Inside the Soul Artist’s Sudden Death

The cause of James Brown’s death, 73, has raised questions for years.

The iconic musician and godfather of soul enjoyed a successful career well into his 70s before passing away on December 25, 2006 in an Atlanta hospital. However, unknown to fans, the singer’s health was deteriorating. He was taken to hospital two days before Christmas, where he showed signs of congestive heart failure.

Brown officially died of natural causes, with the death certificate listing a heart attack and fluid in his lungs, according to CNN, but his cause of death has been questioned by multiple parties who believe he was murdered, according to a three-part CNN investigation in 2019.

Atlanta prosecutors began reviewing the case in early 2020 after evidence was submitted by people close to Brown. The following year, it was revealed that the case had been closed without any action taken and evidence was missing, prompting an FBI investigation, according to CNN. The case remains inconclusive, and Brown’s death remains shrouded in mystery.

Here’s everything you need to know about the mysterious circumstances surrounding James Brown’s death.

How did James Brown die?

Brown died of congestive heart failure in an Atlanta hospital in 2006, according to official reports.

Brown’s health was in decline, suffering from years of drug abuse, prostate cancer and diabetes. According to the New York Times, he was admitted to Emory Crawford Long Hospital in Atlanta on December 23, 2006. A 2019 CNN investigation found that Brown believed he had pneumonia at the time, an inaccurate theory that was falsely spread by the media after his death.

According to the New York Times, Brown’s condition began to improve while undergoing treatment, and he rescheduled tour dates he had previously canceled for health reasons later that week. However, in the early morning hours of Dec. 26, Brown suddenly passed away, and his death certificate listed the cause of death as a minor heart attack and fluid in his lungs, CNN reported.

For years, the public has accepted Brown’s official cause of death, but in recent years nearly a dozen people have come forward to say that Brown died of natural causes. According to a 2019 CNN investigation, they believe he was murdered.

The newspaper’s article shed light on what really happened on the night of Brown’s death, citing a doctor who treated him at the hospital before he died. Dr. Marvin Crawford, who also signed Brown’s death certificate, told the publication that the details didn’t add up.

“He changed too quickly,” Crawford told CNN. “He was a patient that I never expected to code…but he passed away that night, and I raised the question of what happened in that room.”

Crawford also said Brown did not have pneumonia, but early symptoms of congestive heart failure and signs of a mild heart attack were found, and Brown’s urine test tested positive for cocaine.

Mr. Brown received treatment for all his problems and rapidly recovered by 5pm on December 24th. “If I wanted to, I could have walked out of the hospital,” Crawford told CNN.

However, his condition went downhill and he never recovered.

Following the media’s investigation, Brown’s death was reopened by Atlanta prosecutors in 2020, then closed without action in 2021.

When did James Brown die?

Brown passed away at 1:45 a.m. on December 25, 2006.

Two days after being hospitalized with what appeared to be pneumonia, Brown’s symptoms improved, but he passed away in the early morning.

According to CNN, shortly before his death, Brown was preparing to begin a tour in December (dates were postponed due to illness) and was scheduled to record three new songs in January, including a collaboration with Aretha Franklin written by John Legend.

According to the New York Times, before her health deteriorated on the night of Dec. 24, Brown received medical clearance to perform in New Jersey that weekend and at BB King’s nightclub in New York on New Year’s Eve.

Where did James Brown die?

Brown died at Emory Crawford Long Hospital in his hometown of Atlanta.

According to CNN, only one person was with him at the hospital at the time of his death, his personal manager Charles Bobbitt. Bobbitt said Brown claimed his chest was on fire just before he died.

How old was James Brown when he died?

Mr. Brown was 73 years old at the time of his death.

How did the public react to James Brown’s death?

Ms. Brown had multiple public and private funerals.

According to the Augusta Chronicle, three days after Brown’s death on December 28, 2006, his body was placed on stage at New York City’s Apollo Theater for public viewing.

Mourners waited five city blocks to see Brown’s casket, and his family held a private funeral the next day at Brown’s daughter DeAnn Brown Thomas’ church in North Augusta, Georgia.

On December 30, 2006, Brown’s hometown of Augusta honored him with a “Day of Remembrance” as declared by the mayor, and the Augusta Chronicle reported that the largest funeral in the city’s history was held.

Nearly 9,000 people attended the funeral, which lasted four hours at James Brown Arena and featured a performance by Brown’s band, the Soul Generals, a dance performance by MC Hammer, and a speech by Michael Jackson. Afterward, 20,000 mourners gathered to view Brown’s body in a gold-plated casket.

After another private ceremony for Brown’s family, his body was moved to his daughter Deanna’s Beech Island home, where it was then stored in an above-ground charnel house.

What achievements did James Brown make?

The Godfather of Soul’s legacy in the music industry lives up to his name.

As one of the most influential black figures, Brown remains one of the most successful and honored artists. He has influenced others, and modern rap and hip-hop stars still sample his work.

Brown was one of the first 10 musicians inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1986, and received the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award in 1992, among other awards. He was also posthumously inducted into the Rhythm & Blues Hall of Fame in 2017.

Brown’s social activism lives on as well. His 1968 song “Say It Loud — I’m Black and I’m Proud” became the unofficial anthem of the Black Power movement, according to WGBH. Through his music, Brown was a symbol of black equality, pride, and self-acceptance.

Brown left his mark on the music industry, but his memory has also been marred by a bitter inheritance dispute with his family and lingering allegations of violence.

Since his death, several films and documentaries have been made about Brown, including the 2014 biopic Get on Up, starring Chadwick Boseman as Brown. The 2024 two-part documentary series James Brown: Say It Loud also included revelations about Brown’s career and personal life.