In a deeply moving moment that blended personal grief with public connection, Grammy-winning bluegrass musician Billy Strings honored the passing of his mother, Debra Apostol, during his concert at Rupp Arena in Lexington, Kentucky, on June 20, 2025. Just hours after learning she had passed away peacefully in her sleep, Strings chose to continue with his scheduled performance—transforming it into an emotional tribute that resonated with thousands of fans.
The news of his mother’s death came in the early hours of June 20, following his June 19 appearance at the Charlotte Bluegrass Festival in Lansing, Michigan—a venue and event that held immense personal significance for the artist. The festival, which he first attended as a child, is where his bluegrass journey began. He had performed there just the night before as a headliner, unaware that it would be his final concert with his mother alive.
During his Lexington set, Strings paused the music to share the heartbreaking news with the audience. “My wife woke me up this morning and told me that my beautiful mother, Debra Apostol, passed away in her sleep,” he said. In an impromptu moment of spiritual seeking, he walked to a nearby country church that morning, where a stranger offered to pray with him. That brief encounter became a source of comfort in his most vulnerable hour.
Rather than cancel the show, Strings explained that performing was a decision made from the heart—“because that’s what my mom would have wanted me to do.” His voice heavy with emotion, he addressed the crowd: “She loved you all so much. So instead of a moment of silence, can you please make as much noise as possible for my mom?” The audience erupted in applause, cheers, and support, honoring her in the way she had lived—joyfully, through music and community.
Billy Strings, born William Lee Apostol, has long credited his mother with playing a central role in his musical upbringing. After his biological father died of a heroin overdose when Billy was two, Debra married Terry Barber, an amateur musician who introduced Billy to bluegrass. Strings would go on to blend traditional bluegrass with a modern edge, earning him acclaim as one of the genre’s most electrifying performers.
Debra Apostol was not just a supportive figure in the background. She was a visible and enthusiastic presence at his shows and festivals, often mingling with fans, dancing to his music, and creating a welcoming environment around her son’s growing musical family. In 2022, she even appeared vocally on Strings’s album Me/And/Dad, lending her voice to the track “I Heard My Mother Weeping.” The record, a collaboration between Strings and his stepfather Terry Barber, was a tribute to the familial roots of their music.
The Charlotte Bluegrass Festival, where Strings had performed the night before her passing, was more than just a stop on his tour. It was the same event he attended as a young child, the spark that ignited his lifelong passion for bluegrass. Strings recalled how special it had been to return to that festival year after year—this time as a headliner, accompanied by his mother, who had seen his journey come full circle.
While the Lexington performance could have been somber, Strings turned it into a celebration of life, love, and the healing power of music. He expressed profound gratitude for the outpouring of support he had received from fans, many of whom took to social media with messages of condolence and admiration for his strength and vulnerability.
As he continues his tour across North America, Strings carries the memory of his mother with him—not only in song but in spirit. Her joy, support, and presence remain embedded in the fabric of his music. The Lexington tribute served not just as a concert, but as a communal act of mourning and affirmation—proof that music can bind people in grief and celebration alike.
Billy Strings’s decision to perform through personal tragedy reaffirms his deep connection with his audience and the enduring influence of his family. It was a night when the personal and the professional collided, and from that heartbreak emerged a performance filled with authenticity, gratitude, and love.