Kyle Jacobs, country music songwriter from Bloomington, dies at 49

A Minnesota music producer and songwriter is being remembered after he died last week in Nashville.

Authorities say Kyle Jacobs, 49, died by apparent suicide last Friday.

Jacobs, who was married to singer and former “American Idol” contestant Kellie Pickler, is known for his music and songwriting. He was a co-writer on Garth Brooks’ song “More Than a Memory,” and he was also a co-songwriter on Kimberley Locke’s single “8th World Wonder.”

He also worked on songs that were recorded by Tim McGraw, Kelly Clarkson and Scotty McCreery.

Jacobs was raised in Bloomington and graduated from Kennedy High School in 1991. He was inducted into the school’s Fine Arts Hall of Fame.

Neighbor Patty Jones knew the Jacobs family well, even moving out to Nashville about a decade ago to be closer to the family. Jones says she watched Jacobs become a top country music songwriter, get married and star in the reality series “I Love Kellie Pickler.”

“It’s really sad,” Jones said. “It’s really hard to process. We don’t know what demons people are carrying around with them. He was a good guy.”

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Here is a list of suicide prevention and mental health resources:

• U.S. National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 988 or 1-800-273-TALK (8255)
• Minnesota Department of Health’s Suicide Prevention Program
• Minnesota Department of Human Service’s adult mental health resources
  • DHS map and list of statewide adult mental health crisis response phone numbers
  • DHS map and list of statewide children’s mental health crisis response phone numbers
• The National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) – Minnesota
• Veterans Crisis Line at 1-800-273-8255, Press 1
• Minnesota Farm and Rural Mental Health Helpline at 833-600-2670, ext. 1
• Crisis Phone Line – In the Twin Cities metro area, call **CRISIS (**274747) from a cellphone to talk to a team of professionals who can help.
• Crisis Text Line – Text MN to 741741 to connect with a trained crisis counselor to receive free, 24/7 crisis support via text message.

If you believe someone is at risk of suicide, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services suggests you:

• Ask questions about whether the individual is having suicidal thoughts.
• Call the U.S. National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 988 or 1-800-273-TALK (8255).
• Seek help from a medical or mental health professional. If it is an emergency situation, take the person to a hospital.
• Remove any objects from a person’s home that could be potentially used in a suicide.
• Do not leave the person alone, if possible, until help is available.

The U.S. National Suicide Prevention organization has also compiled a list of resources to help with coping during the COVID-19 pandemic.