Jerald Wayne Mills (August 17, 1969 – November 23, 2013) was an American country musician, known for touring with the Wayne Mills Band for over 15 years and playing alongside Blake Shelton, Jamey Johnson and 2006 American Idol winner, Taylor Hicks. During his career Mills released five studio albums (with a sixth unreleased) and two live albums. He also had seven top 20 songs in Europe from 2008 to 2010, including a chart topper in Belgium in 2009.
During his education at Wallace State Junior College in Hanceville Mills played baseball and later at The University of Alabama football. He had a Bachelor of Science degree in Education. When Mills died, he left behind wife Carol (they married in 2000) and seven-year-old son Jack.
In the early hours of November 23, 2013 in Nashville, Tennessee, Mills was shot in the head by a bar owner allegedly over an argument involving Mills lighting up a cigarette in a no-smoking area. He was rushed to a hospital but later died. On March 6, 2015, Chris Ferrell was found guilty of second-degree murder in Mills' death and received a 20-year sentence with no possibility of parole.