Justin Cary, Sixpence None the Richer bassist, dies at 50

Justin Cary, the longtime bassist for the alternative-pop band Sixpence None the Richer, died on Thursday, June 18, 2026, following complications from a stroke. He was 50 years old. Cary passed away peacefully with his wife, Linda, by his side at Albany Medical Center in New York, according to a statement on a fundraising page set up for his family.

The musician suffered a serious stroke earlier in June and had been hospitalized for more than a week, undergoing multiple surgeries and receiving treatment in the intensive care unit. Bandmate and lead singer Leigh Nash confirmed his death in a heartfelt social media post, writing that "there's never been anybody like Justin" and thanking him for decades of music and memories. She asked for continued prayers for Linda, describing her as "lovely, delicate and unfathomably heartbroken."

Cary joined Sixpence None the Richer in 1997, becoming an integral part of the band's signature sound. His melodic bass work helped propel the group to international fame with hits like "Kiss Me," which peaked at No. 2 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1998, and "There She Goes" and "Breathe Your Name." The band earned two Grammy nominations during his...