Earlier this year Ricky Skaggs revealed that he had a major medical scare in 2020.

The country & bluegrass music legend shared that last June, he underwent quadruple bypass heart surgery.

Now, it turns out that Ricky is sharing some positive news that also happened in 2020. On June 1st of last year, he finished a journey that started more than 50 years ago.

He received his High School diploma.

Ricky was suppose to originally get the document in 1971 at Lawrence County High School in Louisa, Kentucky, but instead he chose to start his music career. In the beginning of the 1970s, Ricky hit the road with Dr. Ralph Stanley. While that decision served Ricky well, he always had it in his mind that getting his diploma was something his mother wanted for him.

Ricky shares, “She wanted me to graduate before I went full time with Ralph Stanley on the road.”

June 1st, 2020 Ricky was presented by the superintendent of Lawrence County Schools in Kentucky, Dr. Robbie Fletcher, an honorary high school diploma for all of his work in music. The surprise presentation happened as Ricky was participating in a virtual high school graduation ceremony for the Lawrence County High School 2020 graduating class. Ricky says, “It was an amazing surprise and answered prayer of my mom.”

We’re glad Ricky has his diploma…but, we’re also glad things worked out like they did, so we have great musical moments like this…

Photo Credit: Russ Carson