Music legend Country Joe McDonald, the voice that famously rallied the Woodstock crowd against the Vietnam War, has died at age 84. The Country Joe and the Fish frontman passed away on Saturday, March 7, 2026, at his home in Berkeley, California. His family confirmed to multiple outlets that he died from complications of Parkinson's disease while surrounded by loved ones.

McDonald is best remembered for his electrifying solo set at the 1969 Woodstock festival. Armed with just an acoustic guitar, he led half a million people in the "Fish Cheer" and the satirical anthem "I-Feel-Like-I'm-Fixin'-to-Die Rag." The moment was immortalized in the 1970 Warner Bros. documentary, making him a permanent symbol of the 1960s counterculture movement and a hero to the anti-war effort.

Beyond the stage, the Washington, D.C. native was a U.S. Navy veteran who became a dedicated advocate for veteran health and recognition throughout his life. Along with his bandmates in Country Joe and the Fish, he released influential psychedelic rock albums like Electric Music for the Mind and Body. He leaves behind a legacy of fierce activism and a songbook that defined the protest era of the late 20th century.