Brad Arnold, 3 Doors Down lead singer, dead at 47 after cancer battle

Brad Arnold, founder and lead singer of 3 Doors Down, has died at the age of 47. The band announced on social media that he passed on Saturday, February 7, with his wife Jennifer and family by his side; he died peacefully in his sleep after a courageous battle with cancer.

The band’s statement said Arnold helped redefine mainstream rock by blending post-grunge accessibility with emotionally direct songwriting, and that his work produced some of the most enduring hits of the 2000s. It noted the breakout single 'Kryptonite,' which he wrote in math class when he was 15, as one example of his cultural impact.

Arnold revealed he was battling stage 4 kidney cancer in May 2025. In a social media video he began, 'Hey everybody, it’s Brad from 3 Doors Down,' and said he had been diagnosed with clear cell renal cell carcinoma that had metastasized to his lung, calling it 'stage four' and 'not real good.' He said he felt 'no fear' and that the illness would force the band to cancel their summer tour.