Martina McBride's Dad Daryl, a Farmer and Musician, Dies at 86: 'Our Hearts Are Broken'

Martina McBride is mourning the loss of her dad Daryl Schiff.

The country star, 58, announced on Instagram Saturday, Jan. 18 that her father, a longtime musician and farmer, died “suddenly and peacefully at his home” in Sharon, Kan. on Jan. 14. He was 86.

“I really don’t have the right words. My dad passed away Tuesday night. Our hearts are broken,” she wrote. “He was 86 and had an amazing life. He was a third-generation family farmer. He was also the leader of our family band, The Schiffters. He taught me so much about music, about life, about how to treat others.”

McBride wrote that since the death of her mom Jeanne in 2020, she and her dad talked on the phone every night, and often during the day, too.

“Over 1800 conversations that I am so grateful I had,” she wrote. “I was able to record some of them, some of his stories, and they are priceless to me.”

The “Independence Day” singer said she and Schiff both had a passion for gardening and cooking, and would often share recipes with one another and videos of how their gardens were progressing. According to his obituary, Schiff was a third-generation farmer who had dairy farm, and later raised cattle and crops.

McBride said her dad was a fixture in the town of Sharon, where he’d lived his entire life, and still loved driving to the grocery store and getting coffee each morning with friends at the Sharon CO-OP.

“He had the kindest blue eyes and a great laugh. So much of who I am came from him,” she wrote. “There is so much more I could write, and probably will. Thank you for keeping us in your prayers during this time.”

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Schiff’s obituary said he was the leader of The Schiffters, a popular local country rock band that played dances and weddings around Kansas and Oklahoma for nearly 20 years. McBride and her brother Marty played in the band, while Jeanne, whom he married in 1965, ran the sound board.

Schiff recorded two albums in Nashville, and twice performed at the Grand Ole Opry. His final public performance was in July 2022, when he played the Pratt Country Fair.

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He is survived by McBride and her siblings Stephen, Gina and Marty, plus 15 grandchildren, 12 great-grandchildren and one sister.

Country stars like Sara Evans and Tanya Tucker left messages of support in the comments section of McBride’s post, with Evans writing, “I loved your dad! And I love you and am so sorry! We are praying for your family.”

Tucker, meanwhile, added, “Sending you my love! Sorry 😢.”

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