FOLLOW US

Sat

April 4, 2026

Opinion February 12, 2021 3 mins read

‘Jeopardy’ Suffers Another Devastating Blow As ‘Alex’s Last Great Champion,’ Brayden Smith, Dies

Opinion ı By Carmine Sabia

1,180 0 Comments

The prime-time television game show Jeopardy has suffered another devastating blow following the death of longtime host Alex Trebek.

The man known by some as Trebek’s last great champion, Brayden Andrew Smith, has died at the age of 24.

Before Trebek died after a long battle with caner on November 8, 2020, Smith amassed a grand total of $115,000.

“BRAYDEN ANDREW SMITH Brayden Andrew Smith passed away Friday morning, February 5, in Las Vegas, Nev. He was 24. Brayden attained a lifelong dream as a five-time champion on the popular Jeopardy! television game show,” his obituary said.

“His appearances were among the last hosted by Alex Trebek, and Brayden was hailed on social media as ‘Alex's Last Great Champion.’ He was looking forward to competing in the show's Tournament of Champions. A 2020 graduate of the University of Nevada, Las Vegas with a degree in economics, Brayden intended to attend law school and become an attorney for the federal government.

“He was a voracious reader and autodidact, a lover of knowledge and an advocate for justice. His room was bursting with books on political science, philosophy, economics, and history. He recently served as an intern with the prestigious Cato Institute in Washington, D.C., where he researched criminal justice reform issues,” it said.

The “Jeopardy” champion was hospitalized for several days at a Southern Nevada hospital before he died on Feb. 5. No cause of death has been given.

“The JEOPARDY! family is heartbroken by the tragic loss of Brayden Smith. He was kind, funny and absolutely brilliant. Our deepest condolences go out to Brayden’s family. He will be missed,” the show said.

The show posted a video interview with the champion in January where he expressed his joy at being on the show and his love for Trebek.

“’Jeopardy!’ is so much better than anything that I could have even imagined,” he said. “Every moment since I was last on the studio live has been a moment that I’ve been wanting to get back on there.”

“I’m just glad we were able to do it, and I was glad that I was able to show what I was capable of,” he said. “Every moment I was there that I moved from the third lectern to the champion’s lectern, I wanted to stay there as long as possible.”

“Everybody knows that he (was) ailing,” he said of Trebek. “To put on a brave face and go out there every day and continue to give America and the world some good cheer, especially this year, is really a testament to how great of a person he was.”

Previous Article

Miami Mayor Francis Suarez wants to pay workers in Bitcoin (BTC)

Read More
Carmine Sabia
123 Posts

Carmine Sabia

Carmine Sabia Jr started his own professional wrestling business at age 18 and went on to become a real estate investor. Currently he is a pundit who covers political news and current events.

Don’t Miss It
America April 03, 2026
Artemis II Clears Earth Orbit, Heads Toward Moon’s Far Side
By – Tyler Brooks
America April 03, 2026
Former DeRidder Mayor’s Sentencing Rescheduled for June
By – Tyler Brooks
America April 03, 2026
Javon Vital Commits to USC Football Program
By – Tyler Brooks
Arizona January 11, 2025
Kelly Warner Law Firm Blames USA Herald for Arizona Bar Investigation

In what appears as a desperate attempt to defend multiple allegations of fraud on the courts, the Kelly Warner Law…

By – USA Herald
Arizona January 4, 2025
Aaron Kelly Law Firm Resorts To Attacking Former Client Again On KellyWarnerLaw.com – Pattern Recognized

Attorney Aaron Kelly and his law partner Daniel Warner are currently under investigation by the Arizona Bar for legal misconduct.…

By – Jeff Watterson
Arizona December 12, 2024
Arizona Bar Opens Investigation on Attorney Aaron Kelly

USA Herald recently reported on a developing story involving Attorneys Daniel Warner and Aaron Kelly. Both Warner and Kelly have…

By – Paul O'Neal
America April 3, 2026
Teacher Protection Bill Advances Unopposed in House Committee

A proposal designed to safeguard teachers from student violence is gaining momentum after clearing a House committee without objection. House…

By – Tyler Brooks
America April 3, 2026
US Intel Finds Iran Retains Key Strike Capabilities Despite Weeks of Attacks

Recent U.S. intelligence assessments indicate that Iran continues to possess a substantial capacity to launch missiles and deploy drones, even…

By – Tyler Brooks
America April 3, 2026
Trump Tariffs Reshape Global Trade One Year Later

One year after U.S. President Donald Trump launched sweeping tariffs, the global economic landscape shows significant shifts, with trade patterns…

By – Tyler Brooks
America April 3, 2026
Oil Surges, Global Stocks Slip After Trump Renews Iran Strike Threats

