UPDATE 02/28/2023: The day before his suicide, Kyle Jacobs celebrated a career high point. Jacobs was a composer and producer, who worked with Lee Brice on his now-platinum selling album, “Hey World”. He shared a post of the album art on Instagram, along with the caption,
“Verified Platinum?! SWEEEET!!! An amazing crew of incredibly talented peeps put this one together…Deeply honored to be a creative part of it…Thank you Jesus!!! @leebrice @curbwordmusicpub @curbrecords #countrymusic”
ORIGINAL ARTICLE: Kyle Jacobs, a country music producer and songwriter and husband to country star Kellie Pickler, died on Friday from an “apparent suicide”. He was 49.
Jacobs was found dead in his Nashville home after Pickler called authorities upon not being able to get into his office, which was locked, according to a statement from Nashville’s Department of Emergency Communications. Pickler and her personal assistant attempted to open the door but were unsuccessful.
The Nashville Police Department confirmed the news with People, saying they found Jacobs “deceased from an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound” and his death will be “investigated as an apparent suicide”.
Jacobs collaborated with many country musicians, including Tim McGraw, Lee Brice, and Garth Brooks. In 2014, he won an Academy of Country Music Award for his contribution as a producer for Lee Brice’s “I Drive Your Truck”.
He has also won a CMA award and was nominated for a Grammy.
Most recently, Jacobs celebrated Lee Brice’s 2020 album, Hey World, as it became certified platinum. He posted about the achievement on his Instagram the day before his death.
“Platinum?! SWEEEET!!!” he captioned the post. “An amazing crew of incredibly talented peeps put this one together…Deeply honored to be a creative part of it…Thank you Jesus!!!”
Jacobs and Pickler wed in 2011 after a six month engagement.
“It was the most spiritual moment,” Pickler said of the proposal the previous June. “We would’ve gotten married that night had there been a preacher walking by!”
The couple starred in a 2015 CMT docuseries, titled, I Love Kellie Pickler, which ran for three seasons.
In a 2015 interview with the BUILD Series, Jacobs talked about what it was like being a part of the series.
“I’m just going to be me and be with my wife and just be us,” he said, adding, “We’ve just built such a foundation of trust and love…Whatever work is, if it ever gets in the way of our marriage then it gets in the way. Our marriage comes first.”
Jacobs is survived by only his wife, having never shared any children. Pickler has yet to release a statement, but we can only imagine the emotional turmoil she is going through, trying to wrap her head around the events that transpired.
If you or someone you know is considering suicide, please contact the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline by dialing 988, text “STRENGTH” to the Crisis Text Line at 741741 or go to 988lifeline.org.
Sources:
https://people.com/country/kellie-pickler-husband-kyle-jacobs-dead-apparent-suicide/
https://www.cnn.com/2023/02/17/entertainment/kyle-jacobs-death/index.html
