Billy Strings Reveals That He Is Still In “Denial” Over His Mom’s Tragic Death

During a recent appearance on the Dopey podcast, Billy Strings opened up about the shock and grief he felt after the death of his mother, Debra Apostol, from a drug overdose in June. The acclaimed Bluegrass musician revealed he was unaware she was still using drugs and is still in denial over the “unnecessary” loss. Despite his past struggles with addiction and losing his father to a heroin overdose, Strings had believed his mother was healthy and was devastated to learn the truth while on tour in Australia. He shared how her death reshaped his understanding of addiction as an illness beyond control, leading him to seek support through Al-Anon meetings and honor her memory by eventually turning her poetry into an album. In a cathartic move, he performed a concert the day she died, dedicating it to her spirit, and recently celebrated her birthday with a heartfelt tribute on Instagram, captioning his post, “Happy Birthday momma ❤️.” Meanwhile, his latest album, Highway Prayers, is nominated for Best Bluegrass Album at the 2026 Grammys. (People)