Oil prices climbed sharply once again after U.S. President Donald Trump renewed warnings of intensified military action against Iran, offering…

By – Tyler Brooks
America April 3, 2026
Judge Dismisses Majority of Claims In Lively Harassment Suit Against Baldoni

A federal judge has dismissed most claims brought by actress Blake Lively in her sexual harassment lawsuit against her It…

By – Tyler Brooks
America April 3, 2026
Trump Ousts Attorney General Pam Bondi, Cites Private Sector Transition

US President Donald Trump has dismissed Attorney General Pam Bondi, a close ally and staunch defender of his administration, ending…

By – Tyler Brooks
America April 3, 2026
Trump Ousts Attorney General Pam Bondi, Cites Private Sector Transition

US President Donald Trump has dismissed Attorney General Pam Bondi, a close ally and staunch defender of his administration, ending…

By – Tyler Brooks
America April 2, 2026
Trump Targets State Farm As California Wildfire Fallout Exposes Deeper Insurance Crisis

INSIDE THIS REPORT A presidential warning shot has been fired at one of America’s largest insurers—but the implications extend far…

By – Samuel Lopez
America April 2, 2026
Tennessee Congressman Warns Classified UAP Briefings Would Shake Public Faith In Government

Rep. Tim Burchett says he has been briefed by intelligence agencies on information so sensitive it would leave Americans “unglued”…

By – Samuel Lopez
America April 2, 2026
The Persuasion Machine Inside AI How New Research Reveals A Quiet Trade-Off Between Influence And Truth

INSIDE THIS REPORT A massive multi-institution study has uncovered something far more concerning than AI bias—it has identified how easily…

By – Samuel Lopez
America April 2, 2026
Market Analysis: Strait of Hormuz Tensions Are Quietly Straining the U.S. Insurance Market — And the Pressure Is Building

INSIDE THIS REPORT A narrow shipping lane in the Middle East is beginning to reshape risk calculations inside the American…

By – Samuel Lopez
America April 2, 2026
NASA Launches Artemis II Mission, First Crewed Moon Flight Since 1972

NASA’s Artemis II mission lifted off April 1 from Kennedy Space Center in Florida, sending four astronauts on a 10-day…

By – Rachel Moore
America April 2, 2026
Coral Springs Vice Mayor Found Dead, Husband Arrested

Authorities in Florida announced the shocking death of Nancy Metayer Bowen, the vice mayor of Coral Springs, whose husband has…

By – Rihem Akkouche
America April 2, 2026
Magnitude 4.6 Earthquake Strikes Near Boulder Creek, Shakes Bay Area

A 4.6 earthquake near Boulder Creek rattled Santa Cruz County early Thursday, sending tremors across the Bay Area and reigniting…

By – Rihem Akkouche
America March 28, 2026
Goliath Ventures Filed for Chapter 11 as Alleged $328M Crypto Scheme Unravels

A Florida crypto firm once promising sky-high returns has collapsed under the weight of federal scrutiny and investor outrage. Goliath…

By – Rihem Akkouche
America March 27, 2026
Ohio State Suspends Fraternity After Student Hospitalization

The case now drawing attention under the headline Ohio State suspends Fraternity has cast a spotlight on campus safety, as…

By – Rachel Moore
America March 27, 2026
Senate Vote on DHS Shutdown Ends Weeks-Long Standoff

The Senate vote on DHS shutdown unfolded in the early hours of Friday, bringing a dramatic pause to a 42-day…

By – Rihem Akkouche
America March 25, 2026
7 Year-Old Girl Dies in Modesto Duplex Fire, Family Devastated

The 7 year-old girl dies in Modesto duplex fire tragedy has left a California community reeling after flames tore through…

By – Rachel Moore
America March 28, 2026
Mike Fincke Space Medical Incident Stuns NASA as Mystery Illness Strikes in Orbit

A routine evening aboard the International Space Station turned into a moment of high-stakes uncertainty when the Mike Fincke space…

By – Rihem Akkouche
America March 15, 2026
Arizona Man Accused of Crucifying Pastor Pushes Judge For A Quick Death Sentence

By Samuel A. Lopez | USA Herald – An Arizona courtroom is now the center of a deeply disturbing case…

By – Samuel Lopez
America March 11, 2026
Trump’s Laser Talk Sparks New Questions About America’s Secret Arsenal

President Donald Trump has once again done what he often does best in moments of war and tension: he dropped…

By – Samuel Lopez
America March 8, 2026
The Northern Lights Return

The Northern Lights have a chance to be visible from several northern U.S. states on Tuesday night, forecasters at the…

By – Jackie Allen
America March 8, 2026
February Unemployment Up as Job Losses Surprise Economists

February Unemployment Up as the latest labor market data revealed weaker-than-expected job growth and a slight increase in the national…

