoted fan of the Philadelphia Phillies, but emphasized that his faith and family were his greatest priorities.
The Oak Ridge Boys, consisting of Joe, Richard Sterban, Duane Allen, and William Lee Golden, are famous for hits like “Elvira”, “Come On In” and “Bobbie Sue”. The band was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 2015 and has won five Grammy Awards. As the group embarks on a farewell tour that will last for about a few month, they reflect on their legacy, despite the original lineup no longer being intact. Joe’s love for music, reading, and writing, along with his skills on the banjo, will be fondly remembered by fans and loved ones alike.
While dismantling the aged house, the workers stumbled upon a century-old chest hidden beneath the floorboards: They proceeded to unveil its contents
For many years, the house on the outskirts of town remained abandoned. After it was purchased, the new owner opted to repair the flooring and hired workers to tear it out. During the renovation, the crew unearthed an antique chest hidden beneath the first layer of the floor.
After some discussion, they chose to open it on camera to document the moment.
The chest was undoubtedly over a century old and likely wasn’t concealed by the previous occupants, as no renovations had been done to the property. They attempted to lift the chest with a winch and ropes, but it was far too heavy. The rusted lock had corroded so badly that they had to use a grinder to break it down. Eventually, they resorted to sawing off the hinges when the lid wouldn’t budge.
To their surprise, instead of finding junk, they uncovered neatly stacked silver ingots within. The owner was promptly called to the scene, and he, in turn, contacted an appraiser.
The treasure was valued at 15 million rubles, based solely on its weight. Given the historical significance of the ingots, the owner might expect an even higher price.
Discovering a silver hoard is a rare stroke of luck, and at the very least, the homeowner recouped his investment in the property.
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