Heartbreaking tales of these fleeting stars
Grimmie, 22, was shot by Kevin James Loibl, who then killed himself on the scene. She was taken to the hospital but didn't survive the wounds.
The R&B star was only 22 when she died in a tragic plane crash on August 25, 2001.
The Queen of Tejano music was shot by former employee and president of her fan club, Yolanda Saldívar, on March 31, 1995. She ended up dying that same day from blood loss and subsequent cardiac arrest.
In 1995, rapper Eazy-E, who was one of the members of legendary group N.W.A (alongside Dr. Dre and Ice Cube), was taken to the hospital for what he thought was an asthma attack.
However, he was diagnosed with AIDS and died from complications related to the disease a month later on March 26, 1995. Eazy-E was 30.
Sophie, the Grammy-nominated experimental pop artist from Glasgow, died on the morning of January 30 following a "sudden accident" at their residence in Athens. In a statement, Sophie's record label explained that, "True to her spirituality she had climbed up to watch the full moon and slipped and fell."
The artist's management also released a statement and said, "Sophie was a pioneer of a new sound, one of the most influential artists in the last decade," adding that Sophie's legacy includes not only visionary sounds and collaborations with artists like Madonna, but also the message of visibility and liberation Sophie achieved as a transgender icon.
Former child actor Kevin Clark was riding his bike through the city when he was suddenly hit by a car and killed. Clark played the role of drummer Freddy Jones alongside Jack Black in the hit movie 'School of Rock' (2003) when he was a kid. He didn't continue his acting career after that, but carried on working as a professional drummer. Black was quick to pay tribute to his past co-star, saying he was heartbroken by the news and calling Clark a "beautiful soul."
Guitarist and rock legend Jimi Hendrix also baffled the world when he died at 27. The talented musician was found dead in a London apartment September 18, 1970.
Selena was a huge star, particularly among the Latino community, who broke many records. She was only 23 when she was killed.
Grunge icon Cobain was found dead three days later in his Seattle home. He had recently checked out of rehab and the note he left behind has since been widely distributed on the Internet.
The rapper Young Dolph was shot and killed on November 17, 2022. The murder happened in his hometown of Memphis. The rapper was entering Makeda's Butter Cookies when a car reportedly pulled up outside the store and shot him through the window. Young Dolph, whose real name was Adolph Robert Thornton, Jr., was 36 years old. He had released five studio albums during his career, the most famous being the 2020 album 'Rich Slave.' Thornton was a cousin of the later rapper Juice Wrld, who died of an accidental overdose at the age of 21 in 2019.
The shock of Mac Miller's premature death still painfully rings out among his fans years after that fateful day. The rapper passed away on September 7, 2018, at the age of 26. He was found unresponsive in his Los Angeles home, and was pronounced dead at the scene when paramedics arrived. It was determined that the rapper had died from mixed drug toxicity (fentanyl, cocaine and ethanol), and the manner of death was certified as an accident.
Ryan Michael Reavis, one of the three drug dealers charged in Miller's fentanyl overdose, was sentenced to 10 years and 11 months in prison, Rolling Stone reports. Stephen Andrew Walter admitted in October 2021 to supplying Reavis with the fentanyl that killed Miller, and he accepted a plea deal carrying a 17-year prison sentence. A case against the third drug dealer charged in Miller's overdose, Cameron James Pettit, is still pending.
Rapper Lil Keed was a rising star in the Atlanta scene when his life was cut short at just 24. He died on May 13, 2022, first confirmed online by his younger brother, Lil Gotit, who posted an emotional Instagram tribute in the early hours of Saturday morning, though the true cause of death is still unknown. Reports suggest that he went to hospital after experiencing severe stomach pains and died of organ failure. He is survived by his daughter, Naychur, and girlfriend Quana Bandz who wrote in an emotional post on Instagram that she is expecting their second child.
Rapper PnB Rock tragically died at the age of just 30 after being shot while eating at Roscoe's Chicken & Waffles restaurant with Steph Sibounheuang, his girlfriend and mother of his two children, on September 12, 2022. The 'Selfish' rapper—who has collaborated with the likes of Ed Sheeran, Wiz Khalifa, Chance the Rapper, 2 Chainz, Young Thug, and Kodak Black—was rushed to an LA hospital where he was pronounced dead. A source connected to the restaurant told TMZ that the shooter, who has yet to be caught, appeared to have targeted PnB in a robbery as the rapper had posted a video of himself wearing expensive jewelry earlier in the day.
