NEW YORK (AP) — Peabo Bryson, the two-time Grammy Award-winning R&B singer best known as the voice behind the Oscar-winning Disney film duets “Beauty and the Beast” with Celine Dion and “A Whole New World” with Regina Belle from “Aladdin," has died. He was 75.
His family said in a statement that Bryson died Tuesday evening, days after having a stroke.
“While our hearts are broken, we find comfort in knowing how deeply Peabo was loved and how many lives were touched by his voice and his generous spirit,” the family's statement said. “His legacy and music will live on for generations to come.”
Internationally celebrated for his Disney classics, Bryson also built a career over five decades as one of R&B’s premier balladeers, recording hits including “Feel the Fire,” “I’m So Into You" and “Can You Stop the Rain."
“For more than five decades, Peabo’s extraordinary voice served as the soundtrack to some of life’s most cherished moments,” the family's statement said. “His music carried generations through joyful celebrations, great love stories and enduring moments of comfort and inspiration.”
Born and raised in South Carolina, the singer, songwriter and balladeer launched his career with the group Moses Dillard and the Tex-Town Display in the 1970s. Shortly afterward, Atlanta label Bang Records signed him as a solo artist.
He recorded for Capitol, Elektra and Columbia Records and became one of music’s most sought-after duet partners. Aside from Belle and Dion, he also collaborated with artists including Roberta Flack and Natalie Cole.
His duet with Flack, “Tonight, I Celebrate My Love,” became one of the defining love songs of the 1980s, while “If Ever You’re in My Arms Again” helped expand his audience beyond R&B radio. He later scored No. 1 R&B hits with “Show & Tell” and “Can You Stop the Rain.”
Beyond music, Bryson appeared in stage productions including “Raisin,” “The Wiz” and “Porgy and Bess.” In 2018, he returned with “Stand for Love,” his 21st studio album, produced by hitmaking duo Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis.
Bryson had a stroke in late May and was placed under medical care.
“At this time, the family requests privacy as they navigate this deeply personal moment together,” a statement from his representative read at the time. "The thoughts, prayers and love of friends and fans are welcomed and deeply appreciated.”
In 2019, Bryson made a full recovery after having a heart attack.
Comedian and television host Loni Love said she worked with Bryson on a cruise ship last year and spoke with him for hours on the deck one night after she noticed him sitting alone.
“He shared incredible stories, spoke passionately about his music, and had such a deep love for his craft,” she wrote in a social media post Tuesday. “I am so grateful to have had that special moment with him.”
Bryson's family said memorial and celebration-of-life arrangements will be announced at a later date.
This story has been updated to correct that Bryson sang “Beauty and the Beast” with Dion and “A Whole New World” with Belle, not the other way around. It has also been updated to correct a misspelling of “Aladdin."
FILE - Celine Dion, left, and Peabo Bryson perform the song "Beauty and the Beast," that won them the Grammy for Best Pop Vocal Performance by a Group or Duo, at the 35th annual Grammy Awards in Los Angeles, Calif., Feb. 25, 1993. (AP Photo/Reed Saxon, File)
FILE - Peabo Bryson smiles at the European premiere of "Michael Jackson: The Life Of An Icon," in London, Nov. 2, 2011. (AP Photo/Joel Ryan, File)
RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — The Carolina Hurricanes got off to a fast start against the Vegas Golden Knights in their first Stanley Cup Final game in 20 years.
Nikolaj Ehlers got loose on a rush on the left side and blasted a puck past Carter Hart on the game's first shot, just 25 seconds in. That marked the fastest Game 1 goal in a Cup final since Philadelphia's Reggie Leach scored 21 seconds into the 1976 opener against Montreal.
Ehlers' goal was the third-fastest in any Game 1 of a Stanley Cup Final, while the Hurricanes nearly added a second with defenseman Jaccob Slavin banging the crossbar roughly a minute after Ehlers' score sent a charged home crowd into an eruption.
Tuesday's game brought together a Vegas team chasing a second championship in four seasons and a Carolina team playing for the Cup for the first time since coach Rod Brind’Amour captained the Hurricanes to the 2006 title.
The Hurricanes rolled through the Eastern Conference playoffs, while the Golden Knights picked up speed with each round before pulling off a shocking sweep of the Presidents' Trophy-winning Colorado Avalanche.
The Hurricanes went 12-1 through three rounds to get here, sweeping through Ottawa and Philadelphia before taking the last four games of a five-game win against Montreal in the Eastern Conference Final. That made the Hurricanes the first team since 1983 to reach the Stanley Cup Final with one loss, and the first since the NHL went to best-of-seven series in all four rounds in 1987.
The Golden Knights — who surged after a late-season coaching change by firing Bruce Cassidy to hire John Tortorella — pushed past Utah and Anaheim in a pair of six-game series, and have won six straight games entering Tuesday's Game 1 against Carolina after beating the Avs.
Defense has been the standout feature for both teams. Carolina has allowed two or fewer goals in 12 of 13 playoff games, including a shutout win in all three Eastern playoff rounds. Vegas allowed just seven goals in the sweep of the Avalanche, who led the league in regular-season scoring (3.63 goals per game) behind high-end skill like Nathan MacKinnon, Cale Makar and Martin Necas.
Vegas took both regular-season meetings with Carolina, first with a 4-1 home win on Oct. 20. Eight days later, Jack Eichel scored twice in the last 4:59 for a 6-3 win that included Carolina having multiple injuries that had them down to four defensemen for a significant stretch of the night.
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Vegas Golden Knights goaltender Carter Hart (79) watches a replay as the Carolina Hurricanes celebrate a goal by Nikolaj Ehlers during the first period in Game 1 of the NHL hockey Stanley Cup Final series in Raleigh, N.C., Tuesday, June 2, 2026. (AP Photo/Karl DeBlaker)
Carolina Hurricanes' Nikolaj Ehlers (27) celebrates his goal during the first period in Game 1 of the NHL hockey Stanley Cup Final series against the Vegas Golden Knights in Raleigh, N.C., Tuesday, June 2, 2026. (AP Photo/Karl DeBlaker)
This photo combination shows Vegas Golden Knights' Brayden McNabb, left, Dec. 11, 2025, in Philadelphia and Carolina Hurricanes' Sebastian Aho, April 11, 2026, in Salt Lake City. (AP Photo/Derik Hamilton, Tyler Tate)
FILE - This photo combination shows Vegas Golden Knights head coach John Tortorella, left, April 24, 2026, in Salt Lake City and Carolina Hurricanes head coach Rod Brind'Amour in Raleigh, N.C., May 21, 2026. (AP Photo/Melissa Majchrzak, Karl DeBlaker, file)
Vegas Golden Knights right wing Cole Smith (22) celebrates after scoring against the Colorado Avalanche during the third period in Game 4 of the Western Conference finals NHL hockey Stanley Cup playoff series Tuesday, May 26, 2026, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/John Locher)
Carolina Hurricanes' Eric Robinson celebrates following Game 5 of the Eastern Conference finals NHL hockey Stanley Cup playoff series against the Montreal Canadiens in Raleigh, N.C., Friday, May 29, 2026. (AP Photo/Karl DeBlaker)
