Robin Williams. So sad. Mental illness is a lifelong struggle.
Whitney Houston. So beautiful and talented. I'm white, and she was the first black female I ever wanted to be when I was a little kid. Makes me sad how someone could have beauty, talent, and wealth but that's not enough to overcome mental health issues.
Aretha Franklin. I sing her songs all the time and kept meaning to see her in concert but never did.
RBG. She profoundly impacted me and I'm forever grateful for her work to progress feminism.

Prince - what a talent
Bourdain - what a man

Anonymous wrote:John Lennon. One of only a handful of times I saw my mother cry.

I was born in ‘86, but whenever I bring up John with my mom, she always talks about that day. I remember in the 90s my parents bought a Lennon greatest hits CD and kept it in the car. Whenever Beautiful Boy came on (the song he wrote for his second son, Sean) my mom would tear up.

It was such an utterly senseless death. Horrible.

My favorite Beatle is George, and I was devastated when he died (19 years ago yesterday).

Whitney

John Lennon. One of only a handful of times I saw my mother cry.

I'm a huge hard rock and metal fan, so Dimebag Darrell's really impacted me as he was who I looked up to the most when I was learning how to play guitar as a younger man.

Anton Yelchin - very jarring and shocking.
Lisa "Left Eye" Lopes - no seatbelt.

^ And David Bowie

Johnny Cash
Prince
Tom Petty
Eddie Money

Cory Monteith. He seemed like a really nice guy who overcame poor teenage decisions- opioid addiction- and gave back in his career, only to succumb to his addiction once his life had turned around. His death shook me and for a couple of years after, I volunteered with at risk youth.

Rik Mayall

Anonymous wrote:I still feel sad about Prince and Bowie.

It hurt me when George Michael died. His music was a big part of high school for me. Way too young.

I wept when Princess Diana died.

I was born way after he died, but I think about James Dean's tragic death a lot because he was so talented and gorgeous. I wonder what could have been.

Yes, I think about Marvin Gaye that way.

Prince

Anonymous wrote:Steve Irwin
Anthony Bourdain
Health Ledger

Honorable Mentions:
Tom Petty
Mr. Rogers
Eddie Van Halen
Chris Cornell
Adam Schlesinger

Adam Schlesinger hit me hard too. It was the first person I knew of close to my age with no preexisting issues who died of covid-19 and he was such an amazing talent.

Princess Diana
Robin Williams
Alex Trebeck