Oliver Tree has died at the age of 32 following a helicopter crash in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, according to multiple reports including TMZ and Brazilian authorities cited in local coverage. The American singer-songwriter, rapper, and producer was one of six people killed in a mid-air collision involving two helicopters on the morning of June 14, 2026.
Initial reports from the Civil Police of Rio de Janeiro confirmed that one aircraft crashed into an electric vehicle dealership yard in the Recreio dos Bandeirantes neighborhood, sparking a fire that damaged approximately 20 vehicles. A second helicopter went down nearby, with no survivors reported from either aircraft. Authorities have not indicated foul play, and investigations into the cause of the collision are ongoing.
Oliver Tree Nickell, born June 29, 1993 in Santa Cruz, California, had been in Brazil as part of his ongoing world tour, having performed in São Paulo earlier in June.
Tree first broke through in the late 2010s after his viral track “When I’m Down” led to a signing with Atlantic Records in 2017. His debut studio album Ugly Is Beautiful arrived on July 17, 2020, peaking at No. 14 on the Billboard 200 and producing some of his most enduring streaming-era hits, including “Life Goes On” and “Hurt.” The project later earned RIAA Gold certification.
Follow-up releases expanded his sonic identity but saw varying commercial results. Cowboy Tears (2022) peaked at No. 60 on the Billboard 200, leaning into country-tinged production, while Alone in a Crowd (2023) dropped to No. 143 as Tree pushed further into conceptual storytelling and character-driven aesthetics. His final studio album, Love You Madly Hate You Badly, was released on April 24, 2026 via his independent label Alien Boy Records, just weeks before the crash.
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