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Mandisa, ‘American Idol’ singer and Grammy winner, dies at 47

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7 months ago

April 21, 2024

Mandisa, 'American Idol' singer and Grammy winner, dies at 47

Grammy-winning singer Mandisa, who rose to fame on season 5 of “American Idol,” has died, her consultant mentioned Friday. She was 47.

“We are able to verify that yesterday Mandisa was present in her house deceased,” her consultant mentioned in an announcement to NBC Information. “Right now we have no idea the reason for dying or any additional particulars.”

“We ask on your prayers for her household and shut knit circle of pals throughout this extremely troublesome time,” the assertion concluded.

She was discovered useless in her Nashville house, in line with The Tennessean.

A put up on the artist’s Fb web page mentioned early Friday: “Mandisa was a voice of encouragement and fact to folks dealing with life’s challenges all around the globe. She wrote this track for an expensive pal who had handed in 2017.”

“Her personal phrases say it finest. I’m already house / You’ve received to put it down / ‘trigger Jesus holds me now— / And I’m not alone.”

The singer, whose full identify is Mandisa Lynn Hundley, shot to stardom after inserting ninth on “American Idol.” She went on to win a Grammy for Greatest Modern Christian Music Album in 2014 for her album “Overcomer.”

Initially from Sacramento, California, Mandisa grew up singing in church and studied vocal efficiency at American River School, and continued her research at Fisk College in Nashville, Tennessee, in line with her document label artist bio. After school, she labored as a session and backup vocalists for artists together with Shania Twain and Trisha Yearwood earlier than happening “American Idol.”

In 2017, the singer instructed “Good Morning America” that she fell right into a deep melancholy in 2014 and virtually took her personal life following the dying of her shut pal, Lakisha Mitchell, who had breast most cancers.

“It received fairly dangerous — to the purpose the place if I had not gotten off that street I’d not be sitting right here at this time,” Mandisa mentioned. “I used to be this near listening to that voice that instructed me, ‘You may be with Jesus proper now, Mandisa. All you need to do is take your life.’”

“It virtually occurred. However God is what I say. He saved my life fairly actually,” she added.

She revealed that in her darkish state, she resorted to emotional consuming and isolation.

“(Emotional consuming) is what I’ve completed my complete life,” she defined. “After shedding over 120 kilos, which I talked about my first time right here, I gained all of it again and 75 extra. I sunk into the deepest melancholy of my life after Kisha died.”

She mentioned her pals in the end intervened and she or he received assist.

Mandisa had launched six studio albums, the final being 2017’s “Out of the Darkish.”

Tributes poured in following information of Mandisa’s passing.

“Her kindness was epic, her smile electrical, her voice large, nevertheless it was no match for the scale of her coronary heart,” Christian radio station K-LOVE Chief Media Officer David Pierce shared.

“Mandisa struggled, and she or he was susceptible sufficient to share that with us, which helped us speak about our personal struggles. Mandisa’s struggles are over, she is with the God she sang about now. Whereas we’re saddened, Mandisa is house. We’re praying for Mandisa’s household and pals and ask you to hitch us,” he added.

“Good Morning America” host Robin Roberts wrote on X: “My coronary heart is heavy listening to about Mandisa. Extremely blessed that she was there my first day again on ⁦@GMA ⁩ following my lengthy medical depart. Her lovely music & spirit lifted me and numerous others.”

Singer Matthew West, who recorded the 2007 duet “Christmas Makes Me Cry” with Mandisa, mentioned: “I’m so extremely saddened to listen to in regards to the lack of my pal Mandisa. I’ll all the time cherish the recollections of occasions we spent collectively internet hosting award reveals, happening tour, and most of all serving to her inform her story within the songwriting room.”

This can be a growing story. Please examine again for updates.