Lynyrd Skynyrd's current lead vocalist is the brother of a former band member.
Johnny Van Zant . He is the younger brother of the late Lynyrd Skynyrd co-founder and former lead vocalist Ronnie Van Zant , and of the .38 Special founder , Donnie Van Zant . He became lead vocalist for the reunited Lynyrd Skynyrd in 1987 , and continues to record and perform with them today . Lynyrd Skynyrd . At the peak of their success , two band members and a backup singer died in an airplane crash in 1977 , putting an abrupt end to the band 's most popular incarnation . Lynyrd Skynyrd continues to tour and record with co-founder Gary Rossington , Johnny Van Zant , and guitarist Rickey Medlocke -- who first wrote and recorded with the band from 1971 to 1972 ( before his return to Lynyrd Skynyrd in 1996 ) .