Takeoff, one-third of the monumentally successful rap group Migos, was shot and killed in the early hours of November 1, 2022. Police were called to the scene of a shooting in Houston, Texas, at around 2:30 am. A private party was taking place at a bowling alley where Takeoff had apparently been in attendance. Witnesses say an argument broke out after the party ended while a large group of people was gathered outside the venue, which reportedly led to the shooting. Takeoff was shot and pronounced dead at the scene, while two more people sustained non-life-threatening injuries. Employees at the bowling alley say there were at least 40 people present when the shooting occurred but many fled and did not stay to give their statements to police. However, someone did take time to capture a video of the deceased 28-year-old moments after the shooting and share it online.
Friends and colleagues of Takeoff shared tributes about the young rapper, expressing their shock at his sudden death. He has been described by many as peaceful and nonviolent, according to Houston Police Department Chief Troy Finner. One of his friends, actress Keke Palmer, wrote on Instagram, "This is horrible. From the tragedy of the death to the tragedy of there being a video of it online. It’s all just tragic and I am so sorry to his whole family and all he touched. Really terrible."
Aaron Carter, pop singer and brother to Backstreet Boys member Nick Carter, was found dead at his home on November 5, at the age of just 34. The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s department confirmed that officers responded to a 10:58 am call regarding a suspicious death at Aaron's residence in Lancaster, CA, where his body was found in the bathtub by his housekeeper. An autopsy report released in April 2023 revealed that Carter drowned in the bathtub with a mixture of alprazolam (Xanax) and inhalants in his system.
Aaron had rocketed to fame in the late '90s as a pop singer, releasing four studio albums, starting with his self-titled 1997 album which he released when was just nine years old. Teenage Carter served as the opening act on tours by Britney Spears and the Backstreet Boys, and he also became a regular on the Nickelodeon show 'All That!'. Aaron later transitioned his music career into rap and released his fifth and final album 'Love' in 2018. He has been open about his struggles with addiction and mental health over the years, as well as his stints in rehab.
He was shot multiple times and died six days later on September 13, at the young age of 26. Although many theories have arisen, the mystery of his murder was never solved.
Three 6 Mafia rapper Gangsta Boo, real name Lola Mitchell, was found dead on January 1, at the age of just 43, according to a report from local Memphis news outlet Fox 13. Her Three 6 Mafia bandmate DJ Paul K.O.M. later confirmed the news with a tribute to the rapper, whose cause of death was suspected to be drug overdose.
Jeremiah Green, one of the founding members of Modest Mouse and the band's drummer, died on December 31 of cancer, at just 45. Modest Mouse confirmed the news on social media with a loving tribute to their bandmate, writing, "Today we lost our dear friend Jeremiah. He laid down to rest and simply faded out." It was only four days earlier that the band officially disclosed Green's cancer diagnosis, though they'd written that his treatment seemed to be "going smoothly and making a positive difference."
She was known to struggle with drug and alcohol-related problems, in addition to battling mental health issues for years. The 'Valerie' singer was 27 when she died of alcohol poisoning.
TLC's resident rapper Lisa "Left Eye" Lopes was involved in a fatal car crash in Honduras when she was 30. She was the only fatal victim out of eight people involved in the accident, dying on April 25, 2002.
C.J. Harris, the former 'American Idol' contestant who made it to the top 6 in 2014, died at the age of 31 on Jan. 15. Harris was rushed to the Walker Baptist Medical Center in Jasper, Alabama, after he suffered a heart attack, but he didn't make it, TMZ reports. Fans of the musician remember his first audition for 'American Idol' in front of judges Keith Urban, Jennifer Lopez, and Harry Connick Jr. in Salt Lake City, where he blew them away with his rendition of the Allman Brothers Band's 'Soulshine.' Keith Urban told him at the time, "You sing 'cause you have to sing, not 'cause you want to sing. And, I mean that in the deepest way. And, that's why it's so believable and real."
