Zach John King has announced he will be canceling all of his shows over the next two weeks following the sudden loss of his father, Erick.
The rising country act took to social media on Tuesday, July 14 to share the devastating news that his father “suddenly went home to Jesus.” Amid the sadness, he was able to pen a thoughtful and heartfelt message in remembrance of the man that had such a strong impact on his life.
“He was our family’s rock. My best friend. The greatest man I will ever know. John King was the kind of husband, father, grandfather, friend, and follower of Jesus you’ll only find once in a lifetime,” King began.
He went on to reflect on the fact that his father’s faith gave him the ability to always find the brightness in the darkest days, a perspective the singer admits he has always admired.
“Those that knew him knew his eyes were never fixed on this weary world. It used to frustrate me how joyful he could be even in the worst moments of life. In his own words, that joy came from ‘the hope I have in Jesus.’”
While his cause of death was not revealed, King admits that in just a “blink of an eye,” his dad went to Jesus, “where his soul longed to be.”
“We wanted 25 more years with him and that pain will cut deep for the rest of my life. However, if there were ever a moment to be sure my dad is waiting for me in the very place all of our souls long for, it would be now,” he continued.
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The “Get To Drinkin’” singer will spend the next two weeks off the road in order to grieve with his family. Then, he plans to do what he thinks his father would have wanted him to do and return to work.
King concluded his message with a powerful and fitting statement that honors his late loved one, paired with a slideshow of photos that captured moments of their relationship from King’s childhood all the way through the present day.
“I’ll leave ya’ll with what he said every morning even when I didn’t want to hear it… ‘today is the day the [Lord] has made I will rejoice and be glad in it.’ I love you dad. I’ll see you soon.”
Growing up in the small town of Fayetteville, Georgia, Zach John King developed a passion for country music through his grandparents, but it was his dad who expanded his knowledge on all different genres of music by giving him a preloaded iPod shuffle with everything from Otis Redding to Alabama on it.
His father’s influence extended far beyond introducing him to music. It’s clear that he also shaped the man and artist King has become today. Fans filled the comment section with uplifting and supportive messages as his family navigates this difficult time.
He was originally scheduled to perform at several upcoming fairs and festivals including Country Jam USA, Country Thunder Wisconsin and Freedom Fest Little Falls, MN, in a addition to serving as support on select dates of Luke Bryan’s Word on the Street Tour and Riley Green’s Cowboy As It Gets Tour.
It’s unclear what date Zach John King will return to the road.
