Dean Franklin, the London singer-songwriter who rose to fame on The Voice UK, has died at 36 after a brief battle with stage 4 esophageal cancer. Known for his powerful, blues-infused voice and “soulful street-performer style,” he stood out in the world of televised talent shows for his authenticity and emotional depth. His sudden passing has left fans and the music community in shock.

The singer died on Saturday, February 7. His mother, Marie, confirmed the news the next morning in a heartfelt tribute. “As a family, we are truly heartbroken to announce that our precious boy, Dean Franklin, who fought so courageously over 8 weeks and 3 days, passed over at 21:39 pm last night,” she wrote. She shared that he was “surrounded by love” in his final moments and thanked supporters, saying, “please know that the love you gave to our Dean and all of us has meant so very much.”

Franklin revealed his diagnosis in December through an emotional video. “Over the last few weeks, my life has changed very fast,” he said. The cancer spread quickly: “What started as esophageal cancer ended up spreading aggressively to my liver and weirdly, I had almost no symptoms from the esophagus itself.” Reflecting on the illness, he added, “Sometimes cancer doesn’t shout where it starts. Sometimes it whispers and shows itself somewhere else.”

Despite the advanced stage of his condition, he chose to continue treatment. “I’ve chosen to keep fighting with chemo even though it has been incredibly tough,” he shared. He also urged others to prioritize their health: “please listen to your body, push for answers, don’t ignore changes and early checks really, really do matter.”

Franklin first gained national attention in 2016 on The Voice UK, mentored by Paloma Faith, who later described him as “so brave.”