3 Doors Down Singer Brad Arnold Dead at 47
Brad Arnold, the legendary lead singer and founder of popular 2000s rock band 3 Doors Down, died Saturday following a battle with cancer. He was 47.
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Arnold was diagnosed with stage four clear cell renal cell carcinoma, a form of kidney cancer, in May 2025. The cancer had metastasized to his lungs, leading to 3 Doors Down canceling their summer tour last year.
His death was announced via a statement from the band:
“With heavy hearts, we share the news that Brad Arnold, founder, lead singer, and songwriter of 3 Doors Down, passed away on Saturday, Feb. 7, at the age of 47,” 3 Doors Down said in a statement. “With his beloved wife Jennifer and his family by his side, he passed away peacefully, surrounded by loved ones, in his sleep after his courageous battle with cancer.”
Arnold founded 3 Doors Down in 1996 with bassist Todd Harrell and guitarist Matt Roberts. The band remained a trio, with Arnold on the drums, until 2000 when they hired Richard Liles to sit behind the kit.
They experienced their commercial breakthrough with 2000’s The Better Life, which has since become a RIAA-certified 7x Platinum album. 3 Doors Down’s 2005 record, Seventeen Days, became their first U.S. No. 1 album, and their self-titled follow-up album in 2008 achieved the same feat.
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The band’s most successful lineup consisted of Arnold, Harrell, Roberts, guitarist Chris Henderson and drummer Greg Upchurch, which lasted from 2005 to 2012.
Arnold wrote the band’s biggest hit, “Kryptonite,” which went on to be nominated for a Grammy award. He wrote the song when he was 15 years old while at school.
Arnold will be best remembered as on of rock’s most recognizable frontmen of the 2000s decade.
