Jimmy Buffett’s longtime pal Carl Hiaasen shared that the late singer was ‘larger than life’ and ‘invincible’ amid his cancer battle, which ultimately lead to his death at 76.
The journalist, 70, discussed Buffett’s strength and how doctor’s orders did not deter him from enjoying his life, after the Margaritaville singer passed from Merkel cell skin cancer on Friday, four years after first being diagnosed.
‘I was with Jimmy in the Bahamas in October of 2022,’ the novelist told People in a new interview. ‘He was supposed to take it easy although he didn’t know what that meant.’
‘He was fishing when a large lemon shark was heading for him. He had a drone up because he wanted a video of this experience. He was so excited because he wanted to put it on stage while he was performing during his next tour when he performed his song “Fins.”‘
‘The shark was really close but Jimmy was so excited,’ Hiaasen added. ‘He was planning for where this video would go in his show. There was no way to slow him down!’
Memories: Jimmy Buffett’s friend Carl Hiaasen shared that the late singer (seen in 2017) was ‘larger than life’ and ‘invincible’ amid his cancer battle, which ultimately lead to his death on Friday at 76
Resilient: The journalist, 70, discussed Buffett’s strength and how doctor’s orders did not deter him from enjoying his life; Hiaasen pictured in 2017
Hiaasen recalled how Buffett continued to have an adventurous spirit, even as he fought the rare form of skin cancer.
He shared how during that same trip Buffett enjoyed a ride on a foil surfboard, despite being advised to ‘take it easy.’
‘I truly thought he could beat this because he had such a phenomenal attitude. This is so hard for me to accept or talk about,’ Hiaasen added.
Hiaasen also shared a touching tribute to his friend via Instagram on Saturday, posting three snaps of the musician performing on stage, as well as a photo of the two of them in the cockpit of a plane.
‘Heart-crushing news to learn that @jimmybuffett’s gone. He was a close friend for almost 40 years,’ he wrote.
‘Nobody had more pure fun in life, or worked harder to share it with others. He lived true to his songs, and he was writing with joy until the end, tweaking the final cuts on a new album.’
‘Jimmy had one gear: moving at the speed of light, even in flip-flops. He was, literally and exuberantly, all over the map. Richly talented, wonderfully generous, and wildly passionate about the places he cherished – peaceful islands and harbors where he transported everyone who loved his music,’ he went on.
‘Still he was happiest on stage, whether it was a bar in Key West or center field at Fenway Park. I’d like to think that somewhere is a pristine stretch of Caribbean beach where we still might find – propped against a palm tree – a fly rod and a Martin guitar.’
Adventurous: Hiaasen recalled how Buffett continued to have an adventurous spirit, even as he fought cancer: ‘There was no way to slow him down!’; Pictured 2019
Emotional: ‘I truly thought he could beat this because he had such a phenomenal attitude. This is so hard for me to accept or talk about,’ Hiaasen added; Buffett seen in 2009
Tribute: Hiaasen shared a touching tribute to his friend via Instagram on Saturday, posting a photo of the two of them in the cockpit of a plane as he called the death ‘heart-crushing news’
Gone too soon: The musician had been fighting Merkel Cell cancer for four years before his death Friday at his home in Sag Harbor, on New York’s Long Island; Seen 2018
‘And, riding the waves, a familiar bionic pirate on a long board, grinning about all the cool s**t he got away with. I’ll miss you, JB. Millions will. Thanks for the laughs, the adventures, and the unforgettable sound track.’
Meanwhile Buffett’s music is being celebrated following his death, with several of his hit songs rising to the top of the Spotify charts. His famous hit Margaritaville is currently the sixth most played song in the United States according to Spotify Daily Chart via Kworb.
His song It’s Five O’Clock Somewhere with Alan Jackson sits at number 12, Cheeseburger in Paradise at number 30, Come Monday at 44, Knee Deep with Zac Brown Band at 45, Changes in Latitudes, Changes in Attitudes at 50, A Pirate Looks at Forty at 54, Son of a Son of a Sailor at number 71, among plenty of other hits.
Buffett’s obituary on the Come Monday singer’s website indicates he died of Merkel Cell cancer, a disease he had been fighting for four years.
According to the Mayo Clinic, it is a ‘rare type of skin cancer that usually appears as a flesh-colored or bluish-red nodule, often on your face, head or neck.’ It most often affects older people.
Buffett had been fighting the disease for four years before his death Friday at age 76 at his home in Sag Harbor, on New York’s Long Island.
To honor the late musician, his Margaritaville hotel in Palm Springs lowered its American flag to half mast.
Buffett’s website revealed the tireless artist continued to perform while being treated for the disease.
He made his final performance at a surprise show in Rhode Island in early July.
When James William Buffett was born in Christmas day in 1946 in Pascagoula, Mississippi, no one could have imagined the gifts he would bring into the world.
Celebrating his hits: Buffett’s music is being celebrated following his death, with several of his hit songs rising to the top of the Spotify charts; He is seen in 2010
Rise to fame: The singer broke through in the music business with Come Monday in 1974, from his album Living and Dying in 3/4 Time. That resulted in a string of hits that included Changes in Latitudes, Fins and the ever popular Margaritaville; Pictured August 1977
After struggling to make his mark as a performer, he finally broke through in the music business with Come Monday in 1974, from his album Living and Dying in 3/4 Time.
That resulted in a string of hits that included Changes in Latitudes, Fins and the ever popular Margaritaville.
He won CMA and ACM awards for his twangy hit It’s Five O’clock Somewhere and was nominated for two Grammys.
Buffett was survived by his wife of 46 years, Jane, their three children, a grandson, as well as his beloved pack of dogs.
The family has requested that in lieu of flowers, donations be made to Jimmy Buffett’s Foundation Singing for Change, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Dana Farber Cancer Institute or MD Anderson Cancer Center.