Brian McKnight's prolonged family is mourning a tragic loss.

The R&B singer's estranged son Cole Nikolas “Niko” McKnight has died. He became once 32. He handed away extra than a Twelve months after revealing he became once battling cancer.

Niko's mom—Brian's ex—and other kinfolk shared the news of his death Might perhaps well well 30.

“It’s miles with profound disappointment that Julie McKnight and family jabber the passing of her preferred son Cole Nikolas McKnight, affectionately identified as 'Niko' on Thursday, Might perhaps well well 29, 2025,” read a put up on his mom's Instagram. “Nikolas became once a cherished husband, son, brother, grandson, uncle, and nephew whose heat, laughter, and esteem touched the lives of all who knew him.”

“Nikolas became once a self taught artist of song and photography,” the message persevered. “His passing is an immeasurable loss to his family and all those who held him dear. Julie McKnight has asked for privacy and persevered prayers because the family navigates this incredibly advanced time. Mama Like and the total family address the outpouring of esteem and toughen from guests, fans, and the final public.”

As successfully as to his kinfolk, Niko is furthermore survived by his companion, Carla, who had supported him amid his cancer toddle.

“Your boy obtained the mountainous C,” he had shared on Instagram January 2024, alongside a photo of himself within the clinic. “It’s beeen one hell of a shuffle up to now nevertheless things are having a uncover better now than they were earlier than so cheers to that. say out to everybody in my nook and a stout shoutout to my companion @phoenixelbow for saving my life (that’s a fable for yet any other day).”

His uncle Claude McKnight—one among Brian's two brothers—popular in his dangle tribute to Niko that his nephew had “been bravely battling cancer for the final two years or so.”

“Niko became once one among those amazing younger those who became once quirky and peculiar and ridiculously proficient,” he acknowledged in a Might perhaps well well 30 TikTok video. “Amazing singer and amazing guitar player. Had a immense plan as a photographer. And appropriate one among those younger individuals that, as a minimal in my estimation, became once somebody you continuously wished to be round. So it really sucks that he's no longer with us.”

Brian has now not commented publicly relating to the death of Niko. “The One Final Bawl” singer has been estranged for years from him, his and Julia's son Brian McKnight Jr., and younger individuals Briana McKnight and Clyde McKnight.

In 2019, he responded to rumors about his relationship with his eldest younger individuals.

“I'm now not forsaking them,” he acknowledged in a YouTube video. “We’re estranged.”

Then in April 2024, Brian drew extra controversy by calling his eldest younger individuals a “produced from sin” in an Instagram comment. Following the backlash, he acknowledged in an Instagram video, “In issue to reside a life that you just esteem, you should set up away with the injurious and the negativity, although that injurious and negativity is associated.” Niko then responded, “I'm injurious??? That's wild.”

Brian has now not responded to Niko's online remarks.

The singer has suffered the lack of a baby earlier than. His and companion Leilani's son Kekoa Matteo died in infancy in 2022. The 2 are furthermore oldsters to son Brian Kainoa Makoa Jr, 2, and grownup younger individuals, Jack and Julia, from her prior relationship.