Gone But Not Forgotten: Musicians We Lost in 2026

From Dolly Parton and Neil Sedaka to Bob Weir, John Forté and beyond, Billboard remembers the artists who left us this year. Dolly Parton performs onstage circa 1974. Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images Español Trending on Billboard January 2026 started off with a cold, hard fact: Death is inevitable. The first major musician death to make the news this year was that of Jim McBride, the Nashville Songwriter Hall of Fame artist known for penning country hits alongside Alan Jackson; he died days into the new year on Jan. 6 at age 78. Among his most known songs that he collabed with the country star on were “Chasin’ That Neon Rainbow,” “Someday,” “That’s All I Need to Know,” “(Who Says) You Can’t Have It All” and “Chattahoochee,” with the last song peaking at No. 48 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1993. Days later, on Jan. 10, Colombian singer-songwriter Yeison Jiménez passed away in a plane crash that took the lives of six people. He was 34. Deadheads were stunned the same day when a statement on Bob Weir’s Instagram account announced that the Grateful Dead founding member had died at 78 after beating lung cancer, but had “succumbed to underlying lung issues.” Another unexpected death of a celebrated artist was announced before the new year was even two weeks old. Grammy-nominated musician John Forté, who is known for his work with the Fugees, was found dead at age 50 in his Massachusetts home on Jan. 12. Fugees singer Lauryn Hill paid tribute to her late collaborator days later, writing on Instagram, “This loss is unexpected and surreal and my heart aches… for his family, for his wife, for his children, for his friends, and for all of us who were blessed to know him.” Then on Feb. 25, hours after the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame revealed that the Wu-Tang Clan had received its first nomination for induction, the iconic hip-hop group confirmed that co-founder Oliver “Power” Grant had died at age 52. And just two days later, legendary singer-songwriter Neil Sedaka’s family announced that the musician behind hits such as “Breaking Up Is Hard to Do” had died at 86. August dealt music lovers around the world a massive blow when country icon Dolly Parton died after a private battle with cancer. The tributes came in quickly from around the globe, with her own Dollywood also announcing its plans to honor the beloved musician and keep her legacy alive. Though the year is still young, Billboard remembers the musicians who have passed so far in 2026. Piero Image Credit: Slaven Vlasic/Getty Images (April 19, 1945 – Oct. 7, 2026) Freddie Jackson Image Credit: Paras Griffin/Getty Images for Black Music Honors (Oct. 2, 1956 – Oct. 5, 2026) Sass Jordan Image Credit: Isaiah Trickey/WireImage (Dec. 23, 1960 – Oct. 2, 2026) Conrad “Cronos” Lant Image Credit: Jo Hale/Getty Images (September 2026) Mighty Sparrow Image Credit: George Stroud/Daily Express/Hulton Archive/Getty Images (July 9, 1935 – Sept. 27, 2026) Angry Anderson Image Credit: Lisa Maree Williams/Getty Images (Aug. 5, 1947 – Sept. 21, 2026) Chad Gilbert (right) Image Credit: Ethan Miller/Getty Images (March 9, 1981 – Sept. 20, 2026) Duncan Sheik Image Credit: Rob Kim/Getty Images (Nov. 18, 1969 – Sept. 17, 2026) Ben Saunders Image Credit: Rob Verhorst/Redferns (July 9, 1983 – Sept. 15, 2026) Peter Byrne Image Credit: Courtesy of Big Hassle Media (June 9, 1952 – Sept. 14, 2026) Cheetah Chrome Image Credit: Scott Gries/Getty Images (Feb. 18, 1955 – Sept. 13, 2026) Andy Williams Image