Brian McKnight’s Son Dies at 32
Niko McKnight, the 32-year-old son of R&B singer Brian McKnight, has died after a two-year battle with stage 4 colon cancer. His passing was confirmed by his mother Julie McKnight, who described him as a “beloved husband, son, and artist” in an emotional Instagram tribute.
Niko revealed his cancer diagnosis back in January 2024, but said that things were looking better than they had before and it’s been “one hell of a ride so far.” Then later in December of the same year, he shared on Instagram that he was “feeling the best I’ve felt since coming home from the hospital last year.”
The McKnight family has been publicly fractured for years. Brian has referred to his older children, including Niko, as a “product of sin” and has had a strained relationship with them for some time now. In October of 2024, he legally changed his name to become a senior to his newborn son from his current marriage, although he was already a senior to his eldest son from a previous marriage.
Niko had previously accused his father of abandonment, stating his dad was “the guy who used to make me clean his used condoms out his bathroom at 15 before Lisa got home is calling me evil.” He also claimed that he and his siblings had saved Brian from federal prison.
In a TikTok video, Brian’s brother, Claude McKnight, acknowledged the family’s complicated dynamics but refrained from delving into the details, emphasizing love and healing instead. He described Niko as a talented singer, guitarist, and photographer, but said there’s three sides to every story and many things were left unresolved with Niko’s passing.
