Michael Eugene Archer, known to the world as D’Angelo, passed away in October 2025 at age 51 after a swift battle with pancreatic cancer.

Now, his son, Michael Archer Jr., is speaking publicly about the unimaginable year he endured — losing his father, his mother Angie Stone, and his grandmother within months of each other.

Archer Jr. shared that the grief still feels heavy, especially as he looks ahead to milestones where his father’s guidance would have meant everything. He admitted that navigating life without that presence has been one of his greatest challenges.

Music has become therapy. So has physical fitness. And professional counseling has helped him process the weight of so much loss in such a short time.

He also reflected on the emotional moment surrounding his father’s Grammy tribute, revealing he initially was not invited, but eventually received an invitation. Archer Jr. says, “I feel, like, cheated in a sense, you know, especially with my father. I was just excited for what the future held for us.”

As he grows older, people often tell him he looks more and more like his father. He says he sees himself as a blend of both parents; their spirit, their artistry, and their strength.