Nicole Taylor, member of viral country trio Taylor Red, dies of breast cancer

Nicole Taylor, a founding member of the country music group Taylor Red, died on Sept. 28 at age 35. Her sisters, Natalie and Nika Taylor, confirmed the death on Monday via a video posted to the band’s official social media channels.

In the recording, the siblings revealed that Nicole had received a Stage 3 breast cancer diagnosis in 2022. They explained that while she initially responded well to treatment, the illness advanced to Stage 4. Natalie Taylor described her sister’s approach to the illness, stating, “She tried not to live in fear, remained really hopeful, traveled. She tried to live life.” Nika Taylor added that the family was shocked by the timing but found comfort in the belief that Nicole was no longer suffering.

The sisters also published a statement on the Taylor Red website, describing Nicole as their leader and best friend. They wrote that they were heartbroken but confident she was in Heaven and would see her again.

The Taylor sisters, who are from Mississippi, began performing as a trio in 2011 under the name Red Roots. They released a debut album in 2010 and followed it with “The Middle of Nowhere” in 2012 and “Triplicity” in 2014. In 2018, the group rebranded as Taylor Red and relocated to Nashville, Tennessee.

Their breakthrough came with the release of “Country Money” in 2021. The track gained widespread traction on TikTok, drawing comparisons to the work of The Chicks and The Judds. This digital success coincided with a multi-commercial advertising campaign for Sonic Drive-In. The band subsequently toured as an opening act for Charlie Daniels, Amy Grant, and Josh Turner.

Nicole Taylor spoke about the impact of social media in a 2021 interview with People magazine. She noted that the platform allows users to tattoo the band’s username or tagline on their arms. “When you hear stories like that, you realize that this is serious. This is real. And really, it’s because of them,” she said.