Ronnie Milsap is speaking out about the loss of his wife, Joyce, who passed away over the weekend. In a touching tribute, the Country Music Hall of Fame member honored how much she impacted both his life and his career.

“There are no words, and not enough songs in the world to explain how much I love my Sapphire,” Milsap said in her obituary. “She was the music and the feeling inside all of those songs, so if you loved my music, you understand some of how much I loved my my beautiful, beautiful wife. It’s all in the songs, but she was even more. She was the love of my life, the mother of my son, the world’s happiest grandmother.”

It was Joyce who urged Milsap to move from Memphis to Nashville, a decision that ignited his career, making him one of the most successful artist of his generation.

“When people tell me they love my music, I always smile, because that music is pure Joyce,” Milsap maintains. “We went through lean times laughing, good times beyond our imagination, tough times where we held on to each other for dear life.”

“Blessedly/Thankfully, she’s in heaven with our Todd,” he continues, referring to their son who passed away in 2019, “and I know somehow from heaven, she’s still here with me every day, because that’s just how she was.”

Sam Moore was the first to announce her passing on social media.

“It is with great sorrow that I post this photo of Ronnie Milsap my friend for more than 50 years and his beloved wife Joyce who passed away this morning, Joyce had leukemia and she suffered for many years with it and from it,” Moore wrote. “She was an amazing wonderful woman a devoted wife a loving mother and a dear dear dear friend. Rest in heaven Joyce Milsap let God hold you in his arms and be with the Angels.”

Joyce had previously battled leukemia, although a cause of death has not been revealed.

According to the obituary, due to COVID, the family will hold a private memorial service. Everything Nash extends our deepest condolences to Milsap and his family.