HARDY‘s tour bus driver, Ricky, passed away earlier this month, and the singer paid tribute to his late friend during a show in Houston, Texas on November 18. HARDY dedicated his performance of “Give Heaven Some Hell” to Ricky, telling the crowd that the dedication was a first for him.
“I never dedicate this song to anybody, but I just found out yesterday that my bus driver, who was driving that bus, he passed away yesterday,” HARDY told the crowd. “So tonight I want to dedicate this song to my bus driver, Ricky, and his family.”
Watch HARDY Pay Tribute To His Late Tour Bus Driver Below
Ricky’s daughter, Whitney Perry, shared that Ricky had been battling stage IV brain cancer since October 2022. In a Facebook post on November 17, Perry wrote that “as of this morning, Daddy is resting in the arms of Jesus.”
“I imagine his laugh being such a joyous sound in heaven. I will never be able to put into words just how much he means to me or how thankful I am God chose him to be mine,” she continued. “Throughout this entire process, he has shown so much strength, and I’m so proud of him. He never missed the opportunity to tell me just how much he loved me or how proud of me he is, and I hope to make him proud always.”
HARDY Tour Bus Accident
It was determined that Ricky had brain cancer following an accident involving HARDY’s tour bus on October 2nd last year. The bus was traveling near Nashville when it went off the road and overturned. HARDY shared on social media that all four people who were on the bus, including himself, had been “treated for significant injuries” and that Ricky was still in the hospital.
“Our friend and bus driver needs your prayers as he is still in the hospital,” he wrote at the time. “His family is with him while he is being treated, and we’re all pulling and praying for him.”
HARDY’s photographer/videographer Tanner Gallagher offered further details, posting a photo of himself in the hospital after the “terrifying” accident.
“Within what felt like 3 seconds, our bodies were thrown across the room, knocking us all unconscious. By the grace of God, we all survived,” he wrote, adding that though he was in pain, “I need to point out something important. I was told numerous times by doctors that it was a miracle that we survived… and that’ll make you think.”
“I think about the times that I’ve spent worrying, stressed, upset, been less present or simply took for granted, and it kills me,” he continued. “And I think about all the people in my life, family, friends, co-workers, etc. and wished that I could have spent more time with them or somehow made them feel better in moments with something as simple and little as a compliment. Most of all, I think about perspective, in that it’s so easy for us to lose sight of all of the things we have. Take it from me, be grateful for f—ing EVERYTHING.”
HARDY Is Experiencing “Serious Anxiety” Following Bus Accident
On October 3 of this year, HARDY shared on social media that he had been dealing with “serious anxiety” since the accident and that it had “taken control of my life” over the two weeks prior.
“It’s caused me to suffer many panic attacks, which have landed me in the hospital,” he continued. “I need a moment to focus on me and to make myself better for my wife, family, and you the fans.” HARDY added that he would be canceling two dates of his headline mockingbird & THE CROW Tour, which he returned to later that month. The trek will wrap on December 9 with a show in Biloxi, Mississippi.
