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Country music star dead at 59 after mysterious illness and Utah arrest

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Country music star dead at 59 after mysterious illness and Utah arrest


Country music star Todd Snider, known for his alt-country hits like “Alright Guy” and “Just Like Old Times,” has died following a battle with a mysterious illness. He was 59.

Snider passed away on Friday, according to an Instagram post shared by the singer’s record label, Aimless, Inc. Headquarters.

“Where do we find the words for the one who always had the right words, who knew how to distill everything down to its essence with words and song while delivering the most devastating, hilarious, and impactful turn of phrases?” the statement read.

“Always creating rhyme and meter that immediately felt like an old friend or a favorite blanket. Someone who could almost always find the humor in this crazy ride on Planet Earth.”

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Country music star Todd Snider died on Friday following a battle with a mysterious illness. FilmMagic
“Where do we find the words for the one who always had the right words?” reads a statement from the singer’s label, announcing his passing. Nicole Hester / The Tennessean / USA TODAY NETWORK

“He relayed so much tenderness and sensitivity through his songs, and showed many of us how to look at the world through a different lens,” the Saturday statement continued.

“He got up every morning and started writing, always working towards finding his place among the songwriting giants that sat on his record shelves, those same giants who let him into their lives and took him under their wings, who he studied relentlessly.”

Snider’s family previously revealed in a Friday statement that the singer was diagnosed with pneumonia during his stay at a hospital in Hendersonville, Tennessee.

After his condition worsened due to complications, the “Trouble” hitmaker was transferred to another facility.

Snider’s family revealed in a Friday statement that the singer was diagnosed with pnuemonia during his stay at a hospital in Hendersonville, Tennessee. Mark Zaleski / The Tennessean / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
He was later transferred to a different facility after his condition worsened due to complications. Amy Harris/Invision/AP

At the time, the family requested that Snider’s fans “say a prayer, light a candle, roll one up, send strength, or just keep him close in your heart” during the tough time.

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“You’ve carried him through so much over the years, and he needs that from all of us now more than ever,” the message continued.

His death comes shortly after his tour in support of his most recent album, “High, Lonesome and Then Some,” which released in October, was canceled earlier this month.

Snider’s hospitalization comes on the heels of his canceled nationwide tour. Getty Images
His label announced the cancellation after Snider was involved in a violent assault in the Salt Lake CIty area. Instagram/@toddsniderlive

The tour was axed after he was allegedly the victim of a violent assault in the Salt Lake City area, according to a Nov. 3 statement from his management team.

However, Snider was later arrested by Salt Lake City police after he caused a disturbance at the Holy Cross Hospital where he was being treated.

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The singer was reportedly yelling and cursing at the hospital staff after they discharged him before he was apparently ready, per the Salt Lake Tribune.

He was charged with disorderly conduct, criminal trespassing and threatening violence.

However, Snider was later arrested after he reportedly threatened hospital staffers where he was being treated for his injuries. Getty Images
He was charged with disorderly conduct, criminal trespassing and threatening violence. Getty Images

Born and raised in Oregon, Snider’s musical influences were based on artists like Kris Kristofferson, Guy Clark and John Prine.

He got his start in the music industry as a young artist signed to Jimmy Buffet’s record label, Margaritaville, which released his first two albums 1994’s “Songs for the Daily Planet” and 1996’s “Step Right Up.”

He went on to write songs for several major artists including Jerry Jeff Walker, Billy Joe Shaver and Tom Jones. He also co-wrote a song with Loretta Lynn that appeared on her 2016 album, “Full Circle.”

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Penalties to be enforced if Trump’s face covered on national park passes, reports say

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Penalties to be enforced if Trump’s face covered on national park passes, reports say


SALT LAKE CITY — Those using a new national park pass who want to enjoy Utah’s “Mighty Five” better do so with President Donald Trump’s face perfectly intact, or you might pay a literal price.

The new annual park passes, which debuted on Jan. 1, feature Trump’s image alongside that of George Washington. At the same time as the release, the Department of the Interior reportedly updated its rules to ensure Trump’s face remains free and clear.

According to the Washington Post, the updated “Void if Altered” policy prohibits anyone from defacing the pass or covering up any images or information on the cards. Visitors found by rangers to have altered a pass by any means will be ordered to return it to its original condition or possibly be charged a regular entrance fee.

SFGate reported the policy originally prohibited any alteration of the signature portion of the pass, with the updated policy including the front of the card, with a warning that “writing on it or adding stickers or other coverings” is no longer allowed.

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Anti-DEI mandates at national parks include Zion gift shop:

‘History deserves honesty,’ anti-DEI mandates at national parks include Zion gift shop

Many believe the updated policy is in direct response to the large pushback over the inclusion of Trump, leaving people to share creative ways to hide the president’s image from passes, including stickers and sleeves.

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Along with the suggestions on how to hide Trump’s image, a nonprofit environmental group has filed a lawsuit claiming its design did not comply with legislation that requires public participation in the selection.





