Johnny Tillotson, the two-time Grammy-nominated singer behind the song Poetry In Motion, has died at age 86.

Tillotson passed due to complications from Parkinson’s disease, his wife Nancy Tillotson told TMZ.

Nancy announced the loss in an emotional tribute posted to Facebook, revealing her husband died Tuesday. 

She shared with TMZ that her spouse was surrounded by family when he died at his home in Los Angeles. 

In a tribute, Nancy described their relationship as a ‘fairy tale’ romance and fondly remembered Johnny’s achievements, such as his hit song Poetry In Motion and the millions of records he sold.

The post included a photo of Nancy and Johnny, laughing together.  

Johnny Tillotson, the Grammy-nominated singer behind the song Poetry In Motion, has died at age 86.

Announcing Johnny’s passing, Nancy expressed her deep sorrow, referring to him as the sweetest and kindest man she had ever known. She lovingly referred to him as her beloved, the champion of her world, and the knight of her heart.

Nancy reflected on their extraordinary love story, quoting someone who said that sometimes in the midst of an ordinary life, a fairy tale unfolds. She recounted how she found her fairy tale the day she met Johnny, praising his humor, generosity, and kindness. She highlighted his gratitude towards his fans, acknowledging that they had played a crucial role in making his dreams a reality.

‘Johnny Tillotson’s life was marked by extraordinary achievements in the world of music. As a 1960’s teen idol, he captured the hearts of fans worldwide with his signature hit, “Poetry In Motion.” This song among others, soared to the top of the charts across the globe.

‘His songwriting prowess was evident in the timeless “It Keeps Right On a Hurtin” a track that resonated so deeply it was recorded by over 112 artists, including legends like Elvis Presley,

‘Dean Martin, Conway Twitty and Bobby Darin. Johnny’s musical journey saw him record numerous albums, selling tens of millions of records worldwide. He was a two time Grammy nominee, a testament to his undeniable talent.

‘Born April 20th, 1938 in Jacksonville Florida, he winged to Heaven to be with the lord on April 1st, 2025 just a few weeks shy of his 87th Birthday.

‘He is survived by his wide Nancy of 45 years, his son John and his wife, his step daughter Genevieve and his grandchildren, Nia, Jackson, Georgia and Gwyneth, his brother Dan and sister in law Virginia and various nieces and nephews.

‘Johnny will be missed every single day for the rest of my life. He was simply the best. With all the love I have in my heart for a wonderful man gone too soon from this world.’

Tillotson pictured in 1979

Nancy shared this photo of her and Johnny laughing in an emotional tribute she posted to Facebook

She recalled their ‘fairy tale’ romance and her husband’s many accomplishments 

A crossover artist, Johnny is considered an influential figure in infusing country music into the pop music market, according to the Florida Division of Arts and Culture. 

His prolific career saw him earn two Grammy nominations – one in 1962 for Best Country & Western Recording for It Keeps Right On A-Hurtin’ and another in 1965 for Best Contemporary (R&B) Vocal Performance – Male for Heartaches By  The Number (Single).

According to his website, Johnny has achieved six #1 international hits and has also had numerous records chart worldwide, with Poetry In Motion, Without You, Talk Back Trembling Lips, among his biggest records. 

Tillotson also wrote and recorded the song It Keeps Right On a-Hurtin’, which was covered by 110 other artists – including Elvis Presley.  

The son of a country music disk jockey, Tillotson was born in 1939 in Jacksonville, Florida and became known state-wide for his singing abilities as a teenager.

The son of a country music disk jockey, Tillotson was born in 1939 in Jacksonville, Florida

While Johnny released several songs through a label in college and even appeared on a weekly TV show, he didn’t make it big until the release of his 1960 song Poetry In Motion, according to the Florida Division of Arts and Culture. 

The song was a massive success, becoming number one in the United Kingdom, peaking in second in the U.S, and turned Tillotson into a teen icon. 

He was featured in teen magazines and landed a gig touring with Dick Clark’s Cavalcade of Stars.

‘That was such a big hit worldwide,’ he recalled of the song in a 2011 interview with NJ.com. ‘When I heard the song, I thought it might have potential, because it described the beauty of women. To this day, when I sing it, I sing to the ladies.’ 

Poetry In Motion is among his six recordings to have hit number one

Poetry In Motion is among his six recordings to have hit number one.

His other #1 hits include Judy, Judy, Judy, Namida Kun Sayonara, You and Me, Cutie Pie, and You Can Never Stop Me Loving You.

Johnny has also recorded in a total of five languages and created the theme song for the Sally Field-led TV show Gidget. 

In 2014, Johnny was inducted into America’s Pop Music Hall of Fame.