Peabo Bryson, the Grammy-Winning Voice Behind Beauty and the Beast and a Whole New World, Dies at 75 After a Stroke and a Career of R&B Classics

NEW YORK, NY — Peabo Bryson, the Grammy Award-winning singer and songwriter whose romantic ballads helped define Disney duets and adult R&B radio, has died at 75. His family said he died peacefully on Tuesday evening, surrounded by loved ones.

Bryson was widely known for songs including Beauty and the Beast and A Whole New World, two collaborations that introduced his voice to generations of listeners. His family said his influence reached far beyond the stage and that his music will continue to resonate for years to come.

A career built on duets, ballads and radio staples

Bryson’s name became closely tied to some of the most recognizable duet recordings of the 1990s. Beauty and the Beast, recorded with Celine Dion, became one of the signature songs of his career, while A Whole New World further cemented his place in pop and soundtrack history.

But his legacy was not limited to movie themes. He was also known for a long run of R&B material that kept him a familiar presence on adult contemporary and soul playlists. The family statement described him as a beloved husband, father, family member, friend and artist whose work touched people around the world.

That broad reach helps explain why news of his death drew immediate attention from fans and colleagues who grew up with his voice. For many listeners, Bryson represented a rare blend of technical polish, emotional delivery and crossover appeal that carried his music across genres and generations.

Family says he died peacefully after a recent stroke

The family said Bryson “transitioned peacefully” at 5:00 p.m. ET on Tuesday, June 2, 2026. They asked for privacy as they mourned the loss of a figure they described as central to both their family and the wider music world.

His death comes days after a representative confirmed to ABC News that he had suffered a stroke and was receiving medical care. No additional details about his condition were released in the family statement.

That update left fans with a clearer picture of the singer’s final days, but also with many unanswered questions about funeral plans or public memorials. For now, the family says the focus is on remembrance and on preserving the legacy of an artist whose voice became part of the soundtrack of popular music.

Why Bryson’s music still matters to listeners now

Bryson’s catalog remains familiar because it sits at the intersection of several musical worlds: Disney nostalgia, classic R&B and the polished ballad style that dominated mainstream radio for decades. That combination made him one of the few singers whose work could live comfortably in both soundtrack history and soul music memory.

His family’s statement emphasized the outpouring of support from fans, friends and colleagues around the world, suggesting that his influence stretched well beyond a single era. In the wake of his death, listeners are likely to return first to the duets that made him famous, then to the deeper body of work that showed the full range of his voice.

For fans, the immediate loss is personal, but the musical footprint is already fixed. Bryson leaves behind recordings that continue to play at weddings, on radio and in the memory of anyone who grew up hearing his tenor carry some of pop’s most enduring love songs.