You’ve seen the headlines. Maybe it was a blurry thumbnail on a clickbait site or a frantic post in a Facebook group dedicated to HGTV superfans. People are constantly searching to find out if a Property Brothers brother dies, and honestly, it’s one of those internet rumors that just won’t quit. It’s weird how the internet works sometimes. One minute you're watching Drew and Jonathan Scott negotiate a kitchen renovation in Nashville, and the next, your feed is convinced a tragedy has struck the family.
Let’s get the big answer out of the way immediately: No. None of the Scott brothers have died.
Drew and Jonathan Scott are very much alive, and so is their older brother, JD. But why does this search query pop up every single year like clockwork? It’s a mix of morbid curiosity, genuine confusion, and some really predatory "death hoaxes" that circulate on social media to farm clicks. If you've been worried, you can breathe. They’re fine. They’re still flipping houses, producing shows, and raising families.
The JD Scott Health Scare That Started It All
If we’re looking for the root of why people think a Property Brothers brother dies, we have to look back at 2019. That was a rough year for the eldest Scott brother, JD. For those who aren’t deep in the fandom, JD is the third brother who often appears behind the scenes or in secondary roles on their shows.
He went through a terrifying, mystery health crisis that he actually documented quite openly. He was experiencing debilitating symptoms—things like extreme sensitivity to heat, chest pains, and such severe fatigue that he felt like he was fading away. At one point, he and his then-fiancée (now wife) Annalee Belle were basically preparing for the worst because doctors couldn't figure out what was wrong.
He actually thought he was dying.
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Eventually, after a long road of tests and specialists, they narrowed it down to a combination of GI issues, acute mercury poisoning (yikes), and an autoimmune flare-up. He changed his diet, underwent intense treatment, and he’s doing much better now. But during that period of silence and those vague "health update" posts, the internet's rumor mill went into overdrive. People started speculating that he had passed away, and those old articles still float around today, confusing anyone who stumbles upon them late at night.
Why Clickbait Engines Target the Scott Family
It's kind of gross, but the Scott brothers are "perfect" targets for celebrity death hoaxes. They have a massive, loyal audience that skews slightly older—a demographic that often engages heavily with news on platforms like Facebook.
You’ve probably seen those ads. They usually have a black-and-white photo of Jonathan or Drew with a caption like "A Sad Day for HGTV Fans" or "We Will Miss Him." They don't explicitly say "he died" because that would get flagged by fact-checkers faster. Instead, they use "Rest in Peace" imagery to trick you into clicking. Once you click, you're usually redirected to a site filled with ads that has absolutely nothing to do with the headline. It's a classic "bait and switch" tactic.
These sites thrive on the fact that the Property Brothers brother dies search term has high volume. They aren't reporting news; they're exploiting your empathy.
There Was a Sad Loss, But Not a Brother
To be fair to the folks who get confused, there was a death in the Scott family circle that hit the headlines a few years ago. In 2020, JD and Annalee lost their beloved dog, Gracie. While that might seem minor to some, the Scotts are huge animal lovers, and they posted very emotional tributes.
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If someone is scrolling quickly and sees a headline like "Scott Family Devastated by Loss," they might immediately jump to the most tragic conclusion.
Then there's the confusion with other HGTV stars. The home renovation TV world has actually seen some real tragedies. We lost Bill Klein’s mother from The Little Couple, and more recently, the tragic passing of Home Town star Erin Napier’s friend and colleague. When one person in the "HGTV Universe" passes away, the search traffic spills over into other big names like the Property Brothers. It's an accidental association that fuels the fire.
The Reality of Being "Famous for Being Nice"
Drew and Jonathan have built a billion-dollar brand on being wholesome. They are the guys next door. Because fans feel a personal connection to them—almost like they’re part of the family—any rumor of a Property Brothers brother dies event feels like a personal blow.
The brothers are also incredibly active on social media. Drew is often posting about his son, Parker, and his wife, Linda Phan. Jonathan is constantly in the news for his relationship with actress Zooey Deschanel. Because they are so visible, any brief period of silence is noticed. If Jonathan doesn't post for three days, someone, somewhere, starts a rumor.
It’s the price of fame in the digital age.
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How to Fact-Check Celebrity News in 2 seconds
If you ever see a headline claiming a major celebrity has died, do these three things before sharing it:
- Check the Source: Is it People, Variety, or The Hollywood Reporter? If it's a site you've never heard of with a weird URL, it's fake.
- Look at their Instagram: Most celebrities (or their teams) will post within hours. If Drew Scott posted a video of a house tour 40 minutes ago, he's probably okay.
- Search for "Obituary": Real news outlets write long, detailed obituaries for major stars immediately. If you only see "Breaking News" on one sketchy blog, it's a hoax.
The Scott brothers are busy. They are currently filming new seasons of Celebrity IOU, working on their "Scott Living" furniture line, and managing a massive real estate empire. They don't have time to be dead.
Honestly, the most dangerous thing the Property Brothers are facing right now is probably just a rogue sledgehammer during a demo day or a particularly stubborn load-bearing wall.
Moving Forward: What to Watch Next
If you're looking to support the brothers—the living, breathing brothers—stay tuned to their official HGTV schedules. They are leaning heavily into Property Brothers: Forever Home and their higher-stakes competitions. JD is also active on Twitch and social media, often sharing updates on his health and his life with Annalee.
Ignore the noise. The Scott family is intact.
Next Steps for Fans:
- Verify any "breaking news" via the brothers' official Instagram or Twitter (X) accounts before reacting.
- Report clickbait ads on Facebook or Google if they use deceptive "Rest in Peace" imagery.
- Check out the latest episodes of Celebrity IOU to see the brothers in action, confirming they are very much alive and well.