Brad Arnold, Lead Singer of 3 Doors Down, Dies at 47

Brad Arnold, the lead singer and founding member of the Grammy-nominated rock band 3 Doors Down, has died at the age of 47. He passed away peacefully in his sleep on Saturday, February 7, 2026, surrounded by his wife and loved ones after a long battlewith Stage 4 kidney cancer. 

Arnold had publicly announced his diagnosis of advanced clear cell renal carcinoma in May 2025, saying the cancer had spread to his lungs and leading the band to cancel their summer tour. 

Arnold co-founded 3 Doors Down in Mississippi in the mid-1990s. The group rose to fame with their breakthrough hit “Kryptonite,” which he wrote as a teenager, and their debut album The Better Life sold over 6 million copies. They received multiple Grammy nominations, including for “Kryptonite” and “When I’m Gone.” 

Over their career, 3 Doors Down released several hit singles such as “Loser,” “Be Like That,” and “Here Without You,” influencing mainstream rock in the early 2000s. 

Band members and fans around the world have paid tribute to Arnold’s musical legacy and the emotional connection his songwriting brought to generations of listeners.