Joshua Ray Walker Reveals Cancer Complications at Kessler Show

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When running down a list of the greatest living songwriters, you damn sure better make sure Joshua Ray Walker is somewhere on there, if not near the top. He didn’t win Saving Country Music’s Song of the Year for “Voices” in 2020 by accident.

When it comes to modern-day vocalists—including ones who can perfect the classic country moan yodel—Walker may have nearly all of them beat. The Dallas, TX-native has a control and sustain in the high range that is nothing short of miraculous. If you don’t believe it, pull up a live version of “Voices” and render yourself gobsmacked.

And though the folks who might accuse Joshua Ray Walker of being the best lead guitarist in the world might be few and far between, he sure is one hell of a picker, and to the point where he’s played lead guitar in a host of bands, and for multiple other performers. Joshua Ray Walker truly is a multi-tool musical marvel.

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It was supposed to be a celebration. That’s not exactly how it unfolded, though everyone who attended left with full hearts. After selling out the legendary Kessler Theater in Dallas five times previous, Joshua Ray Walker set out to make it #6 on Monday, September 9th. But this one was extra special. It was to celebrate Walker finishing his chemotherapy treatments for colon Cancer diagnosed at the end of 2023. Walker’s surgery that removed part of his colon, as well as his chemotherapy treatments showed all the signs of being successful.


But there was one big hitch to that celebration. Those in attendance at The Kessler got to hear the news from Walker first, and in person before he revealed it Tuesday morning, along with a Go Fund Me Link.

Walker revealed the unfortunate news in the introduction of one of his signature songs, “Canyon,” which opened his debut album, 2019’s Wish You Were Here.

“It all started because my dad got Cancer and I wrote this song about how I felt about it,” Walker said. “I wrote a song that was sincere, people started listening, and I owe this song a lot. As many of you know, I’ve been dealing with my own battle with Cancer, and I finished up six months of chemo treatment last month, and I know that I need to give y’all an update. I’m going to do that publicly, but since y’all are all here, I’m just gonna let you know.”

Walker continued, “I got all my followup tests done, and we did not get the outcome we were hoping for. That’s okay. I’m gonna stay positive and do what the doctors told me to do. But unfortunately, the Cancer has moved into my lungs. I will be getting a lung biopsy next week, and probably start radiation treatment pretty soon.”



Joshua Ray Walker revealed further details Tuesday morning through the Go Fund Me launch.

“This unfortunately means my cancer will likely be restaged to stage 4. I will get a lung biopsy, and start radiation soon. I wish I had more information to share but I’m still waiting to meet with a radiology oncologist following my biopsy surgery. I will keep y’all as updated as possible, and I will continue to fight my hardest. The odds have definitely shifted, but I’m not going to publish them here. It seems defeatist, and unnecessary. I’ll let you know what they were after I beat them. I’ve always lived life to the fullest and I will continue to do so.”

Lung Cancer or not, this did not keep Joshua Ray Walker from giving it his all on the Kessler stage Monday night. And if the audience wasn’t already so emotionally invested in Walker, his songs, his career, and his life, they would have been none the wiser he was ill at all. This included his soaring high vocals that permeated the legendary walls of the Kessler, which originally was a movie house owned by country legend Gene Autry in the 1940s.

As Joshua Ray Walker ran through selections from his three album trilogy that chronicles the lives of characters from a honky tonk, he also weaved in personal stories and anecdotes that went from the profound and personal, to the absolutely hilarious. Despite the somber mood in the room, the full range of human emotions was explored in the 90-minute set.


While introducing his song “Boat Show Girl,” Walker told a story about fishing with his dad at White Rock Lake near his home in Dallas. Along with his admiration for the metallic fleck paint finishes of modern boats and their cool names, Walker recalled how one of his favorite parts about fishing was the taste of sandwiches when they’ve been sitting in the cooler for a while, where the meat becomes married with the bread, name dropping Oscar Meyer in the process.

“I’m not sponsored by Oscar Meyer. But if I was, that would explain the colon Cancer,” Walker joked. He instead endorsed Topo Chico—the Texas mineral water of choice—with a couple of cold bottles sweating on a stool next to him. This also gave him the opportunity to celebrate a year of sobriety next week.

When referring to his set list at one point, Walker laughed, “Whoever writes these things, I always disagree with them when I’m up here.” Walker instead allowed the mood of the room to dictate where he went.


Walker said he never used to use set lists at all until the chemotherapy made it harder for him to call upon what song he wanted to play next. Walker also admitted that he has a hard time remembering any of the cover songs he recorded for his 2023 album What Is It Even?, not just because of the chemo-induced memory loss, but due to how much has happened in his life in the past year. His health woes all started when he had an appendicitis while opening for The Killers on tour. The experience also resulted in a killer live record.

Joshua Ray Walker might have some difficulty calling to mind every song from his catalog, but every single song Joshua Ray Walker performed during that 90-minute set at the Kessler will be burned in the memories of every attendee. We all sure hope they aren’t the last ones Walker plays live. He’s scheduled to open some shows for Dwight Yoakam in Texas in November.

But there’s no mistaking it. We should cherish every moment, every song, and every album for Joshua Ray Walker. Even without the health concerns, his catalog was irreplaceable from the beginning. But it’s moments like these that remind you that nothing is guaranteed. Savor every moment you can.

Get well Joshua Ray Walker. There is no other like you.

Contribute to Joshua Ray Walker’s Go Fund Me

Joshua Ray Walker performing “Voices” at The Kessler.

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