R&B singer Peabo Bryson died on Tuesday, June 2, after he suffered a stroke at his Cobb County, Georgia home. He was 75.

R&B singer Regina Belle, who performed “A Whole New World” with Bryson on the “Aladdin” soundtrack, remembered her friend in a statement on Wednesday.

“It is with profound grief and sadness that I share the loss of one of my dearest and closest friends yesterday, Tuesday, June 2, 2026,” she said. “Peabo Bryson was like a brother to me. We shared a special musical and spiritual bond developed through our love of music, family and community.”

Belle and Bryson recorded 4 songs together, including their No. 1 hit “A Whole New World.” The song won an Academy Award, a Golden Globe Award and a Grammy Award for Record of the Year in 1994.

Belle said she first heard Bryson’s music as a young girl and “was captivated by the beauty, warmth, and power of his voice.” She met Bryson during her college days at Rutgers University in New Jersey, before she signed a recording contract with Columbia Records.

“Years later, I had the extraordinary privilege of not only sharing the stage and recording studio with him, but also sharing a friendship built on mutual respect, trust, and genuine affection,” Belle said. “Peabo had a remarkable gift for making everyone around him feel comfortable. Whether we were performing before thousands or creating music together in the studio, he always made the experience special. He welcomed me into his world, shared his wisdom, and trusted me with pieces of himself beyond the spotlight. Those moments are gifts I will cherish for the rest of my life.”

The singer said she spent time with Bryson during his final moments at an Atlanta hospital.

“A few days after his stroke on Sunday, May 31, I went to the hospital to spend some time with him and his family,” she said. “During my quiet time with Peabo, I held his hand and sang in a whisper, ‘A Whole New World’ and ‘Total Praise,’ our version of the song that Peabo and I recorded. The hardest part of this moment is knowing that I will never be able to sing again with the person who helped me create such magic.”

She continued: “Peabo was far more than a legendary artist; he was my friend, my trusted collaborator, and someone whose talent, kindness, and generosity left an indelible mark on my life and career.”

Belle said she considered Bryson to be her “official duet partner.”

“Winning Grammy Awards and an Academy Award together remains one of the greatest honors of my career, which also cemented our musical partnership. But the awards are only part of the story. What I treasure most are the memories, the laughter, the conversations, and the privilege of creating timeless music alongside one of the greatest vocalists of all time.

“While my heart is broken by this loss, I find comfort in knowing that the music we created together will live on. Those songs, those performances, and those memories can never be taken away. They are forever woven into both of our legacies.”