His family announced his death via a statement on his social media platforms.
"After a prolonged battle with COPD and other underlying health issues," the statement reads. "Sly passed away peacefully, surrounded by his three children, his closest friend, and his extended family. While we mourn his absence, we take solace in knowing that his extraordinary musical legacy will continue to resonate and inspire for generations to come."
Stone had been notoriously reclusive since the early '80s, when he retreated from the public eye after the unexpected success of the Family Stone and ongoing drug problems.
Earlier this year, Ahmir "Questlove" Thompson of The Roots directed Sly Lives! (AKA The Burden of Black Genius), a feature-length documentary on Stone's life and legacy that streams exclusively on Hulu. Questlove also wrote the foreword for Thank You, Stone's memoir, which was published in October 2023. According to his family, Stone had recently finished a screenplay about his life.
Stone is survived by his three children, Novena Carmel, Sylvette Robinson and Sylvester Stewart Jr.
At the BET Awards 2025, Stone was honored during the show's in memoriam.
Sly Stone honored at #BETAwards2025 in memoriam pic.twitter.com/8EdIPj6bTu
— Eric Diep (@E_Diep) June 10, 2025
