Billboard requires a JavaScript enabled browser to get the full experience
Column Header

Singer Vic Chesnutt Dead At 45

Getty

Vic Chesnutt, a singer-songwriter from Athens, Ga. known for his painful and poignant songs, died on Friday (Dec. 25) after an apparent suicide attempt.  He was 45.

 

"In the few short years that we knew him personally, Vic transformed our sense of what true character, grace and determination are all about," said the founders his label, Constellation Records, in a statement posted on its webste. "Our grief is inexpressible and Vic's absence unfathomable."

 

The news about the singer's condition first spread through the Internet on Wednesday through Twitter posts by former Throwing Muses singer Kristin Hersh, who has collaborated with Chesnutt.

 

"Another suicide attempt, looks bad, coma--if he survives, there may be brain damage," said Hersh in one of her posts. "This time, it's real scary: *this* time, he left a note, *this* time, he asked them to call me."

 

Chesnutt, 45, had been in a wheelchair since a car accident when he was 18, and was discovered in the late '80s by R.E.M. singer Michael Stipe, who produced his first two albums. Chesnutt went on to release 13 more albums, including two this year, "At the Cut" and "Skitter on Take-Off."

 

Up for Discussion

Connect with

More Features

All features

All of Billboard.com's Great Lists

Billboard chart app

Billboard archives

Thanks For Joining Billboard

Log in to create your profile, speak your mind and connect with listeners like you.

Why Join ?

Don't just hear it. Live it. Go deeper than a casual listen: Voice your feelings, build a profile around your favorite music, connect with people who share your passions and discover new ones. Sign up for free.

Complete Your Registration at Billboard.com!

Haven't Joined Yet ?

For the full Billboard experience, you need to be a member. Sign up. It's free.

Join Billboard

Forgot your password?

Enter the e-mail address you used to sign up and we will email you the password .

Email Sent !

Your password has been sent to the email address you provided. Please sign in below :

Log In

Forget your password ?

Action Successful

We'd love to hear your feedback on the new Billboard.com!

Whether it's a feature request or a bug

We want to hear from you. Please use this form to anonymously give us your input.