It has been a heavy few days. Sometimes the news cycle moves so fast that we barely have a second to process the names crossing the ticker, but this week felt different. From the architects of the psychedelic rock movement to the faces that defined 2000s-era television, the list of passings since January 11, 2026, is honestly staggering.
Losing a public figure is a weird kind of grief. You didn’t know them, not really, but their voice was in your car on the way to work, or their face was on the screen during your childhood Saturday mornings. This week, we saw the end of an era for Grateful Dead fans and a heartbreaking tragedy involving a former Nickelodeon star that has everyone talking about road safety in Brooklyn.
The Passing of a Legend: Bob Weir
If you’ve ever seen a "Steal Your Face" skull on a t-shirt, you know the impact of the Grateful Dead. On January 13, 2026, the music world lost a pillar when Bob Weir passed away at 78. Reports indicate he had been battling ongoing cancer and lung issues.
Weir wasn't just a guitar player; he was the rhythm that held the Dead’s chaotic, beautiful jams together. He was a founding member who stayed the course for over sixty years. Honestly, it’s hard to imagine the "Jam Band" scene existing without his influence. He transitioned from the young kid in the band to the elder statesman of the counter-culture. Even in his 70s, he was still touring, still sweating through those high-energy sets, and still bringing that weird, wonderful "Deadhead" community together. His death feels like the final closing of a very long, very strange chapter in American music history.
The Tragic Loss of Kianna Underwood
On the other side of the entertainment spectrum, we received some truly gut-wrenching news from New York. Kianna Underwood, the former child star we all remember from Nickelodeon’s All That and Little Bill, was killed in a hit-and-run on Friday, January 16.
📖 Related: Coby Ryan McLaughlin Nude: Separating Viral Rumors From Reality
She was only 33.
The details are pretty grim. According to law enforcement sources cited by TMZ, she was crossing Pitkin Avenue in Brooklyn when a gray vehicle struck her and dragged her for nearly two blocks. The driver didn’t stop. Kianna was a bright light in the early 2000s; she voiced Fuchsia Glover on Little Bill and brought a lot of laughs to the All That sketch comedy stage alongside people like Kenan Thompson. Lately, she had been doing theater work, including a tour with Hairspray. Her death has sparked a massive outcry online regarding pedestrian safety in the city, but mostly, people are just devastated that a life with so much potential was cut short so violently.
A Week of Musical Departures
It wasn't just the stadium-fillers we lost. The indie and alternative scenes took some massive hits this week too.
- Kenny Morris, the original drummer for Siouxsie and the Banshees, passed away around January 15 at age 68. If you like post-punk or goth rock, you owe this guy a debt. His tribal, floor-tom-heavy drumming style on albums like The Scream basically created the blueprint for that entire genre.
- Matt Kwasniewski-Kelvin, the founding guitarist of the British rock band Black Midi, died at the age of 26. His death was announced on January 12. While he had stepped away from the band a few years ago to focus on his mental health, his influence on the "experimental" rock revival was massive. It's a sobering reminder of the pressures young artists face today.
- John Forté, the rapper and producer famously associated with the Refugee Camp All-Stars and The Fugees, died suddenly at 50 on January 12. He was a classically trained musician who brought a sophisticated ear to hip-hop production, especially on the legendary album The Score.
Social Media and the Influencers We Said Goodbye To
In 2026, the definition of a "celebrity" has changed. For millions of people, the stars they care about most aren't on movie posters; they're on their phone screens. This week was particularly brutal for the creator community.
👉 See also: Chrissy Lampkin: Why Her Real Age is the Least Interesting Thing About Her
Sara Bennett, an influencer who had been documenting her journey with ALS (Lou Gehrig's disease), passed away on January 13. She was 39. Sara was unique because she didn't just post about being sick; she posted about leaving. She shared her "End of Life Ceremony" and her transition into palliative care with a level of transparency that was, frankly, brave as hell. Her final post, where she said she was "feeding the earth," has become a viral moment of reflection for her followers.
That same day, the podcasting world lost Jordy Glassner. She was the co-host of Grief Street and had been very open about her battle with glioblastoma, a terminal brain tumor. She was only 34. There’s something specifically modern about following someone's health journey in real-time—it makes the loss feel way more personal, like you’ve actually lost a friend you chatted with every Tuesday.
Other Notable Passings
It’s impossible to cover everyone without missing the nuance of their lives, but a few other names deserve a mention before the week is out.
Doug McConnell, the legendary host of Bay Area Backroads, died on January 13 at 80 years old. If you grew up in Northern California, this guy was your unofficial tour guide. He spent fifty years showing people the hidden corners of the coast and the Sierras, always emphasizing that we need to protect the land we live on.
✨ Don't miss: Charlie McDermott Married Life: What Most People Get Wrong About The Middle Star
In the world of sports and business, Rocco Commisso, the owner of the Italian football club Fiorentina and the founder of Mediacom, passed away at 76. His influence on both the cable industry and international soccer was huge, often acting as a bridge between American business tactics and European sports tradition.
Why This Week Feels So Heavy
It’s not just your imagination—this week did have a high density of notable deaths. When we see a mix of "Old Guard" icons like Bob Weir and young, rising stars like Kianna Underwood or Matt Kwasniewski-Kelvin, it creates a sense of collective shock.
Misconceptions often fly around during weeks like this. You’ll see "death hoaxes" pop up on TikTok or Twitter trying to capitalize on the algorithm. It’s always better to stick to verified sources like Variety, The New York Times, or official family statements. For instance, there were rumors earlier this week about a certain pop star being in an accident—totally fake. Stick to the facts.
Moving Forward and Remembering
When a week like this happens, the best thing you can do is actually engage with the work these people left behind.
- Listen to the music: If you've never listened to the Fugees or early Siouxsie and the Banshees, now is the time to see what the hype was about.
- Support a cause: Many of these figures, like Sara Bennett, spent their final months advocating for better healthcare or disease research.
- Check in on the living: The loss of young artists like Matt Kwasniewski-Kelvin serves as a stark reminder to support the mental health of the creators and friends still with us.
If you are looking to stay updated on these stories as they develop—especially the investigation into the Kianna Underwood case—keep an eye on local NYC news outlets and the official social media channels of the families involved.