Musician Billy Strings took the stage Friday just hours after the death of his mother Debra Apostol.

The bluegrass entertainer, 32, informed fans in Lexington, Kentucky that he was performing with a heavy heart on following Debra’s unexpected passing, telling concertgoers ‘that’s what my mom would have wanted me to do.’

Strings had played a concert Thursday in his hometown of Lansing, Michigan at the Charlotte Bluegrass Festival, then hit the road.

The Grammy-winning singer-songwriter added: ‘After our set we drove through the night and I finally fell asleep when we got parked her in Lexington, probably about 5:40 this morning or so.’

Strings, who has more than 902,000 Instagram followers, said he ‘might have got three hours of sleep’ and ‘was in a deep sleep’ when he received the tragic news from his spouse Ally Dale.

‘My wife woke me up this morning and told me that my beautiful mother, Debra Apostol, passed away in her sleep,’ he told the crowd.

Billy Strings took the stage just hours after the death of his mother on Friday. Pictured in 2023 in Newport, Rhode Island.

Strings’ mother mother Debra Apostol died in her sleep, the musician said

The Gild the Lily artist described to the crowd what he did in the emotional moments after learning news of his mother’s passing.

‘I just put on my shoes and started walking,’ Strings said. ‘I walked until I saw this little country church and it was like a beacon.

Strings continued, ‘I went there and knocked on the door and this kind lady let me in and she stayed with me and prayed with me for a while.’

The entertainer said he ultimately settled on taking the stage that evening because that what his ‘mom would have wanted me to do.’

He added: ‘She really loved this group of people. She loved you all so much and for the last couple of years were some of her happiest because a lot of you folks from here. You all became some of our best friends, and I really want to thank you for that.’

Strings made an unconventional request of fans to honor his mother’s memory on the emotional evening.

‘So please, instead of a moment of silence, can you please make as much noise right now for my mom?’ he said.

Said Strings to the audience: ‘The reason I decided not to go home and be with my family right now is because I already am’ with loved ones.

Strings was pictured at the Grammys at Crypto.com Arena in LA in 2024

Strings was pictured in LA in 2023 with wife Ally Dale, who told him the tragic news

John Sinkevics, a musician and music journalist, posted news of the sad occurrence on his Facebook page Saturday, accompanied by a picture of Debra.

‘My deepest sympathies go out to Billy and his entire family,’ Sinkevics said. ‘She was a sweet light and I just chatted with her in joyful fashion a couple of weeks ago when I took this photo.’

Sinkevics wrapped up in writing, ‘The extended Billy family and his devoted fans are in mourning this evening.’

Strings is slated to play three concerts next month in Australia (July 15 in Melbourne, July 17 in Sydney and July 19 in Brisbane City) followed by one in New Zealand (Auckland on July 22).