WEST HOLLYWOOD, CALIFORNIA — Neil Sedaka died on February 27, 2026, at the age of 86. The cause of death was atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease, with kidney failure listed as a contributing factor.

Sedaka was rushed to the hospital on the morning of February 27, 2026. Deputies from the West Hollywood Sheriff's Station responded around 8 a.m. on February 27, 2026, to a medical request and transported a male adult patient to a hospital.

Atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease-related conditions are the leading cause of death worldwide and are caused by plaque buildup in arterial walls. Atherosclerosis is the buildup of fat and cholesterol inside arteries, forming plaque that can narrow the arteries and restrict blood flow, and plaque can sometimes rupture, causing a blood clot.

Sedaka first rose to fame in the 1950s and 1960s with hit songs including "Oh! Carol", "Breaking Up Is Hard to Do" and "Next Door to an Angel". He is known as one of the original creators of the Brill Building sound, a sub-genre of pop music. Sedaka and his partner Howard Greenfield wrote the songs "Stupid Cupid" and "Where the Boys Are" for Connie Francis and "Love Will Keep Us Together" for Captain & Tennille.

Sedaka's popularity began to fade in the mid-1960s as The Beatles changed the direction of American music. He mounted a comeback in the early 1970s as an adult-contemporary artist with songs such as "Laughter in the Rain" and "Bad Blood". Sedaka released three albums in the early 1970s that caught Elton John's attention. Elton John signed Sedaka to his record label, Rocket Records.

Sedaka recorded five albums between 1972 and 1976. Those albums included the songs "Standing on the Inside", "That's Where the Music Takes Me" and "Our Last Song Together", the last of which was about his breakup with Howard Greenfield.

Sedaka received six Grammy Award nominations during his career and was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame. Despite a fan petition drive, Sedaka has not been inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame.

Sedaka released the studio album "I Do It for Applause" in 2016. After releasing his 2016 album, Sedaka decided to stop songwriting altogether. In a statement on his website, Sedaka said, "This is a gift I was born with." On his website, Sedaka said, "My main objective is to always top the last collection, raise the bar and reinvent Neil Sedaka."

Sedaka is survived by his wife Leba and their two children, Dara and Marc.