The start of 2026 has felt heavy. Honestly, it’s like every time you refresh your feed, another name pops up that makes you do a double-take. We’ve seen some pretty shocking news over the last seven days, from tragic accidents on the streets of Brooklyn to the quiet passing of legends who literally defined genres.
If you’ve been feeling like you can't keep up with the headlines, you're definitely not alone. It’s been a week of deep nostalgia and sharp grief. We lost icons we grew up with and some whose careers were just hitting a second wind.
The Tragic Loss of Kianna Underwood
Perhaps the most gut-wrenching news concerning celeb deaths this week involves Kianna Underwood. If you were a Nickelodeon kid in the early 2000s, you know exactly who she was. She was a standout on All That and gave a voice to Fuchsia on Little Bill.
On Friday, January 16, everything changed.
Kianna was only 33. She was crossing the street in the Brownsville neighborhood of Brooklyn when she was struck by a black Ford Explorer. The details coming from the NYPD are harrowing—she wasn't just hit once; after the initial impact, a second vehicle struck her while she was down. Both drivers fled. Just like that, a talent who had toured with Hairspray and brought so much joy to Millennial childhoods was gone in a senseless hit-and-run.
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Police are still looking for the suspects. It’s one of those stories that makes you feel a mix of anger and pure sadness.
Farewell to a Rock Legend: Bob Weir
Music fans are still reeling from the news that Bob Weir, the founding guitarist of the Grateful Dead, passed away on January 10. While technically just outside the "seven-day" window if you're being strict, the tributes and the reality of his absence have dominated the industry all through this week.
He was 78.
Weir had recently beaten cancer in the summer of 2025, which makes this even harder for fans to swallow. It turns out he succumbed to underlying lung issues that just wouldn't let up. He was a guy who lived a thousand lives on stage, and seeing that 6'5" hole in the music world (as fellow journalists have described similar losses recently) feels massive.
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Other Heavy Hitters We Lost
It wasn't just the music and TV worlds taking hits. This week also saw the passing of:
- John Forté: The Grammy-nominated artist known for his work with The Fugees. He was found dead in his Massachusetts home on January 12 at age 50. No foul play, just a sudden end to a complicated, brilliant life.
- Scott Adams: The Dilbert creator died on January 13 after a long battle with prostate cancer. Whatever your thoughts on his later-year controversies, he was a fixture of the Sunday funnies for decades.
- Yeison Jiménez: This one is particularly scary. The Colombian singer died in a private plane crash on January 10 alongside five others. He was only 34, heading to a performance.
The Reality of Grief in the Social Media Age
It’s weird how we process these things now, isn't it? One minute you're watching a clip of a 2005 sketch, and the next, you're reading a police report. People often ask why we care so much about people we've never met. Basically, these stars are the "background noise" to our own lives. When they go, a piece of our own timeline feels like it’s being erased.
Take Victoria Jones, for example. Tommy Lee Jones' daughter was found dead at the Fairmont San Francisco Hotel. She was only 34. While the news broke on New Year's, the investigation and the public's realization of her struggles have been a constant topic of conversation throughout these last few days.
What the Experts Say
Grief experts often point out that "celebrity worship" isn't actually about the fame; it's about the connection to a specific time or feeling. When we talk about celeb deaths this week, we are often mourning our own past.
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There are limitations to what we know, of course. Toxicological reports take weeks. Initial police statements are often "just the facts" and lack the nuance of a person’s actual life. We see the headlines, but we don't see the years of work or the private battles.
Navigating the News Cycle
If you’re feeling overwhelmed by the constant stream of "In Memoriam" posts, that’s valid. It’s okay to step back. The news about Kianna Underwood or the plane crash in Colombia is objectively heavy.
Here is how you can stay informed without losing your mind:
- Stick to reputable sources. TMZ usually gets the "first" word, but wait for the Associated Press or major networks to confirm the nuances.
- Verify the year. Sounds silly, but with AI-generated "fake news," always double-check the date of the article. We are looking at January 2026—make sure you aren't mourning someone who passed years ago because a bot reposted it.
- Support the legacy. If a singer you liked passed, go listen to their album. If it was an actor, watch their breakout role. It's the best way to keep the "light" on.
The investigation into the hit-and-run that took Kianna Underwood is still very much active. If you have any information regarding the incident on Pitkin Avenue in Brooklyn, contacting the NYPD's Crime Stoppers is the most direct way to help. For those mourning Bob Weir or John Forté, many fan communities are organizing virtual listening parties this weekend to celebrate the music they left behind. Stay tuned to local news for updates on memorials or public services that may be announced in the coming days.