Christine Nickell, the mother of late singer Oliver Tree, shared that he was excited about the helicopter ride that led to his death. She spoke at a Celebration of Life event in Santa Cruz, California, held in his honour.
Tree died at age 32 in a helicopter crash in Brazil in June. He was best known for songs like Life Goes On, Miss You with Robin Schulz, and Voices, as well as a collaboration with KSI.
Mother’s Account of Final Conversation
Nickell said: “I texted Oliver the day before he passed and asked how quitting smoking was going for him, as he promised he would give it up once he was on tour. He FaceTimed me immediately and let out a huge puff of cigarette smoke in my face. But he was so happy and excited about life that day, he told us he was taking a helicopter ride to a house on a mountain top the next day to make TikToks and music with his friends, he loved having epic days, each one more memorable than the last.”
She added: “The overwhelming outpouring of love and support since Oliver’s passing has been a profound source of comfort. I have witnessed humanity at its very best.”
Logan Paul’s Tribute
Social media star Logan Paul gave a humorous monologue about their time together, ending on an emotional note. Paul, a WWE wrestler, said: “Oliver Tree never dies, jokes aside guys, Oliver was everyone’s best friend. He was an adventurer with an incomparable zest for life and the ultimate ability to make anyone feel seen and heard.”
He continued: “Oliver is a generational artist whose legacy and music will last forever, and he’d be proud of all of us for keeping our heads up high by celebrating the impact of his time here on Earth, because at the end of the day, life goes on.”
Event and Art Grant
The event featured screenings of unreleased videos by Tree and live music. Proceeds were donated to Dr Oliver Tree’s Extremely Epic Art Grant For Baby Geniuses. Tree’s father Jesse Nickell said: “From the start, our son was a true entertainer, even as a toddler he could make us laugh on the spot, he’d walk into a room and say to himself, ‘how can I make this interesting?’ And last of all, he was a great storyteller, and he did it through his music, his music videos, and his interviews. We’ll miss that goofball kid, peace be with Oliver, Oliver Tree.”
The grant provides funding for artists to buy equipment for art creation.
Career and Records
At his death, Tree was weeks into his World’s First World Tour, planning shows on all seven continents. He had more than 70 shows scheduled across 30 countries, including UK dates in Glasgow, Manchester, and London in September. His fourth studio album, Love You Madly, Hate You Badly, was released in April. He reached number three on the UK singles chart with Miss You, while Voices hit number 11 and Life Goes On also charted. His album Ugly Is Beautiful was a hit in 2020.
In 2020, Tree broke the Guinness World Record for the largest kick scooter, measuring 0.16m tall and 3.13m long, fulfilling a lifelong dream according to the world record adjudicator’s website.
