Country Star Mourns Shocking Suicide Death of Best Friend

Country star mourns shocking suicide death of best friend.

If you or someone you know is struggling, you are not alone.

Call the Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 800-273-8255

or Text to 9-8-8

One of the things that sets country music apart from other formats is how personal and authentic it is. Maybe you’re one of the many country music fans who never thought they’d like “country” until they heard one song that brought them on board. Over the years I feel like Tim McGraw was the catalyst for bringing newbies to our side with songs like “Don’t Take the Girl,” and “Live Like You Were Dying.” Maybe you were turned on to country music after the terror attacks of 9/11 and you heard us play Alan Jackson’s emotionally raw “Where Were You When the World Stopped Turning.”

Country music brings authenticity to the forefront.

I’m often which country stars are really nice and which ones aren’t, and I always say the stars are exactly as they present themselves to you in their music. If they’re not, they don’t make it in this format. We can see right through them. Take the social media accounts of the really big country artists like Tim McGraw, Luke Bryan, Carrie Underwood. They’re regularly sharing photos of their families and giving you a glimpse inside the lives of the people who make the music we love. That’s real life.

Unfortunately, real life isn’t always birthday parties, family dinners, and pranks. All too often, real people experience hurt, pain, loss. When we, as country music fans go through something emotional, we always have a song we can play on repeat to help us cope through the pain. But what about when you’re an artist who is hurting? Where do they turn? It happened recently to one of my favorites …

Lee Brice recently lost a friend. A friend close enough to him that he calls him “brother.” And he lost him in the worst possible way; suicide. Kyle Jacobs wrote many songs you’ll recognize (videos below) and was the husband of country/reality star Kellie Pickler.

How do you deal? Lee and his record label Curb Records decided to put his new music on hold to give him a chance to grieve while honoring his “brother” and writing partner, Kyle. A few years ago, the two wrote a song called “Save the Roses.” While it was a beautiful, relatable song then, when you hear it today under these circumstances, it will add another tragic layer to these grievous circumstances. I give Lee so much credit for his openness and honesty.

Below you’ll see the letter Lee and his label sent to country radio stations all over the nation. We received it. We took it to heart. Because after all, that’s what country music is all about. Read the letter. Listen to the song “Save the Roses.” But, before you start, grab a box of tissues…

 

• On a personal note ...

  Whatever brought you to the table of country music, we’re glad you’re here because we are a community who cares. Today our hearts ache and our prayers go up for Kellie Pickler, Lee Brice as well as the other friends and family affected by the death of Kyle Jacobs. But I beg you to please trust that we care for you and your well being, as well.

  If you or someone you know is struggling, you are not alone. Call the Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 800-273-8255 or Text to 9-8-8

• Lee's Letter

  Hey y’all… I really don’t know what to say or how to do this, so I just gotta say what is on my heart. I now know what it feels like to lose a huge part of me – to lose someone that I can’t imagine never seeing again. This past Friday, we lost one of the great ones. My brother, my friend, my mentor, my cowriter, co-producer, and so much more, Kyle Jacobs. This world, absolutely and without a doubt, lost a huge light this weekend. It breaks my heart to think that light is gone, and it breaks my heart for the people who never knew him.

  Kyle was a warrior in every way – a friend among the greatest friends and selfless to a fault. You can’t even begin to dream up a scenario in which he wouldn’t show up for you or lend that helping hand for anyone he knew. There’s no way to put into words all the things he was to me and anyone who was lucky enough to cross his path.

  He and I spent so many days, so many nights diving deep into life, love, joy, hard times, music, and God. Man, we talked about Jesus a lot. Somewhere in the middle of those times, we wrote songs together. And these weren’t just “songs” – I mean, these are some of the most magical songs of my entire life.

  With that said, I was sitting in my truck yesterday, flashing through so many memories of him and I just couldn’t stop crying thinking about how I will never see him again in this life. I will never make another memory with him and it is crushing me. I just want to keep him here as long as I can, and the only way I know to do that is in music. So, I am sending you this with my hat in my hand.

  I want to honor my brother, so instead of moving on to new music, a new record – I feel God very strongly pulling at my heart to release this song. A lot of you may have heard it on this last album, but if you haven’t, it’s called “Save The Roses.” I wrote it with Kyle and our best friend Joe Leathers. I had no idea when we wrote it, that it would eventually be a song about Kyle – a great friend whose life deserves to be honored as he blessed so many lives while here on this Earth.

  With all of my heart, I just have to give this to God and no matter what happens I know that Kyle will be smiling down on this world and that’s really all I care about right now.

  Thanks for listening,
  Lee

• Before you hear the song ...

  I want to share some other songs you know that were written by Kyle Jacobs.

  • More Than A Memory – Garth Brooks/Lee Brice
  • Still – Tim McGraw
  • Rumor – Lee Brice
  • Dust – Eli Young Band

• More Than A Memory

  This song was made popular by Garth Brooks, but Lee Brice is a co-writer. Here’s Lee’s version

• Still

• Rumor

• Dust

• Here it is ... "Save the Roses"

• The lyrics

  I appreciate y’all, yea, I really do
  Brought all these flowers
  In your black dresses and suits
  But y’all know me and you know the truth
  That ain’t me in that box there in front of you
  Can I just get an amen and y’all just get outta here
  I got the best view ever, now that I’m way up here
  Joking ’round with Jesus, catching up with Grandpa
  Hurry up preacher, I’m telling y’all
  You should be fishing
  With a cold beer in your hand
  Instead of missing me here
  Y’all should be missing me there
  High up in your deer stand
  Save my truck and save my guns
  And when thеy’re old enough
  Give ‘еm to my sons
  Don’t let this stained glass
  Shine on y’all too long today
  And save the roses, save the roses
  Don’t waste them on me
  Oh, tell who you love, how much you love ’em
  Don’t just say it, no you gotta show ’em
  Every chance you get, to get to know her better
  Remember forever don’t last forever
  Take it from me and my brand new point of view
  The biggest regret of your life
  Won’t be what you did
  It’ll be what you didn’t do
  You should be fishing
  With a cold beer in your hand
  Instead of missing me here
  Y’all should be missing me there
  High up in your deer stand
  Save my truck and save my guns
  And when they’re old enough
  Give ’em to my sons
  Don’t let this stained glass
  Shine on y’all too long today
  Time is so precious, it ain’t gonna wait
  You should be fishing
  With a cold beer in your hand
  Instead of missing me here
  Y’all should be missing me there
  High up in your deer stand
  Save my truck and save my guns
  And when they’re old enough
  Give ’em to my sons
  Don’t let this stained glass
  Shine on y’all too long today
  And save the roses, save the roses
  Save the roses
  Don’t waste them on me
  Don’t waste them on me