Popular country musician dies of heart attack: Jeremy Tapper was 60

The mastermind behind Outlaw Country on Sirius XM has passed away.

Jeremy Tepper, a musician and journalist best known as the program director of Sirius XM’s Outlaw Country, has died. According to Variety, Tepper died of a heart attack on Friday. The tragic loss was confirmed by his wife, Laura Cantrell. He was 60 years old.

“I lost my good friend Jeremy Tepper last night,” said Steven Van Zandt of The Sopranos and Bruce Springsteen’s E Street Band, shared on social media. The longtime Springsteen pal also hosts the Underground Garage show on Sirius and had kind words for the late program director. “An incredibly tragic loss at such a young age. He ran my Outlaw Country station on SiriusXM brilliantly. It’s actually a pretty complicated format and he made it look easy. Our deepest love and condolences to Laura and his family and friends.”

Tepper is originally from New York, was the former frontman of the World Famous Blue Jays, co-founded Diesel Only Records in 1990, and was an editor of the Journal of Country Music and critic for Pulse! Magazine, but as Variety notes, his work with Outlaw Country was where he really shone and made a difference for many people.

“No boundaries, no bullshit – from the roots and legends of country to today’s underdogs who just can’t be contained,” the station described on its website. Tepper joined Sirius in 2004 and spent two decades on board with Outlaw Country, Willie’s Roadhouse (formerly Willie’s Place) and Road Dog Trucking.

Tepper’s predecessor was Mojo Nixon, also a Sirius XM personality and Outlaw Country host, who died in February after appearing on the Outlaw Country Cruise. Tepper also booked the cruise and programmed it annually.

“Jeremy Tepper, a beloved member of SiriusXM, had a profound impact on us with his unwavering devotion to music and spirit of innovation. His contributions to shaping Outlaw Country and Willie’s Roadhouse are immeasurable. Our thoughts are with his loved ones during this time,” Sirius XM wrote in a statement.