Todd Snider, the influential alt-country and Americana singer-songwriter known for his witty and poignant lyrics, has died at the age of 59. His death from pneumonia was confirmed on November 15, 2025, following a recent hospitalization and the cancellation of his tour due to injuries from an assault. Snider's career spanned three decades, shaping the modern Nashville sound with albums like 'East Nashville Skyline.'
Background
Todd Snider was born on October 11, 1966, in Portland, Oregon, and began his music career in the 1980s after moving to Texas. He settled in Nashville, becoming a key figure in the alt-country and Americana scenes. Influenced by songwriting giants such as John Prine, Guy Clark, Kris Kristofferson, and Jerry Jeff Walker, Snider released his debut album 'Songs for the Daily Planet' in 1994 on Jimmy Buffett's Margaritaville label. His work for Prine's Oh Boy Records in the early 2000s, including 'East Nashville Skyline' (2004), is widely regarded as his most acclaimed, featuring hits like 'Alright Guy,' 'Beer Run,' and 'I Can't Complain.' Snider's lyrics blended humor, tenderness, and social commentary, earning him the nickname 'mayor of East Nashville.'
Recent Events and Death
Snider's most recent album, 'High, Lonesome and Then Some,' was released in October 2025. On November 3, his team announced the cancellation of the remaining US tour dates after he sustained severe injuries as the victim of a violent assault outside his hotel in Salt Lake City. However, Salt Lake City police later arrested Snider for refusing to leave a hospital and threatening staff, as reported by the Salt Lake Tribune.
His family stated on November 14 that he had been hospitalized with pneumonia in Hendersonville, Tennessee, and his condition worsened, leading to a transfer. Snider died on November 14 in Nashville. No further details on the assault were provided.
Tributes
A statement from Aimless, Inc. on Snider's social media read: 'Aimless, Inc. Headquarters is heartbroken to share that our Founder, our Folk Hero, our Poet of the World... our beloved Todd Daniel Snider has departed this world.' It praised his ability to 'distill everything down to its essence with words and song' and his influences. Jason Isbell paid tribute on Threads: 'Freak flags at half-staff for the Storyteller and all the songs he still had left to write. I sure did love him.'
Snider's songs were covered by artists including Jerry Jeff Walker, Billy Joe Shaver, Tom Jones, and he co-wrote with Loretta Lynn for her 2016 album 'Full Circle.' He is survived by his mother, a sister, and a brother.