Bradley Kirk Arnold (September 27, 1978 – February 7, 2026) was an American singer-songwriter and musician who was the lead vocalist and a founding member of the Mississippi-based rock band 3 Doors Down.

Early life

Arnold was born September 27, 1978 and grew up in Escatawpa, Mississippi. He wrote 3 Doors Down's breakout hit single, "Kryptonite", in high school during math class at age 15.

Career

Main articles: 3 Doors Down and 3 Doors Down discography
Arnold was a founding member of 3 Doors Down. He was the band's lead singer and former drummer. Formed in 1996,[3] the band is known for the hit songs "Kryptonite", "Here Without You", and "When I'm Gone".[7] Both "Kryptonite" and "When I'm Gone" received Grammy nominations.

The band's first studio album, The Better Life, was released in February 2000 and went on to be certified 7× platinum.[9] Released in April of that year, the single "Kryptonite" reached number three on the charts[10] and became the band's breakout hit.

Away from the Sun, the band's second studio album, was released in November 2002 and peaked at number eight on the charts. It went platinum within two months of release and eventually went multi-platinum.

The band's third studio album, 2005's Seventeen Days, debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200[14] and has been certified platinum.[15] 3 Doors Down released their self-titled fourth album on May 20, 2008. It debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200, selling 154,000 copies in its first week. It became the band's second consecutive No. 1 album on the chart after Seventeen Days, as well their fourth album to reach the Top Ten.[14] In 2009, 3 Doors Down, along with The Soul Children of Chicago, released the song "In the Presence of the Lord" on the compilation album Oh Happy Day: An All-Star Music Celebration. In 2009, the band recorded a Christmas song called "Where My Christmas Lives", which was the first Christmas song Arnold had written.

3 Doors Down released their fifth studio album, Time of My Life, on July 19, 2011. Their first greatest hits album was released on November 19, 2012.
On January 19, 2017, 3 Doors Down performed at the pre-presidential inauguration concert of U.S. President-elect Donald Trump. Arnold told TMZ that he was "proud" to perform and that he thought it would be a "good experience".
In 2020, Arnold released a single entitled "Wicked Man" as a solo artist.

Personal life

After Arnold and his first wife were divorced, he married his second wife, Jennifer Sanderford, in 2009.
Arnold was a Christian. He became closer to his faith after having undergone rehabilitation for alcohol addiction at the encouragement of country singer Charlie Daniels. Arnold preached his faith during concerts.

Health and death

On February 1, 2006, Arnold was involved in a car collision after the vehicle he was in hydroplaned and collided with a tree; Arnold was not the driver of the vehicle. The crash resulted in Arnold receiving dozens of stitches and one of his ears being sewn back on.

Arnold was a recovering alcoholic who stopped drinking in 2016. On May 7, 2025, Arnold announced that he had been diagnosed with Stage IV clear cell renal cell carcinoma that had metastasized to his lung. Despite the severity of the diagnosis, Arnold stated that he had "no fear".

Arnold died in his sleep from renal cancer on February 7, 2026, at the age of 47. The news was confirmed by his family and the remaining members of the band.

Brad Arnold, singer of 3 Doors Down, has passed away.

Bradley Kirk Arnold - Wicked Man

3 Doors Down’s Brad Arnold Shares Message of Faith During Nashville Concert