The Oak Ridge Boys’ Richard Sterban is sharing a devastating health diagnosis. The 82-year-old, who has missed several shows in recent months, reveals he is battling pancreatic cancer.
“In March of this year, I was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer,” Sterban says. “But I am under the care of the best cancer doctors in the country and, with the help of the good Lord above, I believe I will be able to get through this.”
“I want to thank everyone, especially the fans, for your concern, and I would appreciate your continued prayers,” he adds. “Most days I’m feeling very good, and I hope to be back out on the road in several months.”
Sterban last appeared with The Oak Ridge Boys in May, at the ACM Awards. Aaron McCune and Tim Duncan are filling in for Sterban while he focuses on his health.
The Oak Ridge Boys’ Touring Plans
The Oak Ridge Boys recently announced their 2025 American Made Christmas Tour.
“Christmas time has always been our favorite time of year,” Duane Allen says. “Getting to see everyone during the holidays, singing our favorite Christmas songs, both traditional and new, is something I look forward to all year long. Come on out and see us if you can.”
In 2023, the group announced their American Made: Farewell Tour, intending to come off the road, due to Joe Bonsall’s health struggles with ALS. Bonsall, replaced by Ben James after their 2023 Christmas tour, tragically passed away on July 9, 2024. Now, the iconic quartet say they have no plans to retire, with tour dates already scheduled into 2026.
“We will go until we can’t, and I think we all came here enjoying The Oak Ridge Boys,” William Lee Golden tells Everything Nash. “There was a great singer standing in the spot that we stood on, and the torch was passed to each one of us. And I think that it’s our obligation to actually pass the torch to a new generation when it’s time. We can go as far as we can and with the success and the acceptance of the audience, like Ben James is being accepted out there. He’s not Joe Bonsall. No one is Joe Bonsall but Joe Bonsall. But he’s Ben James.”
The Oak Ridge Boys will always miss Bonsall, even as they move forward. Still, they are open in their praise for Bonsall, who toured as long as he was physically able.
“It was really hard to go through that progression, because we knew what was happening, but he didn’t want anybody to cry for him,” Allen says. “He didn’t want anybody to feel sorry for him. He just wanted to do the best he could, and he wanted to go out singing, and he did. Early in the year, he said, ‘I’m going to do my very best to make every Christmas show,’ and he never missed a show. He never missed a note. His voice was strong to the very last note of the last song we sang.”
Keep track of all of The Oak Ridge Boys’ upcoming shows at OakRidgeBoys.com.
Photo Credit: Brandon Wood