John Rich’s grandmother, Cleda Ann Rich, 88, died on July 28, according to a statement from John’s PR team.

Affectionately known as Granny Rich, the spunky matriarch of the Rich family made the media rounds in 2019 when she launched her Granny Rich Reserve on John’s Redneck Riviera Whiskey label. During the whiskey launch, Granny Rich celebrated her 87th birthday with a bash at John’s Redneck Riviera bar on Nashville’s Lower Broadway in February 2019.

Granny Rich was born in Pampa, Texas, on February 14, 1932. She owned an alterations shop for 19 years, working 40 hours a week until recently. 

“Granny Rich lived through the Great Depression, The Dust Bowl days, WWII, and many bouts of personal struggles in her life but managed to always persevere and work toward a better future for herself and everyone she loved,” said John. “She was a fierce patriot and expressed her love for our country loud and clear. Her work ethic is legendary, as she ran her own business on her own terms up until one month before she passed away at 88 years of age. She is an inspiration to me and anyone who had the pleasure of meeting her and will be sorely missed. She gave her life to Jesus many decades ago, so I have peace in knowing she is now in the arms of Jesus. I’m sure there’s a line of angels waiting on her to sew some golden thread into their heavenly apparel! Rest in peace, Granny. You will always be ‘The Queen of the Working Class.’ Job well done.”