2026 has been an incredibly heavy year for pop culture. On September 20, New Found Glory guitarist Chad Gilbert died at 45 after a battle with brain cancer. His wife Lisa Cimorelli shared that he passed surrounded by friends and family, with his wife and mother by his side, just as he wished. The pop-punk community has been pouring out tributes ever since.
Gilbert is part of a year of losses that touched every corner of entertainment. Dolly Parton died August 25 at 80, and one statement called her“a rhinestone life that shone bright enough for the world to see.”Actor Tim Curry passed the next day at 80. Music executive Clive Davis died in June at 94, activist Gloria Steinem in September at 92, Sam Neill in July at 78, Peter Cullen in August at 85, NASCAR driver Kyle Busch in May at 41, and Spring Awakening composer Duncan Sheik at 56, among many others.
These weren’t just famous names. They were the songs in our headphones, the movies on repeat, the books in kids’hands thanks to Dolly’s Imagination Library. So we want to hear from you. Which star we lost this year meant the most to you, and what memory are you holding onto? Drop it in the comments.
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Local Lawton
Local Lawton is a contributor to LocalBeat, covering local news and community stories.