Mandisa, a gospel singer who started her singing career as a contestant “American Idol,” dead. She was 47 years old.
Mandisa’s father John Hundley confirmed her death to Fox News Digital, saying it was a shock. It is unclear what caused the singer’s death.
“Officers are conducting an active investigation into a death involving a body found at a residence Thursday evening,” Max Wintz, public information manager for the Franklin Police Department, told Fox News Digital.
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Mandisa performs onstage during the 6th Annual Clove Fan Awards at the Grand Ole Opry on May 27, 2018 in Nashville. (Jason Davis/Getty Images for Clove)
Mandisa participated in Season 5 of “American Idol”, which aired in 2006. He made it to the top nine. music competition show. A year later, she released her first full-length album, “True Beauty”.
During her time on “American Idol”, she became known not only for her powerful singing, but also for an inspiring speech she gave to judge Simon Cowell. After her audition, Cowell commented about her weight, and later in the process he confronted her about his comments in conversation with her and fellow judges Paula Abdul and Randy Jackson.
“Simon, a lot of people want me to tell you a lot of things,” she began. “But what I want to say to you is that, yes, you hurt me, and I cried and it was painful. It really was. But I want you to know that I forgive you and you don’t forgive anyone. I need someone to apologize to. I figure if Jesus can die so that all my mistakes can be forgiven, then I can surely extend the same grace to you.”
Mandisa had a touching moment with Simon Cowell during her time on “American Idol.” (Ray Mikshaw/WireImage)
Cowell immediately hugged her and told her he felt “humbled”, then added that he felt “a millimeter smaller”.
His comments helped inspire the name of their debut album. In 2013, he told The Hollywood Reporter, “Coming straight from ‘American Idol,’ and Simon Cowell talking to me about the way I look, I recorded ‘True Beauty,’ (asking questions like) ‘Where am I? ‘My value?’, ‘Am I going to have my value determined by people like Simon or am I going to trust what God says about me?'”
The gospel album performed well on the music charts and peaked at no. 43 on the Billboard 200 upon release. It also won him an award grammy nomination For Best Pop/Contemporary Gospel Album.
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Mandisa was nominated for the same award in 2010 for her album “Freedom” and for Best Contemporary Christian Music Album for 2012’s “What If We Were Real”. He won the award in 2014 for his album “Overcomer”.
Mandisa was nominated for four Grammy Awards, winning one in 2014. (Jason Davis/Getty Images for Clove)
She was notably absent from the awards ceremony, giving an explanation on his website The next day she responded by saying “I’m not in the world, but I’ve been struggling with being in the world. I’ve become a victim of flirtatious attraction.” The flesh, pride and selfish desires have increased greatly recently.”
That same year, he experienced a deep personal loss when one of his close friends died after battling cancer. In a 2017 interview on “Good Morning America”, she revealed that her friend’s death made her question her faith and struggle with it. mental health,
She admitted, “It got very bad – to the point where I wouldn’t be sitting here today if I hadn’t gotten off that road.” “What I say is God. He literally saved my life.”
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He also revealed that friends intervened for him in an effort to help him overcome the deep depression that inspired his last album, 2017’s “Out of the Dark”.
Mandisa attends the premiere of “Overcomer” at The Woodruff Arts Center and Symphony Hall in Atlanta on August 15, 2019. (Paras Griffin/Getty Images for AFFIRM Films a Sony Company)
“I realized I don’t have to be perfect and have everything together,” she said. “I am a masterpiece under construction, I am just unfinished.”
In 2022, he released a memoir titled “Out of the Dark: My Journey Through the Shadows to Find God’s Joy”. The book’s publisher, K-Love, released a statement On his death through David Pierce, the organization’s chief media officer.
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He said, “Mandisa loved Jesus and used her unusually wide platform to talk about Him at every turn.” “His kindness was amazing, his smile was amazing, his voice was huge, but it was There is no comparison to the size of his heart. Mandisa struggled, and she was so vulnerable that she shared it with us, helping us talk about our struggles. Mandisa’s struggle is over. He is now with the God he sang about. While we are sad, Mandisa is home. We are praying for Mandisa’s family and friends and ask you to join us.”
