NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Todd Snider, a cherished artist in the realm of American roots music, has passed away at the age of 59. Known for his insightful and whimsical songwriting, Snider’s work resonated deeply with fans across the country.

The announcement of his passing was made by his record label on Saturday through a heartfelt message shared on his social media platforms, confirming that Snider had died on Friday.

“How do we articulate the loss of someone who mastered the art of expression, who could distill life into its purest form through words and music?” the statement pondered. “His ability to craft poignant, humorous, and impactful phrases made him a comforting presence, like a well-worn friend or a favorite blanket. He consistently found the humor in our chaotic journey on Earth.”

Snider’s health had taken a turn for the worse after being diagnosed with pneumonia at a hospital in Hendersonville, Tennessee. This came shortly after a series of unfortunate events, including the cancellation of a tour following a violent incident in the Salt Lake City area. According to a statement from his management on November 3, these events led to further health complications, resulting in his transfer to another facility.

Adding to the complexities of his final days, the Salt Lake Tribune reported that Snider was arrested by Salt Lake City police after refusing to leave a hospital and later returning to threaten staff members. Despite these troubling circumstances, Snider’s legacy as a musician who could find humor and depth in life’s challenges remains untarnished.

The scrapped tour was in support of his most recent album, “High, Lonesome and Then Some,” which released in October. Snider combined elements of folk, rock and country in a three-decade career. In reviews of his recent albums, The Associated Press called him a “singer-songwriter with the persona of a fried folkie” and a “stoner troubadour and cosmic comic.”

He modeled himself on — and at times met and was mentored by — artists like Kris Kristofferson, Guy Clark and John Prine. His songs were recorded by artists including Jerry Jeff Walker, Billy Joe Shaver and Tom Jones. And he co-wrote a song with Loretta Lynn that appeared on her 2016 album, “Full Circle.”

“He relayed so much tenderness and sensitivity through his songs, and showed many of us how to look at the world through a different lens,” the Saturday statement from his label read. “He got up every morning and started writing, always working towards finding his place among the songwriting giants that sat on his record shelves, those same giants who let him into their lives and took him under their wings, who he studied relentlessly.”

Snider would do his best-known and most acclaimed work for Prine’s independent label Oh Boy in the early 2000s. It included the albums “New Connection,” “Near Truths and Hotel Rooms” and “East Nashville Skyline,” a 2004 collection that’s considered by many to be his best.

Those albums yielded his best known songs, “I Can’t Complain,” “Beer Run” and “Alright Guy.”

Snider was born and raised in Oregon before settling and making his musical chops in San Marcos, Texas. He eventually made his way to Nashville, and was dubbed by some the unofficial “mayor of East Nashville,” assuming the title from a friend memorialized thusly in his “Train Song.” In 2021, Snider said a tornado that ripped through the neighborhood home to a vibrant arts scene severely damaged his house.

Snider had an early fan in Jimmy Buffett, who signed the young artist to his record label, Margaritaville, which released his first two albums, 1994’s “Songs for the Daily Planet” and 1996’s “Step Right Up.”