CJ Harris, a beloved semifinalist on “American Idol” Season 13 has passed away at the age of 31.
Sources close to the singer-songwriter have revealed that he had a heart attack in his beloved hometown of Jasper, Alabama on Sunday. He was rushed to the hospital but sadly passed away shortly after arriving.
In 2014, Harris left the audience speechless with an electrifying rendition of the Allman Brothers’ classic “Soulshine”, during his unforgettable audition for Fox’s talent show.
Judge Keith Urban imparted these wise words to the aspiring vocalist: “You sing because you have to sing, not ’cause you want to sing.
“And I mean that in the deepest way,” Keith Urban continued. “And that’s why it’s so believable and real.”
In addition to her own tunes, the singer soulfully sang a variety of covers during her performance on the show, such as “Too Close,” “American Woman” and “Free Fallin.’ ”
Despite not receiving enough votes, Harris was selected as a wild card in the semifinals, allowing him to advance all the way to the Top 6 before his eventual elimination.
After his “Idol” fame, Harris had a remarkable journey in the music business; one of those highlights was him performing at the Grand Ole Opry alongside Darius Rucker, who inspired a notable transformation in his style.
Unfortunately, Harris isn’t the only former “Idol” contestant to pass away recently.
Tragically, in October “American Idol” runner-up Willie Spence was killed due to injuries sustained from a car accident at only 23 years of age.
