Last Days

On June 18, 2018, XXXTentacion — the Florida rapper whose raw, emotionally charged music made him one of the defining voices of the SoundCloud generation — was shot and killed during a robbery outside a motorcycle dealership in Deerfield Beach, Florida, at the age of 20. Born Jahseh Onfroy, XXXTentacion built a massive following through songs including “Look at Me!,” “Jocelyn Flores,” “SAD!,” and “Moonlight,” blending hip-hop with rock, emo, and deeply personal themes of depression, heartbreak, and isolation. His death cut short one of rap’s fastest-rising careers and left behind a musical legacy that continues to influence a generation of artists and fans. Hosts: Jason Beckerman, Derek Kaufman Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

On March 23, 2011, Elizabeth Taylor — the violet-eyed Hollywood icon whose extraordinary beauty, fierce talent, and tumultuous personal life made her one of the most famous women in the world — died of congestive heart failure at a hospital in Los Angeles at the age of 79. Taylor spent more than six decades captivating audiences through films including National Velvet, A Place in the Sun, Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, Butterfield 8, and Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?, while her marriages, friendships, scandals, and enduring activism kept her at the center of popular culture long after the golden age of Hollywood had ended. Her death marked the passing of one of cinema’s last true movie stars. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

On October 2, 1985, Rock Hudson — the dashing, legendary Hollywood icon whose magnetic screen presence, classic good looks, and effortless charm made him one of the defining leading men of Golden Age cinema — died of AIDS-related complications in his Beverly Hills home at the age of 59. Hudson had spent the better part of three decades commanding the silver screen, first through sweeping romantic dramas like Written on the Wind and Giant—the latter earning him an Academy Award nomination—and later through a celebrated run of slick, witty romantic comedies alongside Doris Day, including Pillow Talk. Hudson's death marked a watershed cultural moment, forcing the public and the media to confront the AIDS epidemic on a global scale and turning his personal tragedy into a pivotal catalyst for public awareness, research funding, and activism. Hosts: Jason Beckerman, Derek Kaufman Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

On May 25, 1996, Bradley Nowell — the gifted, troubled singer whose raw voice, restless songwriting, and genre-blurring spirit made Sublime one of the defining bands of Southern California’s alternative scene — died of a heroin overdose in a San Francisco hotel at the age of 28. Nowell had spent the better part of a decade transforming the sounds of Long Beach into a volatile blend of punk, reggae, ska, hip-hop, and surf-rock, first through 40oz. to Freedom and Robbin’ the Hood and then through the band's self-titled album, released just months after his death. Nowell’s death marked the end of Sublime’s original incarnation — and the passing of a singular voice whose music turned personal chaos into a lasting Southern California mythology. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

On April 6, 1998, Tammy Wynette — the legendary country music singer whose unmistakable voice, emotional storytelling, and string of timeless hits earned her the title “The First Lady of Country Music” — died at her home in Nashville, Tennessee, at the age of 55. Wynette spent more than three decades at the top of country music, becoming one of the genre’s defining voices through classics like “Stand by Your Man,” “D-I-V-O-R-C-E,” “Til I Can Make It on My Own,” and “Your Good Girl’s Gonna Go Bad.” Her turbulent personal life, including her high-profile marriage to fellow country icon George Jones, often made headlines, but her enduring legacy was built on a remarkable career that included 20 No. 1 country hits, multiple Grammy Awards, and a lasting influence on generations of artists who followed. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices