Brad Arnold, Lead Singer of 3 Doors Down, Dies at 47
Brad Arnold, the lead singer and founding member of the American rock band 3 Doors Down, died on Saturday after a battle with cancer. He was 47.
A rep for Arnold said he died peacefully in his sleep, surrounded by his wife and family.
Arnold, the original drummer and vocalist of 3 Doors Down, helped form the band in 1996 in Escatawpa, Miss. He was responsible for writing and producing the 2000 hit “Kryptonite,” one of the group’s most enduring tracks. Arnold famously wrote the lyrics for the song when he was just 15 years old.
In May of 2025, Arnold revealed in a social media video that he had been diagnosed with Stage 4 kidney cancer.
“Hey everybody, it’s Brad from 3 Doors Down. I hope you’re having a great day today,” he said in the video. “Got some not so good news for you today. So, I’d been sick a couple of weeks ago and then went to the hospital and got checked out, and actually got the diagnosis that I had a clear cell renal cell carcinoma that had metastasized into my lung. And it’s stage four, and that’s not real good.”
He added, “But you know what? “We serve a mighty God, and he can overcome anything. So I have no fear. I really sincerely am not scared of it at all. But it is gonna force us to cancel our tour this summer. And we’re sorry for that. And I’d love for you to lift me up in prayer every chance you get. And Ithink it is time for me to go listen to ‘It’s Not My Time’ a little bit, right?”
Arnold is survived by his wife, Jennifer
A rep for Arnold said he died peacefully in his sleep, surrounded by his wife and family.
Arnold, the original drummer and vocalist of 3 Doors Down, helped form the band in 1996 in Escatawpa, Miss. He was responsible for writing and producing the 2000 hit “Kryptonite,” one of the group’s most enduring tracks. Arnold famously wrote the lyrics for the song when he was just 15 years old.
In May of 2025, Arnold revealed in a social media video that he had been diagnosed with Stage 4 kidney cancer.
“Hey everybody, it’s Brad from 3 Doors Down. I hope you’re having a great day today,” he said in the video. “Got some not so good news for you today. So, I’d been sick a couple of weeks ago and then went to the hospital and got checked out, and actually got the diagnosis that I had a clear cell renal cell carcinoma that had metastasized into my lung. And it’s stage four, and that’s not real good.”
He added, “But you know what? “We serve a mighty God, and he can overcome anything. So I have no fear. I really sincerely am not scared of it at all. But it is gonna force us to cancel our tour this summer. And we’re sorry for that. And I’d love for you to lift me up in prayer every chance you get. And Ithink it is time for me to go listen to ‘It’s Not My Time’ a little bit, right?”
Arnold is survived by his wife, Jennifer