Losing a legend feels different when they’ve spent years in your living room every Tuesday night. For fans of the Discovery Channel hit Moonshiners, Everett "Kenny" Law wasn't just another face in a ball cap and camouflage. He was the real deal. A third-generation shiner from the hills of Franklin County, Virginia, who lived the life most people only see in movies.
If you’ve been wondering what happened to Kenny Law from Moonshiners, the news is heartbreaking for the tight-knit Appalachian community.
Kenny Law passed away on January 14, 2025. He was 68 years old.
The Final Chapter for a Virginia Legend
It wasn’t a sudden accident or a dramatic "run from the law" that took Kenny. Honestly, it was just a body that had fought too many battles for too long. According to his cousin and long-time partner, Henry Lee Law, Kenny had been struggling with a cocktail of health issues that eventually caught up with him.
He’d been dealing with heart problems for quite a while. In fact, he actually suffered a heart attack back in 2024. Combine that with a long-term battle with diabetes, and you have a recipe for a very tired system.
The final blow came in the form of a severe blood infection.
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He spent about a month in a local hospital, fighting to the very end. His family was right there with him when he finally passed peacefully. Henry told reporters that Kenny’s body simply "wore out." It's a tough way to go for a man who seemed indestructible on screen.
More Than Just a TV Star
Kenny Law didn't start making moonshine because a camera crew showed up in Rocky Mount. He was born into it. His grandfather, Owen Law, and his father were deep in the trade. But it was his uncle, the notorious Amos Law, who really showed Kenny and Henry the ropes.
They weren't just "playing" moonshiners. They had the records to prove it.
Back in the late 90s, Kenny faced a choice that would define his reputation in the mountains. Federal prosecutors gave him an ultimatum: snitch on his fellow shiners or head to prison.
Kenny didn't blink.
He chose the "code of silence" and served years in federal prison rather than betraying his community. That kind of loyalty is why people in Franklin County—the "Moonshine Capital of the World"—respected him long before Discovery ever called.
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Transitioning to the Legal Side
In later years, Kenny and Henry decided to bring their family recipe out of the shadows. They opened Law’s Choice Distillery in Virginia. It was a way to honor the Law legacy without looking over their shoulders every time they fired up the still.
Fans loved it.
Kenny was known for being incredibly kind to people who visited the distillery. He’d spend hours talking to fans of the show, genuinely surprised that people were so interested in his life.
Remembering "Big Guy"
The tributes poured in almost immediately after the Law family shared the news on social media. Amanda Bryant, a fellow Moonshiners star, called him a "true legend" and a "big guy" with an even bigger heart.
Discovery Channel also released a statement, noting that Kenny had been a "treasured member" of the cast since he joined in Season 8.
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But for Kenny, his greatest pride wasn't the show or the whiskey. It was his daughter, Kenzie. He often told friends and fans that she was his "pride and joy." He also leaves behind two grandsons, Atlas and Fox, who will grow up hearing stories about their grandfather—the man who was "tough as nails" but soft-hearted for those he loved.
What’s Next for Law’s Choice?
Henry Lee Law remains at the helm of the family business. While the void left by Kenny is massive, the distillery continues to operate as a tribute to the three generations of Law men who came before.
If you want to honor Kenny's memory, the best way is to keep the history of the Appalachian spirit alive.
Next Steps for Fans:
- Support the Legacy: You can visit Law’s Choice Distillery in Franklin County to see where the tradition continues.
- Watch the Tributes: Discovery often airs "Best Of" segments; look for Season 8 through 14 episodes featuring the Law cousins to see Kenny in his element.
- Beware of Scams: His daughter, Kenzie, warned fans about fake fundraisers or "funeral livestreams" asking for money. Only follow official family or distillery pages for updates.
Kenny Law lived a life that was rebellious, fun-loving, and authentically Appalachian. He was a man who survived a propane explosion in his youth, federal prison in his middle years, and became a household name in his 60s. He was, as his obituary put it, a "cat with nine lives" whose luck finally ran out, but whose story certainly won't.