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Coverage dated September 16, 2026 to September 19, 2026

Cause of death revealed after rock singer Duncan Sheik dies at 56

Headline from The Oregonian, on the newest of 2 developments

The singer died on Friday.

The Oregonian's own description from its feed. We collect headlines and these descriptions, not full articles; read the original reporting below.

Developments in this update

2 dated developments, oldest first, newest marked. Each is named by one outlet's own headline; open its reports to see every outlet that covered it.

  1. Musician Duncan Sheik in critical, 'but stable' condition, family says

    Headline from FOX8 WGHP ·

  2. Newest

    Cause of death revealed after rock singer Duncan Sheik dies at 56

    Headline from The Oregonian ·

Read the reports

Reports & sources

102 articles, oldest first.

  1. Rolling Stone

    ‘Barely Breathing’ Singer Duncan Sheik in Critical Condition (opens Rolling Stone)

    Published

    Rolling Stone's feed description

    A statement shared to the artist's social media said that he was "receiving medical care"

  2. Variety

    Singer Duncan Sheik Hospitalized, in ‘Critical But Stable Condition’ (opens Variety)

    Published

    Variety's feed description

    Duncan Sheik, the singer behind hits like the Grammy-nominated “Barely Breathing,” has been hospitalized and is currently receiving medical treatment, per a statement shared on his Instagram page on Wednesday. “We would like to share an update with Duncan’s fans and the public,” the statement read.

  3. NBC News

    Singer Duncan Sheik in ‘critical but stable’ condition and receiving care (opens NBC News)

    Published

    NBC News's feed description

    Tony Award-winning singer and songwriter Duncan Sheik is in “critical but stable” condition and receiving medical care, according to a statement posted to his Instagram account Wednesday evening.

  4. Just the News

    Duncan Shiek, who sang the hit 'Barely Breathing,' dies at 56 (opens Just the News)

    Published

    Just the News's feed description

    Sheik's single, "Barely Breathing," earned a Grammy nomination and rose to No. 16 on the Billboard Hot 100, remaining on the chart for 55 weeks. It was, at the time, the fourth-longest run ever.

  5. Phl17

    Musician Duncan Sheik in critical, 'but stable' condition, family says (opens Phl17)

    Published

    Phl17's feed description

    Sheik is best known for his 1996 hit "Barely Breathing," in addition to his music written for the Broadway musical "Spring Awakening."

  6. Triblive

    ‘Barely Breathing’ singer Duncan Sheik, 56, hospitalized in critical condition (opens Triblive)

    Published

    Triblive's feed description

    NEW YORK — Duncan Sheik, the voice behind the 1996 single “Barely Breathing” and Tony Award-winning composer of “Spring Awakening,” is currently hospitalized.

  7. NBC Los Angeles

    Duncan Sheik, ‘Barely Breathing' singer and Broadway composer, dead at 56 (opens NBC Los Angeles)

    Published

    NBC Los Angeles's feed description

    Musical guest Duncan Sheik performs on “The Tonight Show With Jay Leno” on April 17, 1997.

  8. Rolling Stone

    Duncan Sheik, ‘Spring Awakening’ Composer and ‘Barely Breathing’ Singer, Dead at 56 (opens Rolling Stone)

    Published

    Rolling Stone's feed description

    Singer-composer won Tonys and a Grammy for his 2006 rock musical with longtime collaborator Steven Sater

  9. Variety

    Duncan Sheik, ‘Barely Breathing’ Hitmaker and ‘Spring Awakening’ Stage Composer, Dies at 56 (opens Variety)

    Published

    Variety's feed description

    Duncan Sheik, who had a pop smash with “Barely Breathing” in the mid-1990s but then found his biggest success — and multiple Tony wins — with the long-running stage musical “Spring Awakening,” has died at 56.

  10. Philadelphia Inquirer

    Duncan Sheik, the Tony- and Grammy-winning singer-songwriter who crafted the music for ‘Spring Awakening,’ dies at 56 (opens Philadelphia Inquirer)

    Published

    Philadelphia Inquirer's feed description

    Duncan Sheik, the Tony- and Grammy-winning singer-songwriter who crafted the music for ‘Spring Awakening,’ dies at 56

  11. FOX 21 Colorado Springs

    Duncan Sheik, Tony- and Grammy-winning 'Spring Awakening' composer and pop star, dies at 56 (opens FOX 21 Colorado Springs)

    Published

    FOX 21 Colorado Springs's feed description

    NEW YORK (AP) — Duncan Sheik, the Tony- and Grammy-winning singer-songwriter who crafted the music for “Spring Awakening,” has died. He was 56. Sheik died Thursday from organ failure, his mother Suzanne Sheik told The New York Times. The Associated Press emailed his representatives for comment.

