Taylor Red Singer Nicole Taylor Dies at 35 After Breast Cancer Battle
Nicole Taylor, one of the red-haired identical triplet sisters behind the country trio Taylor Red, has died at 35 after a years-long battle with breast cancer.
Taylor died Sept. 28 at her home in Nashville, Tennessee. Her sisters, Natalie and Nika Taylor, shared the news on Monday in an emotional video posted on TikTok.
Her Sisters Share the Heartbreaking News
"We're shocked and heartbroken to announce the passing of our sister Nicole Taylor," the sisters said in the video, according to Parade. "We thought she'd be here sharing her story of earthly healing."
In a statement on the group's website, Natalie and Nika wrote, "Nicole, the oldest of us three sisters, will be greatly missed. She was our leader and our best friend." They added, "We are heartbroken, but we know she is in Heaven and will see her again."
Nicole was born one minute before Natalie and two minutes before Nika. Her sisters remembered her as the group's fearless leader. "She was always the one who would speak on behalf of us," they said. "She would always speak up for what's right."
A Battle Fought With Faith
Nicole was diagnosed with aggressive stage 3 breast cancer in 2022. According to her sisters, her first response was, "God is going to use this for his glory."
After chemotherapy, she was told there was no evidence of disease, and her sisters recalled her ringing the bell that marks the end of treatment. But the cancer later returned and progressed to stage 4. She underwent surgery and went back into treatment.
Even then, Nicole kept working, traveling and enjoying life. She even kept up CrossFit workouts during chemotherapy. "She tried not to live in fear," Natalie said.
At one point, Nicole was given a prognosis of about three months to live, but she lived for roughly another year, according to IBTimes UK. Friends and family prayed for her every day at 3:18 p.m., a nod to the triplets' March 18 birthday.
"Our sister is healed and no longer suffering," her sisters said.
From Fish Fries to Viral Fame
The Mississippi-born sisters began playing music as children. "By 10 years old, we had formed a band and were playing at every little fish fry in town," Nicole told People in 2021.
The trio, originally known as Red Roots, played guitar, banjo, fiddle and mandolin and blended country, bluegrass and Southern gospel. Nicole, whom her sisters called the group's "rocker," often played banjo. They released the albums "Red Roots," "The Middle of Nowhere" and "Triplicity" before signing with Inpop Records and rebranding as Taylor Red in 2018.
Their 2021 single "Country Money" took off on TikTok and landed on Spotify editorial playlists, helping the trio build a massive online following. They also appeared in Sonic Drive-In commercials and performed more than 1,000 shows, sharing stages with stars like Charlie Daniels, Amy Grant, Diamond Rio and Josh Turner, according to That Eric Alper.
In March 2025, the sisters attended the Grand Ole Opry's 100th anniversary celebration, a milestone moment for the Mississippi trio.
Honoring Her Memory
The family held a private funeral service. Fans who wish to honor Nicole can donate to Samaritan's Purse, one of her favorite charities.
Her sisters also shared a recording of Nicole giving her Christian testimony so fans could hear her story in her own words, and chose a verse from Acts 20:24 that they said captured her spirit.
Nicole's story is also a reminder that breast cancer can strike at any age and can return after treatment. For survivors, doctors point to habits that may help reduce the risk of recurrence.
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