Credit: Adam Gasson/Total Guitar Magazine/Future via Getty Images (Sept. 5, 2026) Jonathan Meléndez (right) Image Credit: Adrián Monroy/Medios y Media/Getty Images (Sept. 1, 2026) Carla Jeffery Image Credit: Frank Micelotta/Disney via Getty Images (July 10, 1993 – Sept. 1, 2026) Cassandra Wilson Image Credit: Theo Wargo (Dec. 4, 1955 – Sept. 1, 2026) Dolly Parton Image Credit: Richard E. Aaron/Redferns (Jan. 19, 1946 – Aug. 25, 2026) Tim Curry Image Credit: Evening Standard/Hulton Archive/Getty Images (April 19, 1946 – Aug. 25, 2026) Jaye P. Morgan Image Credit: Frank Carroll/NBCU Photo Bank/NBCUniversal via Getty Images via Getty Images (Dec. 3, 1931 – Aug. 24, 2026) Janie Bradford Image Credit: Michael Tullberg/Getty Images (June 2, 1939 – Aug. 21, 2026) José Luis “Pucho” Ponce Image Credit: Courtesy of Los Tekis (Aug. 19, 2026) Frank Beard Image Credit: Fryderyk Gabowicz/picture alliance/Getty Images (June 11, 1949 – Aug. 17, 2026) Hayden Panettiere Image Credit: Getty Images (Aug. 21, 1989 – Aug. 16, 2026) Derry Brownson (second from left) Image Credit: Michel Linssen/Redferns (Nov. 10, 1970 – Aug. 13, 2026) David Z Image Credit: Jim Steinfeldt/Michael Ochs Arch (March 25, 1948 – Aug. 2, 2026) Arlene Smith Image Credit: Bill Tompkins/Getty Images (Oct. 5, 1941 – July 29, 2026) Glen Hansard Image Credit: Mikolaj Rotowski (April 21, 1970 – July 29, 2026) Kavinsky Image Credit: David Wolff - Patrick/Getty Images (July 31, 1975 – July 28, 2026) Lou Koller Image Credit: Mark Horton/Getty Images (July 24, 2026) William Orbit Image Credit: Photo by Victor Fraile/Getty Images (Dec. 15, 1956 – July 23, 2026) Tony Thorpe (center) Image Credit: Michael Putland/Getty Images (1945 – July 2026) Alley Boy Image Credit: WORLDSTARHIPHOP/YouTube (July 20, 2026) Jim Gilstrap Image Credit: Courtesy of the Jim Gilstrap Family (Nov. 10, 1946 – July 18, 2026) Jennifer Finch Image Credit: Diego Castanho (Aug. 5, 1966 – July 18, 2026) Freddy Cannon Image Credit: Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images (Dec. 4, 1936 – July 17, 2026) Bonnie Tyler Image Credit: Ragnar Singsaas/Getty Images (June 8, 1951 – July 8, 2026) Brian Potter Image Credit: Courtesy of the Potter Family (May 25, 1939 – June 30, 2026) Victor Willis (left) Image Credit: Kevin Winter/Getty Images for dick clark productions (July 1, 1951 – June 30, 2026) David Clayton-Thomas Image Credit: Michael Putland/Getty Images (Sept. 13, 1941 – June 24, 2026) Justin Cary Image Credit: Cindy Ord/Getty Images (June 21, 1975 – June 18, 2026) Walter Parazaider Image Credit: Theo Wargo/Getty Images (March 14, 1945 – June 17, 2026) Oliver Tree Image Credit: Photo by Srdjan Stevanovic/Getty Images (June 29, 1993 – June 14, 2026) Carlos “Indio” Solari Image Credit: Luis Abdala/AFP via Getty Images (Jan. 17, 1949 – June 5, 2026) Peabo Bryson Image Credit: Jeff Gentner/Getty Images (April 13, 1951 – June 2, 2026) Dexter Wansel Image Credit: David Corio/Redferns (Aug. 22, 1950 – May 31, 2026) Ronald LaPread Image Credit: Raymond Boyd/Getty Images (Sept. 4, 1950 – May 30, 2026) Lauren Bennett Image Credit: Graham Denholm/Getty Images (June 23, 1989 – May 29, 2026) Rob Base Image Credit: Daniel Boczarski/Getty Images for Unbridled Eve (May 18, 1967 – May 22, 2026) Ryan Porter Image Credit: Mike Windle/Getty Images for Coachella (May 16, 2026) Totó La Momposina Image Credit: Diego Cuevas/Getty Images for Disney (Aug. 1, 1940 – May 17, 2026) Claudine Longet Image Credit: Donaldson Collection/Getty Images (Jan. 29, 1942 – May 14, 2026) Clarence Carter Image Credit: Michael Putland/Getty Images (Jan. 14, 