  12. New York Post

    ‘Barely Breathing’ singer Duncan Sheik dead at 56 (opens New York Post)

    Published

    New York Post's feed description

    The Tony winner's family revealed on Wednesday that Sheik was "receiving medical care" and in "critical but stable condition."

  13. NBC News

    Singer-songwriter and Broadway composer Duncan Sheik dies at 56 (opens NBC News)

    Published

    NBC News's feed description

    Singer-songwriter and Broadway composer Duncan Sheik has died, according to a post on his Instagram account.

  14. Deadline

    Duncan Sheik Dies: ‘Barely Breathing’ Singer-Songwriter, ‘Spring Awakening’ Composer Was 56 (opens Deadline)

    Published

    Deadline's feed description

    Duncan Sheik, the singer-songwriter whose song “Barely Breathing” was a era-defining hit in the 1990s and who composed the Tony-winning Broadway hit Spring Awakening, died Thursday, September 17, of cardiac arrest. He was 56.

  15. The Hollywood Reporter

    ‘Spring Awakening’ Composer Duncan Sheik Dies at 56 (opens The Hollywood Reporter)

    Published

    The Hollywood Reporter's feed description

    The Grammy-nominated singer was hospitalized earlier this week and died Thursday due to organ failure.

  16. FOX 8 Cleveland

    Duncan Sheik, known for pop hit 'Barely Breathing' and composing 'Spring Awakening,' dies at 56 (opens FOX 8 Cleveland)

    Published

    FOX 8 Cleveland's feed description

    Duncan Sheik, the Tony- and Grammy-winning singer-songwriter who crafted the music for “Spring Awakening,” has died. He was 56.

  17. The Boston Globe

    Duncan Sheik, Tony-and Grammy-winning ‘Spring Awakening’ composer and pop star, dies at 56 (opens The Boston Globe)

    Published

    The Boston Globe's feed description

    Sheik had been best known for his lasting radio hit “Barely Breathing” when he turned his sights on Broadway with “Spring Awakening.”

  18. Phl17

    Duncan Sheik, 'Barely Breathing’ singer and Broadway composer, dies at 56 (opens Phl17)

    Published

    Phl17's feed description

    Sheik, a Grammy- and Tony-winning artist, had been hospitalized in critical condition earlier this week

  19. Foxla

    Duncan Sheik, singer-songwriter behind ‘Barely Breathing,’ dies (opens Foxla)

    Published

    Foxla's feed description

    Duncan Sheik, the singer-songwriter whose 1996 hit "Barely Breathing" propelled him to fame, has died, according to a post on his Instagram account. He died Thursday night surrounded by loved ones, the post said. The announcement featured a photo of Sheik smiling while holding his guitar.

  20. ABC 7 Los Angeles

    Duncan Sheik, Tony Award-winning composer, dies at 56 (opens ABC 7 Los Angeles)

    Published

    ABC 7 Los Angeles's feed description

    Duncan Sheik, the Tony Award-winning composer behind "Spring Awakening" and more, has died, according to his Instagram. He was 56.

  21. Spin

    ‘Barely Breathing’ Singer, ‘Spring Awakening’ Composer Duncan Sheik Dies (opens Spin)

    Published

    Spin's feed description

    Sheik’s career was marked by a persistent tension between mainstream recognition and his own resistance to the machinery of pop stardom.

  22. Fox News

    Duncan Sheik, ‘Barely Breathing’ singer, dead at 56 (opens Fox News)

    Published

    Fox News's feed description

    Duncan Sheik, the voice behind "Barely Breathing" and Tony-winning "Spring Awakening," died from organ failure at 56, his mother confirmed.

  23. UPI

    Duncan Sheik, composer and 'Barely Breathing' singer, dies at 56 (opens UPI)

    Published

    UPI's feed description

    Duncan Sheik, a Grammy-nominated singer and the Tony-winning composer behind the Broadway musical "Spring Awakening," died Thursday at age 56.

  24. The Guardian

    Duncan Sheik, singer and composer of Spring Awakening, dies at 56 (opens The Guardian)

    Published

    The Guardian's feed description

    The musician, who went from 90s altpop hits to Tony-winning Broadway success, died of organ failure Duncan Sheik, the singer-songwriter behind the 90s alt-pop touchstone Barely Breathing and the composer of the Tony -winning musical Spring Awakening, died on Thursday at a Manhattan hospital.

  25. CBS News

    Duncan Sheik, singer-songwriter of "Barely Breathing," dies at 56 (opens CBS News)

    Published

    CBS News's feed description

    Duncan Sheik died on Thursday night, his family said.

Showing the first 25 of 31 headlines. ·

Identical headlines usually mean shared wire copy. They are counted as separate articles but are not independent confirmation.

Cause of death revealed after rock singer Duncan Sheik dies at 56 | Since Then