Luke Bryan Clarifies Details About Sister’s Death Amid Misinformation

In a candid revelation, country music star Luke Bryan has opened up about the mysterious circumstances surrounding his sister’s death, addressing what he calls “misinformation” that has circulated for years.

During an emotional appearance on the “All There Is with Anderson Cooper” podcast Wednesday, Bryan shed light on the passing of Kelly Bryan Cheshire, who died suddenly at age 39 in 2007. The singer explained why his family had remained relatively quiet about the specific details of her death until now.

“There’s some misinformation out there on the internet, and I think some people kind of wonder what happened and think that we’ve tried to cover it up,” Bryan shared with Cooper. “A very, very small percentage of people that die for no reason in the world.”

Bryan revealed that medical professionals had attributed his sister’s passing to sudden death syndrome. “That’s essentially what they described my sister’s death as,” he said, characterizing the loss as “tragic beyond words.”

According to the 49-year-old performer, Kelly had been doing laundry when the incident occurred, describing it as though “somebody just turned the switch off on her.” This sudden and unexplained nature of her death left the family grappling with numerous “unanswered questions.”

The country music star explained that even after an autopsy, medical examiners could not determine a conclusive cause of death. This lack of clarity was particularly troubling for the family, who worried about potential hereditary conditions that might affect Kelly’s three children.

“We wanted to know, could there be a family history of something that her children might have or may have?” Bryan said. “Your typical findings of an autopsy of someone 39 would be an aneurysm or an embolism or a blood clot of some kind – and everything was inconclusive.”

Bryan did note that his sister had a “pretty severe” orbital bone injury at the time of her passing, leading the family to speculate about the circumstances. “Whether she fainted or not… she may have went into the floor and kind of knocked herself out,” he theorized.

The fact that Kelly was alone when she died continues to haunt Bryan, who has wondered if immediate medical intervention could have saved her life. He described his sister as the “best mother you could ever dream of” and emphasized that she was “everything in our lives.”

The singer’s disclosure comes after years of relative privacy regarding the details of Kelly’s death. Sudden death syndrome, while rare, is recognized in medical literature as the unexpected death of seemingly healthy individuals with no clear cause even after thorough investigation.

This personal tragedy was not the only loss the Bryan family has endured. In 2014, Kelly’s husband, Ben Lee Cheshire, died of a heart attack, leaving their children orphaned. Bryan and his wife Caroline stepped in to raise their nephew Til, who was a teenager at the time, while his older sisters were already adults.

Bryan has previously spoken about how these family tragedies have shaped his outlook on life and influenced his music. The multiple-time CMA Entertainer of the Year has channeled his experiences into songs that resonate with fans who have faced similar losses.

Despite achieving tremendous success in country music with numerous chart-topping hits and a role as a judge on “American Idol,” Bryan has maintained that family remains his priority. His willingness to discuss such personal matters reflects his desire to correct misconceptions and perhaps provide comfort to others experiencing unexplained loss.

As the Bryan family continues to process their grief years after Kelly’s passing, the singer’s candid discussion offers a glimpse into the ongoing journey of understanding and acceptance that follows such a profound loss.