Brad Arnold, lead singer of the rock band 3 Doors Down, died on February 7 at the age of 47 after a battle with stage 4 clear cell renal cell carcinoma.
Brad Arnold, lead singer of 3 Doors Down, died on February 7 at the age of 47 after a battle with stage 4 kidney cancer (Brad Arnold | Instagram)The band took to social media to announce Arnold’s death on Saturday. The post read, “With his beloved wife Jennifer and his family by his side, he passed away peacefully in his sleep, surrounded by loved ones, after a courageous battle with cancer.”
Arnold shared with his fans that his stage 4 kidney cancer metastasized to his lungs in May 2025.
Also read: Was Brad Arnold a Trump supporter? Check out the singer’s political views
What is stage 4 clear cell renal cell carcinoma?In adults, clear cell renal cell carcinoma (RCC) is the most common form of kidney cancer. As the disease progresses, it can spread beyond the kidneys to other organs, as it did in Arnold’s case.
In May 2025, when Arnold announced that stage 4 kidney cancer had spread to his lungs, he said, “It’s really not good. But you know what? We serve a mighty God, and He can overcome anything. So I’m not afraid. I’m really, sincerely not afraid at all.”
Clear cell renal cell carcinoma often shows no symptoms in the early stages. The disease is only diagnosed when there is a screening for other health conditions.
When symptoms do occur, they may include blood in the urine, lower back pain, fatigue, and unexplained weight loss.
Stage 4 kidney cancer occurs when cancer cells have spread beyond the fatty tissue surrounding the kidney to the adrenal glands, nearby lymph nodes, or distant organs. Although treatment options may be available, the 5-year survival rate for stage 4 renal cancer remains low at 10%.
Also read: Brad Arnold: All on his wife Jennifer Sanderford and kids
“His music reverberated far beyond the stage”A heartfelt message was shared on 3 Doors Down’s social media post announcing his death. The band wrote, “As a founding member, vocalist and original drummer of 3 Doors Down, Brad helped redefine mainstream rock music, blending post-grunge accessibility with emotionally direct songwriting that resonated with everyday listeners.”
They also appreciate his music and stage presence. “His music resonated far beyond the stage, creating moments of connection, joy, trust and shared experience that will live on beyond the stage he performed on,” the post reads.
In May 2025, Arnold asked his fans to pray, “Lift me up in prayer every chance you get” while listening to 3 Doors Down’s 2008 song ‘It’s Not My Time’.
