Justin Cary, the longtime bassist for Sixpence None the Richer, has died at the age of 50 after suffering a serious stroke. The musician passed away on Thursday, June 18, 2026, with his wife, Linda, by his side at Albany Medical Center in New York.
According to updates shared through a GoFundMe campaign created to support Cary and Linda, he had been rushed to the hospital on June 11 after the stroke. He underwent two surgeries and remained in the Intensive Care Unit, where later updates said he was on a respirator. Supporters were asked to keep sending prayers, love, and strength as Linda stayed beside him through each step of the medical crisis.
The fundraiser was launched to help cover medical expenses and to give Linda space to remain at the hospital with her husband. By the time the news was reported, more than 360 donors had contributed tens of thousands of dollars, bringing the campaign close to its goal.
Cary joined Sixpence None the Richer in 1997, five years after the band formed. He became part of the lineup alongside vocalist Leigh Nash, guitarist and songwriter Matt Slocum, drummer Dale Baker, and guitarist Tess Wiley. Other musicians connected to the band over the years included keyboardist Jason Lehningand Steve Hindalong, who later joined as a touring percussionist.
The group became widely known for its enduring late-1990s hit “Kiss Me,”released from the band’s self-titled album. The song reached No. 2 on the Billboard Hot 100 and earned Sixpence None the Richer a 2000 Grammy nomination for Best Pop Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals.
Outside the United States, “Kiss Me” was also a major success. In Australia, the song spent three weeks at No. 1 on the ARIA Singles Chart in 1999, helping cement its place as one of the most recognizable pop-rock singles of its era.
The band’s catalog also includes songs such as “Breathe Your Name” and its well-known cover of “There She Goes.”Beyond Sixpence None the Richer, Cary also played bass with artists including Counting Crows, Jennifer Knapp, and Lee Brice, reflecting a career that stretched across multiple corners of the music industry.