By – Jackie Allen
America March 8, 2026
Late-Night Attack by Venezuelan National at Florida Beach

A Late-night attack by a Venezuelan National has left a Florida community shaken after authorities say a 26-year-old man ambushed…

By – Jackie Allen
America April 2, 2026
Is X down? Thousands of Users Report Access Problems

Thousands of users experienced disruptions on Tuesday afternoon when X, the social media platform owned by Elon Musk, suffered a…

By – Tyler Brooks
America April 2, 2026
Trump Threatens NATO Exit, Tells Europe to ‘Go Get Your Own Oil’

President Donald Trump intensified his criticism of European allies this week, warning that the United States could abandon long-standing security…

By – Tyler Brooks
America April 2, 2026
Trump Defends Iran War in Address but Leaves Key Questions Unanswered

President Donald Trump delivered a nationally televised address Wednesday night seeking to justify the ongoing war with Iran, but his…

By – Tyler Brooks
America April 1, 2026
“NEARING COMPLETION” — But The War Goes On

WHAT MATTERS NOW President Trump delivered his first prime-time address on the Iran war — 33 days after it began.…

By – Samuel Lopez
America April 1, 2026
HUMANITY RETURNS TO THE MOON: NASA’s Artemis II Lifts Off — First Crewed Lunar Mission In 53 Years

WHAT MATTERS NOW Four astronauts are en route to the Moon for the first time since 1972. History is being…

By – Samuel Lopez
America April 1, 2026
When Allegations Become Weapons How Lawfare Is Being Used In Personal Conflicts

WHAT MATTERS NOW In courtrooms across the country, allegations are not just claims—they are leverage. When the legal system is…

By – Samuel Lopez
America March 31, 2026
Health Insurers 19% Claims Refusal Raises Alarm Across ACA Marketplace

A new analysis reveals a striking reality: health insurers 19% claims refusal has become a defining feature of coverage on…

By – Rachel Moore
America March 31, 2026
Hospitals Threatened by Medicaid Cuts Face Growing Crisis Nationwide

A sweeping new analysis warns that hospitals threatened by Medicaid cuts are edging toward a breaking point, with hundreds of…

By – Rachel Moore
America March 31, 2026
Isometric Workouts Gain Attention as Time-Efficient Path to Better Health

For many people, fitness conjures images of long hours spent running on treadmills, powering through burpees or lifting heavy weights.…

By – Tyler Brooks
America March 30, 2026
How Much Screen Time Is Safe for Kids Under Five?

New government guidance recommends that children under five should spend no more than one hour a day on screens, while…

By – Tyler Brooks
America March 27, 2026
New Therapies Offer Hope for Lasting Relief From Hay Fever

A new generation of treatments is renewing hopes that seasonal allergies could one day be controlled at their source, rather…

By – Tyler Brooks
America March 27, 2026
Five Practical Ways Parents Can Curb Kids’ Endless Scrolling

A recent U.S. court decision finding that Meta and Google deliberately engineered addictive social media platforms has resonated with many…

By – Tyler Brooks
America April 2, 2026
Judge Allows Tiger Woods to Travel Abroad for Medical Treatment

A judge in Florida on Wednesday approved a request from Tiger Woods to leave the United States and seek care…

By – Tyler Brooks
International April 1, 2026
Italy Misses Third Consecutive World Cup After Shootout Loss to Bosnia-Herzegovina

Italy, four-time World Cup champions, will not feature at this year’s tournament after a heartbreaking penalty shootout defeat to Bosnia-Herzegovina,…

By – Tyler Brooks
America March 28, 2026
Men’s March Madness Elite 8 Delivers High-Stakes Drama as Title Race Tightens

The madness is reaching its boiling point. The Men’s March Madness Elite 8 has arrived, trimming the 2026 NCAA Tournament…

By – Rihem Akkouche
America March 12, 2026
The World Cup Security Reckoning: Trump Warns Iran Soccer Team About Safety As War Tensions Spill Into Global Sports

By Samuel A. Lopez | USA Herald – A short Truth-Social post from President Donald Trump on Thursday morning is now…

By – Samuel Lopez
America March 8, 2026
Late-Night Attack by Venezuelan National at Florida Beach

A Late-night attack by a Venezuelan National has left a Florida community shaken after authorities say a 26-year-old man ambushed…

By – Jackie Allen
America March 8, 2026
Trump’s War in Iran: Congress Confronts Escalation After U.S. Strikes

Trump’s War in Iran  was triggered open conflict, casualties, and renewed constitutional debate in Washington. The crisis intensified following reports…

By – Jackie Allen

No posts found.

No posts found.

No comments No comments yet. Be the first to comment!

Signup for the USA Herald
exclusive Newsletter