Todd Snider

Todd Snider, the wry and compassionate voice of modern Americana and alt-country songwriting, died on Friday, November 14, 2025, of pneumonia in Nashville, Tennessee. He was 59.

Born October 11, 1966, in Portland, Oregon, Snider grew up in the Pacific Northwest before forging his musical identity in Texas and eventually settling in Nashville, where he became a beloved fixture in that city's vibrant roots-music scene.

Snider first gained wide notice with his 1994 debut album "Songs for the Daily Planet," scoring minor hits with "Alright Guy" and "Talking Seattle Grunge Rock Blues." The album also included "Trouble," which was later a Top 20 country hit for Mark Chesnutt.

Over more than three decades, Snider went on to release more than twenty solo albums and multiple collaborations. His 2004 record "East Nashville Skyline" is often cited as a high-point of the alt-country movement.

From the earliest days of his professional career, Snider became known for his live shows, which blended his humor with his music. In long breaks between songs, Snider told stories that meandered around the point before eventually leading to it. Concertgoers loved to sing along with songs like "Beer Run" and "Play a Train Song."

Characterized by sharp wit, frank empathy and a storyteller's ear, Snider's songs gave voice to outsiders, misfits, and the overlooked, balancing humor and frankness in equal measure. He counted among his mentors the legendary songwriters John Prine (1946–2020), Jerry Jeff Walker (1942–2020), and Kris Kristofferson (1936–2024).

Beyond his albums, Snider co-founded the band Hard Working Americans and branched out into writing and television cameos, including appearances in the series "Squidbillies."

His impact on the roots music community was deep. He inspired younger songwriters and earned the respect of peers, including rock critic Steven Hyden, who called him "an unheralded songwriters' songwriter." Though he struggled at times with health issues and the pressures of life on the road, he remained true to his craft and his voice.

By Legacy News Staff

(Image: Paul Natkin/Getty Images)