Nicole Taylor, a member of the country music trio Taylor Red, died on Sept. 28 following a battle with breast cancer, her sisters Nika Taylor and Natalie Taylor confirmed. She was 35, as reported [1] by E! News.
Nicole performed alongside Nika and Natalie, her identical triplet sisters, in the group they formed in 2011. The act was formerly known as Red Roots before becoming Taylor Red.
Appearing beside Nika in a video shared to YouTube on Nov. 2, Natalie delivered the devastating announcement: “We are shocked and heartbroken to announce the passing of our sister Nicole Taylor.”
The sisters acknowledged how difficult it was to discuss the loss publicly. “We’re still processing everything. This honestly feels really hard to talk about, but we’re going to do our best in sharing some of her story.”
Taylor Red gained popularity in 2021 after its song “Country Money” went viral on social media. That breakthrough arrived a decade after the three sisters first formed their country music group.
One year after the song gained attention, Nicole was diagnosed with what her sisters described as very aggressive stage three breast cancer. Nika and Natalie said they had hoped for a positive outcome following the 2022 diagnosis.
Both sisters remembered being with Nicole, the oldest of the three, when she received the diagnosis. The news came as a profound surprise to a family that Natalie said had been blessed with good health throughout their lives.
“I just remember breaking down in absolute shock,” Natalie said while recalling the moment she learned about her sister’s illness.
“I was just so surprised. We’ve been blessed with good health our whole life so this was a big shock and it wasn’t what we were expecting.”
Natalie also remembered rushing into a hallway to tell Nika about the diagnosis. Nicole, meanwhile, responded with a statement of faith that stayed with her sisters throughout the difficult years that followed.
“I was crying and ran out to the hallway to tell Nika and I just remember Nicole said, ‘God’s going to use this for his glory.’”
Nicole initially responded well to treatment and was told at one point that there was no evidence of the disease. Her breast cancer later returned, however, and had progressed to stage four.
After the cancer’s return, Nicole was given just three months to live. She surpassed that timeline and lived for another year before her death, facing the diagnosis with what her sisters described as fearlessness.
Nika said the family had once expected Nicole to survive and personally tell the story of her recovery. Instead, the sisters found themselves sharing a different account of her life, illness, and faith after her death.
“We thought she would be here sharing her story of earthly healing,” Nika explained, “but instead we’re here sharing her story of heavenly healing.”
Nika also said the family had found peace in the knowledge that Nicole was no longer suffering. That belief shaped the sisters’ emotional message as they reflected on both their grief and their Christian faith.
Natalie said the ordeal and Nicole’s death had strengthened her faith rather than diminished it. She described the experience as a trial that could draw a person closer to God or create distance.
“I’ve been a Christian a long time and something like this, you know, can make you either grow closer to God or distance yourself,” Natalie said. “This trial I would say grows that.”
Natalie added, “I don’t know how someone could get through this kind of thing without God.” Her comments reflected the faith that both sisters emphasized while remembering Nicole and discussing the family’s loss.
The sisters confirmed through the Taylor Red website that their family held a private funeral service. Their statement said Nicole, the oldest of the three sisters, would be greatly missed by those closest to her.
“She was our leader and our best friend,” the sisters added. “We are heartbroken, but we know she is in Heaven and will see her again.”