Introduction
William Lee Golden on Loss, Healing, & the Power of Music After a Painful Year for the Oak Ridge Boys
For more than five decades, William Lee Golden has stood as a pillar of The Oak Ridge Boys, his flowing beard and soulful baritone becoming part of the group’s unmistakable identity. But as 2025 unfolds, Golden finds himself reflecting not just on the music, but on the grief and healing that have marked a difficult year for the legendary quartet.
The passing of Joe Bonsall in July 2025 left a void that can never be filled. For Golden, Duane Allen, and Richard Sterban, losing their brother in harmony was more than a professional loss—it was the loss of family. “Joe wasn’t just our tenor,” Golden shared in a recent interview. “He was our spirit, our spark. Every night, when we walked on stage, you could feel his energy before he even sang a note. That’s something you can’t replace.”
In the months since Bonsall’s death, The Oak Ridge Boys have leaned on one another, as well as their fans, to navigate the grief. Golden admits that stepping back onto the stage without Joe was one of the hardest moments of his career. “The first time we sang ‘Elvira’ after he passed, I could barely get the words out,” he recalled. “The crowd was singing along, and it was almost like Joe was right there with us. Music has a way of carrying the ones we’ve lost.”
For Golden, the healing power of music is not just a phrase—it’s a truth he has lived. Beyond his work with the Oak Ridge Boys, he has spent the last few years recording with his family, finding comfort in harmonies shared around the kitchen table. “When you sing with people you love, there’s no hiding your emotions,” he said. “It’s pure, it’s raw, and it reminds you that life goes on, even after heartbreak.”
Faith, too, has played a vital role. The Oak Ridge Boys’ roots in gospel music continue to sustain them through personal trials. Golden describes it as a lifeline: “When you sing about faith and hope every night, you start to believe it more deeply. It’s what keeps us standing when the weight of the world feels too heavy.”
Fans across the country have also provided comfort, sending messages, letters, and filling concert halls with support. “People come up to us after shows with tears in their eyes, telling us Joe’s voice was the soundtrack of their childhood,” Golden said. “That means more than any award. It reminds us why we keep going.”
Though 2025 has been marked by loss, Golden is determined to honor Joe’s memory by carrying the music forward. “We owe it to Joe, and to ourselves, to keep singing,” he reflected. “Because music is bigger than us—it’s what connects us to one another, and to the people we’ve lost.”
For William Lee Golden, the path ahead is bittersweet. But as he stands alongside his brothers in harmony, one truth shines brighter than the pain: music heals, even the deepest wounds. And for The Oak Ridge Boys, that healing is what keeps the song alive.