{"id":711758,"date":"2026-06-18T16:04:09","date_gmt":"2026-06-18T16:04:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/711758\/"},"modified":"2026-06-18T16:04:09","modified_gmt":"2026-06-18T16:04:09","slug":"tyrese-haliburton-pays-tribute-to-fiancees-bff-who-died-on-bachelorette-trip","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/711758\/","title":{"rendered":"Tyrese Haliburton pays tribute to fianc\u00e9e’s BFF who died on bachelorette trip"},"content":{"rendered":"

Indiana Pacers star Tyrese Haliburton shared a touching tribute to his fianc\u00e9e\u2019s close friend who died<\/a> unexpectedly during his bride-to-be\u2019s lavish bachelorette getaway in St. Bart\u2019s.<\/p>\n

The two-time NBA All-Star shared a sweet snap of Makenzi Kern and his future wife, Jade Jones, hugging on his Instagram stories.<\/p>\n

\u201cWill always love and miss you Kenz,\u201d he wrote Wednesday, adding, \u201cForever thankful for you,\u201d with a red heart emoji.<\/p>\n

Indiana Pacers star Tyrese Haliburton shared this photo of Makenzi Kern (right) and his future wife, Jade Jones in a tribute to their late friend.<\/p>\n

Kern, an Iowa native, died suddenly of undisclosed health complications<\/a> during the Caribbean getaway on June 8, just two days after her 26th birthday.<\/p>\n

Jones also posted a lengthy tribute on Instagram<\/a>\u00a0recounting some of her favorite moments with Kern over the years \u2014 ranging from \u201cHannah Montana\u201d dance sessions to countless summers boating.<\/p>\n

\u201cI am forever grateful that I got to love someone as truly special as Kenzi, and to have been loved back by her. Kenz was truly a light in this world, and that light will continue to shine in everyone who was lucky enough to know her. I love you forever until the end of time Kenzi,\u201d\u00a0Jones wrote.<\/a><\/p>\n

\u201cYou are truly so beautiful inside and out & a once-in-a-lifetime kind of friend. Thank you for always showing up for me, for making me laugh until I cry, and for being such an unforgettable part of my life. I\u2019ll always miss you but I know you\u2019ll be with me, wherever I go. \u2018See ya\u2019.\u201d<\/p>\n

A series of pictures included in the post stretched back to their college days. Jones celebrated Kern as her \u201cbiggest cheerleader,\u201d both in life and in her relationship with Haliburton.<\/p>\n

\u201cI can\u2019t even imagine our wedding day without her there celebrating with us. The day will not be the same without her, but I know she will show us she is there somehow,\u201d Jones added.<\/p>\n

Makenzi Kern (not pictured) Makenzi Kern died unexpectedly during Jones\u2019 bachelorette trip. @jadeeejones\/Instagram<\/p>\n

Jones wrote, \u201cI can\u2019t even imagine our wedding day without her there celebrating with us. The day will not be the same without her, but I know she will show us she is there somehow.\u201d Instagram\/jadeeejones<\/p>\n

Jones and Haliburton have been together for more than seven years and are set to tie the knot on Aug. 1.<\/p>\n

Kern and Jones became fast friends during their time on the Iowa State cheerleading squad. They first crossed paths with Haliburton while he was a guard for the Cyclones.<\/p>\n

Her devastated family said she died while \u201csurrounded by her closest friends on a once in a lifetime trip to St. Barthelemy Island,\u201d\u00a0according to an online obituary<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Kern appeared happy and carefree in\u00a0photos taken by friends<\/a>\u00a0during the first leg of the ill-fated bachelorette bash.<\/p>\n

Her loved ones don\u2019t believe foul play, drugs or alcohol contributed to her untimely death, though the exact cause is still unclear.<\/p>\n

The circumstances surrounding her death remain unclear.<\/p>\n

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