Award-winning rapper Nipsey Hussle was shot in front of his LA clothing store on March 31, 2019. He was hit multiple times in the head and chest, and passed away at the age of 33. A man called Eric Holder was arrested and charged with the murder shortly after, and his trial finally came to a close three years later. Holder, 33, was found guilty of first-degree murder in July 2022. Prosecutors claimed that his attack on Hussle was "personal" and had been carefully planned, and the judge seemed to agree when handing down his sentence on February 22. Superior Court Judge H. Clay Jacke II sentenced Holder to 60 years to life in prison.
The world of K-pop seems to be disproportionately plagued by premature deaths. News broke on April 19, 2023, that yet another young Korean star has lost their life. The 25-year-old singer Moonbin was found dead that evening. His manager reportedly went to his home after being unable to contact him and found him deceased. Local authorities said there were no signs of foul play and concluded that he took his own life. Moonbin was a member of the popular boy band Astro and his death has caused shock and devastation around the world. He joins a long list of young Korean stars who have died by suicide as the K-pop industry battles this growing mental health crisis.
Hong-Kong born pop star and actress CoCo Lee tragically passed away on July 5, 2023. A statement from her sisters revealed the circumstances surrounding her untimely death: "On 2 July, she [attempted] suicide at home and was sent to the hospital. Despite the best efforts of the hospital team to rescue and treat her from her coma, she finally passed away on 5 July." They explained that Lee had been battling depression for several years, and that "her condition deteriorated drastically over the last few months." Despite her efforts to seek professional help and fight the disease, it ultimately led her to take her own life at the age of 48.
Lee was a well-known pop star in China and the rest of Asia, particularly in the 1990s and 2000s. Her debut album 'CoCo Lee' was released in 1996 and became the best-selling album of the year. She released her first English album in 1999 and had songs appear on the US charts. Her song 'A Love Before Time' was featured in the hit movie 'Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon' and was nominated for Best Original Song at the 2001 Academy Awards. Lee also became a Disney star when she voiced the titular character in the Mandarin version of the movie 'Mulan.' Her singing career had reached its 30th anniversary in 2023, the year of her death.
Irish singer Sinéad O'Connor, best known for the hit 'Nothing Compares 2 U,' died at the age of 56. The singer's family released a statement on July 26, 2023: "It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of our beloved Sinéad. Her family and friends are devastated and have requested privacy at this very difficult time." O'Connor was reportedly found unresponsive in her London home by police. The cause of death has not yet been determined but authorities aren't treating it as suspicious. O'Connor had experienced severed mental health issues in the previous year following the death of her 17-year-old son in 2022.
The news was confirmed by a spokesperson for My Chemical Romance, who shared the following statement: “The band asks for your patience and understanding as they process the news of Bob’s passing.” A medical examiner is working to determine the cause and manner of Bryar's death.
My Chemical Romance had announced a tour for next year via their Instagram, however, Bryar was reportedly not part of the band’s most recent lineup, although he was a member of the band from 2004 to 2010, contributing to the creation and release of their critically acclaimed third album, 'The Black Parade.'
Sadly, countless talented musicians have met untimely ends, sometimes in freak accidents, other times in gang feuds, and certainly far too many times due to drug overdoses.
Click through the following gallery to remember other talented artists who died too young.
Former My Chemical Romance drummer Bob Bryar dies at 44
Jimi Hendrix, Aaliyah, and Avicii are among the many musicians who passed away far too soon
MUSIC Deaths
Former My Chemical Romance drummer Bob Bryar has passed away at the age of 44. He was discovered deceased in his Tennessee home on November 24, three weeks after he was last seen.
The news was confirmed by a spokesperson for My Chemical Romance, who shared the following statement: “The band asks for your patience and understanding as they process the news of Bob’s passing.” A medical examiner is working to determine the cause and manner of Bryar's death.
My Chemical Romance had announced a tour for next year via their Instagram, however, Bryar was reportedly not part of the band’s most recent lineup, although he was a member of the band from 2004 to 2010, contributing to the creation and release of their critically acclaimed third album, 'The Black Parade.'
Sadly, countless talented musicians have met untimely ends, sometimes in freak accidents, other times in gang feuds, and certainly far too many times due to drug overdoses.
Click through the following gallery to remember other talented artists who died too young.