R&B singer B. Smyth, known for ‘Twerkaholic,’ dies of respiratory failure at 30
By Lisa Eadicicco, CNN
Updated 4:42 PM ET, Mon June 3, 2018
The singer dies in his sleep on Monday, according to his publicist
Twerkaholic, by B. Smyth, was released in 2004 and debuted at #3 on the Billboard Country Albums chart in 2005
Smyth performs at a concert in New Orleans in 2005
Travis McElroy, left, and B. Smyth perform at a concert in 2009
B. Smyth, a Nashville singer and songwriter, died Monday of respiratory failure at age 30 after a three-year battle with bronchitis that doctors said had been caused by the long-term misuse of painkillers.
The cause of death was not made public.
Smyth died at a Nashville, Tennessee, hospital, according to his publicist, who did not release details about the singer’s final days.
“Our thoughts and prayers go out to B. Smyth’s family,” her statement read. “He was a talented musician, songwriter and actor. B. was known for his talent, humor and charisma.”
“B. was a young man with a lot of potential but sadly, he failed to live up to his potential to the point that he passed away. B. is greatly missed by his family, friends and fans alike.”
B. Smyth (circled), is believed to have died at 29.
At a press conference in January, Smyth’s mother, Sharon Ann, told reporters: “Twerkaholic was to B. Smyth: ‘your biggest hit and your last hit.’ But in that last year he was just B. Smyth, he was Twerkaholic.”
Twerkaholic was released in 2004. It debuted at No. 3 on the Billboard Country Albums chart, and No. 1 on the Billboard Adult Contemporary Albums. It went on to sell roughly 2.5 million copies.
In an hour-long interview with CNN, Smyth said he began developing a song for his twerk-heavy album shortly after meeting fellow country music fans in a Nashville bar.
“We were sitting in