RIP MAMBA: Country Stars Mourn the Early Demise of NBA Legend, Kobe Bryant at 41

Kobe Bryant (1978- 2020), his 13-year-old daughter, Gianna, and seven others were sadly reported dead after the chopper they’re in crashed near Los Angeles just this Sunday afternoon.  The tragic news evoked much shock and grief beyond Kobe Bryant’s immediate and basketball family. Celebrities, politicians, and fans expressed their sentiments and condolences. Singers and artists from the Country music world also did not hold back in expressing their sympathies.

Bryant’s contemporaries, Chris Young, Scotty McCreery, and Mitchell Tenpenny, were among the first Country singers to verbalize their grief. Kobe Bryant was considered to be among the top five basketball players in our time.

Other country artists followed suit including Jason Aldean, Keith Urban, Darius Rucker, Jana Kramer, and LeAnn Rimes. Their reactions vary in degrees of their familiarity with the late NBA star. Some of the more personal reactions were the following:

I can’t even put to words the loss for the Bryant family. This is an American tragedy and hard pill to swallow. God has a plan even when it seems to make no sense. Prayers…

— Mitchell Tenpenny (@m10penny) January 26, 2020

https://twitter.com/MarenMorris/status/1221525987487141892

My heart is in pieces hearing the news of this unimaginable tragedy. I can’t fathom what the families are going through. Kobe meant so much to me and to us all. Sending my prayers, love, and endless condolences to Vanessa and the family and anyone who lost someone on that flight.

— Taylor Swift (@taylorswift13) January 26, 2020

https://twitter.com/aprilalberda/status/1221528007543685121

I don’t even know what to say…seeing news like this is so incredibly sad. RIP Kobe

— ChrisYoungMusic (@ChrisYoungMusic) January 26, 2020

My heart deeply goes out to every family member and friend who is intimately connected to this tragedy. RIP to all who were aboard. There are a lot of hearts broken tonight. https://t.co/5qboyOfb7h

— leann rimes cibrian (@leannrimes) January 27, 2020

The Black Mamba

Kobe Bryant particularly chose “The Black Mamba” as a nickname and the embodiment of himself overcoming the dark times he went through back in 2003 and 2004. Those were one of the most painful experiences he had in life. As his way of coping, he created an alter ego whom he called, “The Black Mamba.”

Bryant explained in his interview with “Muse” that “The Black Mamba” was in charge of the court games while his “Kobe” self dealt with personal issues.

Our Respect to A Transcendent Star

Over the course of his 20-year  career in sports, Kobe Bryant won 5 NBA championships, 16-time NBA All-Star and 2008 Olympic Gold Medalist.  But more than being a sports icon who inspired the next generation of athletes, it’s not an understatement to say that he was one of the most dedicated philanthropists and one who did everything he could to be his children’s best dad and a good husband to his wife. Hence, we offer our since grief and condolences to the bereaved family, Bryant’s wife, Vanessa, and their children, Natalia, Bianca, and Capri.