Kellie Pickler’s husband died of what authorities believe is a possible suicide. He was 49.
The Nashville Police Department, in a statement shared with PEOPLE, confirms that a home was alerted to the Emergency Communications Department at 1:21 p.m. local time on Friday.
Nashville police and firefighters arrived at the scene to find the songwriter “deceased from an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound,” the Nashville Police Department adds.
“His death is being investigated as an apparent suicide.”
The 36-year-old Dancing with the Stars graduate told authorities she woke up shortly before but couldn’t find Jacobs. She and her personal assistant called the police after being unable to open the door to a room in the house, according to the statement.
In his final Instagram post the day before his death, Jacobs celebrated a career win and shared a photo announcing that Lee Brice’s Hey World had gone platinum.
“Platinum?! SWEEEET!!! An amazing crew of incredibly talented people put this together… I am deeply honored to be a creative part of this… Thank you Jesus!!!” He captioned the special moment.
According to Music City Hitmakers, Jacobs moved to Nashville from Minneapolis, Minnesota in 2000.
He notably wrote Garth Brooks’ 2007 hit “More Than A Memory” and Tim McGraw’s “Still.”
He has also collaborated with well-known artists such as Kelly Clarkson, Randy Travis, Scott McCreery, Josh Kelley and Clay Walker.
Throughout his career, Jacobs has won a CMA Award, an ACM Award and has been nominated for a Grammy Award.
Pickler and Jacobs married in a surprise ceremony on January 1, 2011. They have no children together.
The couple, who had been together since 2008, got engaged on June 15, 2010, when Jacobs popped the question on a Florida beach.
“It was the most spiritual moment.” Pickler, who got her start on American Idol, said of the proposal. “We would have gotten married that night if a preacher had walked by!”
Days after the wedding, Pickler tweeted, “Private Island. Caribbean. Cigar in one hand, rum in the other. Someone just called me “Mrs. Jacobs.”…sounds nice :)”
story develops.
If you or someone you know is contemplating suicide, please contact the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline by dialing 988, texting “STRENGTH” to the Crisis Text Line at 741741, or going to 988lifeline.org.