The mother of the late US singer-songwriter Oliver Tree has spoken out about her last conversation with her son, revealing he was “so happy and excited about life” on the day before his tragic death. Oliver Tree, whose real name was Oliver Tree Nickell, was killed in a helicopter crash in Brazil on 14 June 2026, at the age of 32. The incident also claimed the lives of five other individuals.
Christine Nickell shared details of their final exchange during a celebration of Tree’s life and career held over the weekend in his native Santa Cruz, California. She recounted texting her son to ask about his promise to quit smoking, to which he responded with a FaceTime call, deliberately exhaling cigarette smoke. However, she emphasised his buoyant mood: “He was so happy and excited about life that day, he told us he was taking a helicopter ride to a house on a mountain top the next day to make TikToks and music with his friends.” She added that her son “loved having epic days, each one more memorable than the last.”
The memorial event drew numerous figures from the entertainment world, including DJ Diplo and internet personality Logan Paul, both of whom paid tribute to Tree. Diplo described Tree as the “coolest person” he had ever encountered. Logan Paul, a close friend of the musician, delivered a eulogy that aimed to capture Tree’s distinctive comedic style, making light-hearted remarks about his hair and suggesting Tree was observing from the heavens, likely “super disappointed in this production.” Paul praised Tree as “everyone’s best friend” and an “adventurer with an incomparable zest for life.”
Prior to the event, Ms Nickell had expressed immense pride in her son and gratitude for the outpouring of fan support. In a move consistent with plans Tree had made during his lifetime, his family recently established the Dr. Oliver Tree’s Extremely Epic Art Grant for Baby Geniuses. This initiative serves as a lasting tribute to the artist's creative spirit and desire to support emerging talent.
Oliver Tree was widely recognised for his unique musical style and eccentric persona, with popular tracks including ‘Life Goes On’, ‘Miss You’, ‘Alien Boy’, and ‘Hurt’. His most recent album, ‘Love You Madly Hate You Badly’, was released earlier this year. Following the news of his passing, fellow artist Post Malone dedicated a concert in Toronto to Tree, describing him as a “beautiful man.” Other notable figures who paid their respects online included Kid Cudi, KSI, Bebe Rexha, and his former girlfriend Melanie Martinez.