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Two killed, six wounded in shooting outside Mormon church in Utah

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Two killed, six wounded in shooting outside Mormon church in Utah


Two people were killed, and at least six were wounded when gunfire erupted outside a funeral at a Mormon church in Utah on Wednesday night, according to authorities and reports.

Eight people were hit by gunfire when shots rang out outside The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints on Redwood Road in Salt Lake City around 7:30 p.m., Salt Lake City Police Department spokesperson Glen Mills told the Salt Lake City Tribune.

Two people were killed, and six people were injured in the shooting that occurred outside in the church’s parking lot as dozens were attending a funeral service inside.

Of the six wounded, three individuals are in critical condition, the Salt Lake City Police Department posted on X. All of the victims were adults.

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Police stand outside the Salt Lake City church where at least eight people were shot, including two fatally on Jan. 7, 2026. AP
People hug outside the church after the shooting in Salt Lake City, Utah. AP

There were no suspects in custody as of late Wednesday night, and it is not immediately clear if there were multiple gunmen involved. A motive was also unknown.

However, police said they have obtained solid leads in the investigation and are working to locate individuals involved in the shooting.

“We believe this was not a random incident,” Salt Lake City Police Chief Brian Redd told reporters. 

The shooting was not believed to be targeting a religion, Redd clarified. 

Roughly 100 law enforcement vehicles swarmed the area in the aftermath of the gunfire as helicopters flew overhead. 

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The area around the Mormon church remained closed into the evening as authorities urged the public to stay clear of the still active scene.

Funeral attendees walk out of the meetinghouse of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints on Jan. 7, 2026. AP

“This should never have happened outside a place of worship. This should never have happened outside a celebration of life,” said Mayor Erin Mendenhall.

The Salt Lake City Police Department did not immediately respond to The Post’s request for comment.

The incident remains under investigation.

With Post wires.

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Kevin Love Admits He Didn’t See Jazz Trade Coming

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Kevin Love Admits He Didn’t See Jazz Trade Coming


The Utah Jazz’s experiment to bring in 18-year league veteran Kevin Love thus far into the 2025-26 campaign has been a pretty solid success in the first two-plus months of the season.

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Love has been a positive voice in the locker room as the most tenured NBA veteran on the roster, he’s been vocal about enjoying his time and role with the organization, and for his time on the floor throughout the first 30 or so games of the regular season, he’s nestled into a consistent rotational player as the Jazz’s backup center as Walker Kessler has been out with a shoulder injury.

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But when he first arrived in Utah via a three-team trade from the Miami Heat, packed within the deal that sent John Collins to the LA Clippers, Love didn’t quite know what to expect out of his experience; he didn’t even anticipate being traded to the Jazz in the first place.

“I didn’t know what to expect when I got here, but I’ve been very pleasantly surprised from everything, from ownership, and Ryan Smith to the front office to the coaching staff, players all the way through,” Love said of the Jazz on The Old Man and the Three. “It’s been a blessing in my 18th year to be a part of this team and some place, I mean, you never know where you’re going to end up.”

“I did not expect to be traded but as far as a landing spot goes and just saying, yeah, so many people are saying ‘Oh what if it doesn’t work out? What if it doesn’t work out?’ I’m like ‘What if it does?’, right?And I think just adding value whether I’m playing or not is something that’s given me a lot of happiness and a lot of joy this late in my career. And I think that has allowed me to see a lot of the good and what this team has been able to bring and move forward.”

Kevin Love Settling in Nicely With Utah Jazz

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Love’s value stretches both on and off the floor for the Jazz, which makes sense for why the veteran big man has been loving his time since being on the roster. The 2016 NBA champion was vocal before the season about his desire to be a value add for wherever that may be, including Utah, and he’s been able to carve out just the right role for himself at this point in his career. 

During his 20 games played for the Jazz this season, Love has averaged 7.2 points, 5.4 rebounds, and shooting 41.1% from the field in just over 17 minutes a night when he plays, and has proven he can still be a guy worthy of a few minutes down the rotation to fill out an NBA frontcourt, as he has for the year in Utah so far.

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Dec 15, 2025; Salt Lake City, Utah, USA; Dallas Mavericks forward Caleb Martin (left) speaks with Utah Jazz forward Kevin Love (right) before the game at Delta Center. Mandatory Credit: Rob Gray-Imagn Images | Rob Gray-Imagn Images

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It remains to be seen just how long Love’s time in Utah will last. There’s not even a guarantee that the 37-year-old will finish the regular season on the roster, depending on how the next few weeks transpire around the trade deadline and as the buyout market begins to gain some traction. But, for the time that he is in Salt Lake City, he’s made it into a nice home for what’s now the fourth roster he’s been on through nearly two decades in the league.

Be sure to bookmark Utah Jazz On SI and follow @JazzOnSI on X to stay up-to-date on daily Utah Jazz news, interviews, breakdowns and more!



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