1936 – May 13, 2026) David Allan Coe Image Credit: Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images (Sept. 6, 1939 – April 29, 2026) Nedra Talley Ross Image Credit: Peter Kramer/Getty Images (Jan. 27, 1946 – April 26, 2026) Dylan Carter Image Credit: Dave Bjerke/NBC (April 25, 2026) Alan Osmond (right) Image Credit: Ethan Miller/Getty Images (June 22, 1949 – April 20, 2026) Don Schlitz Image Credit: Photo by Jason Kempin/Getty Images. (Aug. 29, 1952 – April 16, 2026) Lucha Moreno Image Credit: EFE (April 23, 1939 – April 15, 2026) Afrika Bambaataa Image Credit: Neilson Barnard/Getty Images for David Yurman (April 17, 1957 – April 9, 2026) Gwendolyn Chisolm Image Credit: Silvio Suarez (Oct. 20, 1959 – April 6, 2026) James Gadson Image Credit: Scott Dudelson/Getty Images (June 17, 1939 – April 2, 2026) Christopher North Image Credit: Scott Dudelson/Getty Images (Jan. 26, 1951 – March 30, 2026) DJ Dan Image Credit: C Flanigan/Getty Images (July 8, 1968 – March 28, 2026) Dash Crofts Image Credit: Tom Hill/WireImage (Aug. 14, 1938 – March 25, 2026) Chip Taylor Image Credit: Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images (March 21, 1940 – March 23, 2026) Ronnie Bowman Image Credit: Photo courtesy of Sony (July 9, 1961 – March 22, 2026) Chuck Norris Image Credit: Getty Images (March 10, 1940 – March 19, 2026) Phil Campbell Image Credit: Chiaki Nozu/WireImage (May 7, 1961 – March 13, 2026) Lord Sear Image Credit: Noam Galai/Getty Images for SiriusXM (July 7, 1973 – March 11, 2026) Tommy DeCarlo Image Credit: Kevin Tighe/Getty Images (April 23, 1965 – March 9, 2026) Country Joe McDonald Image Credit: Getty Images (Jan. 1, 1942 – March 7, 2026) Neil Sedaka Image Credit: Scott Dudelson/Getty Images (March 13, 1939 – Feb. 27, 2026) Oliver “Power” Grant Image Credit: Efren Landaos/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images (Nov. 3, 1973 – Feb. 23, 2026) Willie Colon Image Credit: Johnny Louis/Getty Images (April 28, 1950 – Feb. 21, 2026) Billy Steinberg (left) Image Credit: Gary Gershoff/Getty Images (Feb. 26, 1950 – Feb. 16, 2026) Tim Very Image Credit: Daniel Knighton/Getty Images (Nov. 22, 1983 – Feb. 14, 2026) Andrew Ranken Image Credit: Shirlaine Forrest/WireImage (Nov. 13, 1953 – Feb. 10, 2026) Brad Arnold Image Credit: Slaven Vlasic/Getty Images (Sept. 27, 1978 – Feb. 7, 2026) Greg Brown Image Credit: Courtesy of the Greg Brown Family (February 2026) Lamonte McLemore (second from right) Image Credit: Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images (Sept. 17, 1935 – Feb. 3, 2026) Chuck Negron Image Credit: Supplied (June 8, 1942 – Feb. 2, 2026) Billy “Bass” Nelson (second from right) Image Credit: Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images (Jan. 28, 1951 – Jan. 31, 2026) Lowell “Sly” Dunbar Image Credit: Richard Ecclestone/Redferns (May 10, 1952 – Jan. 26, 2026) Francis Buchholz Image Credit: Fryderyk Gabowicz/picture alliance/Getty Images (Feb. 19, 1954 – Jan. 22, 2026) John Forté Image Credit: Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images for NBC Universal (Jan. 30, 1975 – Jan. 12, 2026) Matt Kwasniewski-Kelvin (right) Image Credit: Travis P Ball/Getty Images for SXSW (January 2026) Bob Weir Image Credit: GAB Archive/Redferns (Oct. 16, 1947 – Jan. 10, 2026) Yeison Jimenez Image Credit: David Cabrera/Billboard (1991 – Jan. 10, 2026) Guy Moon Image Credit: Courtesy of YouTube/Speech Bubble with Butch Hartman (Feb. 7, 1962 – Jan. 8, 2026) Jim McBride Image Credit: Rick Diamond/Getty Images (April 28, 1947 – Jan. 6, 2026) Get weekly rundowns straight to your inbox Sign Up