Peabo Bryson, the Grammy-winning, hit-making singer of legendary love songs, has died at the age of 75, his representative confirmed to Billboard. Bryson suffered a stroke over the weekend and was undergoing treatment.
“The family of two-time Grammy Award-winning singer, songwriter, and ballad singer Peabo Bryson announces his passing with broken hearts and deep sadness,” Bryson’s family said in a statement. “He passed away peacefully on Tuesday evening, June 2, 2026, at 5:00 p.m. ET, surrounded by the love of his family and loved ones.”
During his decades-long career, Bryson had 12 hits on the Billboard Hot 100, including three Top 10 hits, starting with his 1981 duet “Lovers After All” with Melissa Manchester. He topped the charts in 1993 thanks to his recording of Disney’s “A Whole New World (Aladdin Theme)” with Regina Belle. Bryson had previously found success with another Disney classic, recording Beauty and the Beast with a then 23-year-old Celine Dion, which reached No. 9 on the Hot 100 in 1992.
These two Disney success stories earned Bryson two Grammy wins out of eight nominations, with both duets winning Best Pop Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals in consecutive years (1993 and 1994).
On Billboard’s Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart, Bryson had 41 hits from 1976 to 1993, including 10 in the top 10, two of which reached No. 1, “Show and Tell” and “Can You Stop the Rain.” He also had 21 entries on Billboard’s Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart from 1976 to 2007, seven of which reached the top 10, including one, “Can You Stop the Rain,” which reached number one.
Bryson’s family said in a statement that they have been “so touched by the outpouring of love, prayers and support from fans, friends and colleagues around the world.” “Our hearts are broken, but we take solace in knowing how deeply loved Peabo was and how many lives were touched by his voice and generous spirit. His legacy and music will live on for generations to come.”
One of Bryson’s last posts on his social media accounts was a carousel of family photos celebrating his 75th birthday in April. The photo is captioned, “This is 75 years old!!” “Thank you for all the well wishes,” she added with a heart and hand emoji.
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