Hard to believe it's been 8 years since we lost Glenn Frey. Though the passing of the legendary singer, guitarist, and co-founder of the Eagles came as a shock, he did have a long history of illness. Since approximately 2000, Frey suffered from rheumatoid arthritis, which affected various joints of his body. The medication that he was prescribed to control the disease eventually led to colitis and pneumonia, and in November 2015, the Eagles announced that they were postponing their appearance at the Kennedy Center Honors as Frey required surgery for intestinal problems and a lengthy recovery period. Following surgery, Glenn was placed in a medically-induced coma at Columbia University Medical Center. Frey died there on January 18, 2016, at the age of 67 from complications of rheumatoid arthritis, acute ulcerative colitis, and pneumonia, while recovering from gastrointestinal tract surgery. Medications for rheumatoid arthritis or ulcerative colitis can compromise the immune system’s ability to fight off pneumonia.
In Glenn's memory, see how CNN's Anderson Cooper honored Glenn Frey on the night of his passing.