Todd Snider, Beloved Americana Troubadour, Dies at 59

Todd Snider, Beloved Americana Troubadour, Dies at 59

Todd Snider, the wry and widely admired Americana and alt‑country singer‑songwriter whose freewheeling storytelling and comic, cosmic outlook endeared him to fans and peers, has died at 59, his record label said. The label posted the announcement to Snider's social channels, saying he died Friday.

"Where do we find the words for the one who always had the right words, who knew how to distill everything down to its essence with words and song while delivering the most devastating, hilarious, and impactful turn of phrases?"

The label praised Snider's knack for rhyme and meter that felt instantly familiar and his ability to find humor amid life's chaos.

Circumstances of his illness and canceled tour

Snider's family and friends said he was diagnosed with pneumonia at a hospital in Hendersonville, Tennessee, and that his condition later became more complicated, prompting a transfer to another facility. The pneumonia diagnosis followed the cancellation of a tour that was to support his most recent album, High, Lonesome and Then Some, released in October.

Earlier, Snider's management said on Nov. 3 that he had been the victim of a violent assault in the Salt Lake City area and had to cancel the tour. The Salt Lake Tribune later reported that Salt Lake City police arrested Snider after an incident in which he initially refused to leave a hospital and subsequently returned and threatened staffers; that reporting is attributed to the Tribune.

Career and musical legacy

Across a career of roughly three decades, Snider blended folk, rock and country with conversational lyrics and sharp humor. Reviewers, including The Associated Press, called him a "singer‑songwriter with the persona of a fried folkie" and described him as a "stoner troubadour and cosmic comic." He counted songwriting giants among his mentors and influences, including Kris Kristofferson, Guy Clark and John Prine.

Snider recorded several acclaimed albums for John Prine's independent Oh Boy label in the early 2000s, notably New Connection, Near Truths and Hotel Rooms and the widely admired 2004 collection East Nashville Skyline, which many consider among his finest work. From these albums came songs fans associate with him most strongly: "I Can't Complain," "Beer Run" and "Alright Guy."

Other artists who recorded Snider's material include Jerry Jeff Walker, Billy Joe Shaver and Tom Jones. He also co‑wrote a song with Loretta Lynn that appeared on her 2016 album Full Circle. Early in his career he was signed by Jimmy Buffett's Margaritaville label, which released his first two albums, 1994's Songs for the Daily Planet and 1996's Step Right Up.

Personal life and community

Born and raised in Oregon, Snider developed his musical chops in San Marcos, Texas, before moving to Nashville, where he became a fixture in the East Nashville arts community and was sometimes called the unofficial "mayor of East Nashville." In 2021, Snider said his home in the neighborhood was severely damaged by a tornado that ripped through the area.

His label noted his daily devotion to songwriting, his tenderness and sensitivity as a writer, and his relentless study of the songcraft of those who inspired him.

Sources: record‑label statement; family and management statements; reporting by The Salt Lake Tribune and The Associated Press.