Although reports have gone back and forth overnight it seems that several sources has confirmed that Singer/ songwriter Vic Chesnutt has been pronounced dead following a short time in a coma following a suicide attempt Christmas Eve.  According to twitter posts from his close friend and former Throwing Muses singer Kristen Hersh, “this time, it’s real scary: *this* time, he left a note, *this* time, he asked them to call me.”

Several sources have reported that most recently Chesnutt has battled depression, and financial issues including a large unpaid hospital bill.

Anyone who witnessed one of his live performances will be sure to tell you that you are left with the chills of a pained yet brilliant songwriter that pours every ounce of his energy into every word he sang. We saw him on his tour with Elf Power earlier this year and it was a awe inspiring evening.

Chesnutt has been in a wheelchair and partially paralyzed since he was 18. He was 45.

****Update: While many news reports announced that he was pronounced dead, according to a twitter post  at 1pm today from Hersh”you people are so full of love-thank you for sending it vic and tina’s way-the situation is complex and sad, but there’s still a little hope” followed up by “the biggest mistake anybody could make about Vic is to assume he’s weak…he’s the strongest person i know.”  While the news was grim with talk of brain damage even if he survived, there seems to be a glimmer of hope.

His record company co-owner Don Wilkie said in the statement that “Vic is in the middle of a serious medical situation, he is in a coma, and his family and friends are with him.”

*****Update Dec 25th 6:30 EST

Sadly what was erroneously reported has come to be at Athens at 2:59pm.  The official announcement came from a family spokesman and his record label Constellation Records:

Surrounded by family and friends, Vic Chesnutt died in Athens Georgia this afternoon, Friday 25 December at 14:59.

In the few short years that we knew him personally, Vic transformed our sense of what true character, grace and determination are all about. Our grief is inexpressible and Vic’s absence unfathomable.

We will make more information available according to the wishes of Vic’s family and friends.

Don and Ian

VIC CHESNUTT 1964 – 2009