{"id":929394,"date":"2026-08-24T20:15:32","date_gmt":"2026-08-25T01:15:32","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/2026\/08\/24\/oliver-tree-the-eccentric-american-musician-and-comedian-dies-at-32-in-helicopter-crash-in-brazil\/"},"modified":"2026-08-24T20:15:32","modified_gmt":"2026-08-25T01:15:32","slug":"oliver-tree-the-eccentric-american-musician-and-comedian-dies-at-32-in-helicopter-crash-in-brazil","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/2026\/08\/24\/oliver-tree-the-eccentric-american-musician-and-comedian-dies-at-32-in-helicopter-crash-in-brazil\/","title":{"rendered":"Oliver Tree, the eccentric American musician and comedian, dies at 32 in helicopter crash in Brazil"},"content":{"rendered":"

Music <\/p>\n

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\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tBy: Maria Sherman, The Associated Press
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NEW YORK (AP) \u2014 Oliver Tree, the eccentric American musician known for viral stunts, alt-pop tracks like \u201cAlien Boy\u201d and \u201cLife Goes On,\u201d and his unconventional style, died in a helicopter crash in Rio de Janeiro on June 14. He was 32.<\/p>\n

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NEW YORK (AP) \u2014 Oliver Tree, the eccentric American musician known for viral stunts, alt-pop tracks like \u201cAlien Boy\u201d and \u201cLife Goes On,\u201d and his unconventional style, died in a helicopter crash in Rio de Janeiro on June 14. He was 32.<\/p>\n

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NEW YORK (AP) \u2014 Oliver Tree, the eccentric American musician known for viral stunts, alt-pop tracks like \u201cAlien Boy\u201d and \u201cLife Goes On,\u201d and his unconventional style, died in a helicopter crash in Rio de Janeiro on June 14. He was 32.<\/p>\n

Representatives for Tree directed The Associated Press to an official confirmation posted to Tree\u2019s Instagram account.<\/p>\n

\u201cRest in peace Oliver Tree Nickell June 29, 1993 \u2014 June 14, 2026. Your legacy will live on forever,\u201d the caption read next to a slideshow of images reflecting Tree\u2019s life and career.<\/p>\n

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FILE – Oliver Tree performs at the Austin City Limits Music Festival in Austin, Texas, on Oct. 16, 2022. (Photo by Amy Harris\/Invision\/AP, File)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

\u201cHis legacy will live on through his foundation\/endowment named \u2018Dr. Oliver Tree\u2019s Extremely Epic Grant For Baby Geniuses\u2019 coming soon. This is something that Oliver had put together before his passing, written in his will,\u201d the caption continued. \u201cWe will make sure his wish comes to fruition so that more joy, love and art can be spread into the world, that was his final wish.\u201d<\/p>\n

On the morning of June 14, two helicopters collided and crashed in the Brazilian city\u2019s Western zone, killing all six people aboard, firefighters said. Police confirmed that Tree was on the list of passengers given to aviation authorities. Argentine streaming channel Blender said that content creator Gaspar Prim D\u00edaz, known as Gaspi, was also in one of the helicopters.<\/p>\n

Tree was in the middle of his world tour at the time, which kicked off in Mexico City on May 30 and was scheduled to hit all seven continents.<\/p>\n

An outsider in pop and a viral hitmaker<\/strong><\/p>\n

Born June 29, 1993 in California, Oliver Tree Nickell June, a pop outsider with a knack for internet virality, was known for his own myth-making. Rocking bright \u201980s fashion and a distinctive bowl cut, Tree told interviewers he started piano lessons when he was 3 years old and had an album written by age 6. When he started his recording career in the 2010s, he did so while creating characters and making memes as he made music.<\/p>\n

He released an electronic EP, \u201cDemons,\u201d under the name \u201cTree\u201d in 2013 on R&S Records and scored a crucial feature on DJ and music producer Whethan\u2019s 2016 single \u201cWhen I\u2019m Down,\u201d growing his profile and online interest. That same year, he signed to the major label Atlantic Records and began recording as Oliver Tree.<\/p>\n

In 2018, he released his \u201cAlien Boy\u201d EP with the record company, anchored by the double music video \u201cAll That x Alien Boy.\u201d His specific visual language \u2014 off-kilter, comedic, collaborative \u2014 scored him legions of fans. To date, the video has over 52 million views on YouTube. And the single \u201cAlien Boy\u201d was certified platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) \u2014 his first of a few. His other platinum-certified songs include 2018\u2019s \u201cHurt,\u201d 2021\u2019s \u201cLife Goes On\u201d and 2022\u2019s \u201cMiss You\u201d with German musician and DJ Robin Schulz.<\/p>\n

Over the years, his music evolved, marrying the genres of alternative rock, hip-hop and electro-pop with his cheeky flair.<\/p>\n

His comedic persona continued to develop at the same pace: Consider the music video for 2018\u2019s \u201cMovement,\u201d where he bathed in a tub filled with Flaming Hot Cheetos and dubbed it an online \u201cchallenge.\u201d Or his 2020 major label full-length debut \u201cUgly Is Beautiful,\u201d released weeks after he set the Guinness World Record for the world\u2019s largest kick scooter.<\/p>\n

Then came 2022\u2019s \u201cCowboy Tears,\u201d a humorous country detour, 2023\u2019s \u201cAlone in the Crowd,\u201d which follows the story of a character named Cornelius Cummings, and most recently, his entirely self-produced 2026 album, \u201cLove You Madly Hate You Badly.\u201d<\/p>\n

All the while, his social media profile continued to explode due to his humorous antics and hooky-heavy songs. On TikTok, he boasts of 22.6 million followers \u2014 as well as 8.6 million on YouTube and 5 million on Instagram.<\/p>\n

Tributes to Tree quickly poured in from other musicians<\/strong><\/p>\n

As news of Tree\u2019s death broke online, famous fans and friends began paying homage to him.<\/p>\n

\u201cSpoke to Oliver a few weeks ago. This is heartbreaking. A really amazing and beautiful human,\u201d rapper Kid Cudi wrote on X. \u201cSending all my prayers and love to the families dealing with losses. Oliver we love you, forever.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cBeen an absolute wreck today. It\u2019s really hard to understand how someone who you once shared such a specific and formative time of your life with can all of a sudden be gone,\u201d singer Melanie Mart\u00ednez wrote Sunday in an Instagram Story post. \u201cHe was so dedicated to his art which I admired and respected so deeply. I think everyone who knew him will look back at those moments of laughter and joy he so easily sparked. His laugh was so contagious and warm.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m in shock \u2026 I can\u2019t believe it,\u201d wrote singer Bebe Rexha on X. \u201cHe was so smart. Passionate. Talented. Kind. I\u2019m so sad. May he rest in peace.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n