- The singer competed on the show’s fifth season, finishing in ninth place. After that, she had a celebrated career in Christian music.
Grammy Award-winning singer and former American Idol contestant Mandisa Lynn Hundley, known professionally simply as Mandisa, has died at the age of 47.
The singer competed on the show’s fifth season, finishing in ninth place. After that, she had a celebrated career in Christian music.
The cause of his death is unknown. She was found dead in her Nashville home on April 18.
In a 2017 interview with ABC News, Mandisa opened up about her struggle with depression and said she contemplated suicide.
‘Even more than her music, the Platinum-selling singer will forever be known for her big heart and sincerity,’ Christian radio station K Love he said in a statement announcing his death.
‘Mandisa loved Jesus and used her unusually extensive platform to talk about Him at all times. “His kindness was epic, his smile was electric, his voice was huge, but it was no match for the size of his heart,” said the station’s press officer, David Pierce.
“Mandisa struggled and was vulnerable enough to share that with us, which helped us talk about our own struggles.”
The singer competed on the show’s fifth season, finishing in ninth place. After that, she had a celebrated career in Christian music.
During her first appearance on American Idol in 2005, Mandisa was shamed by Simon Cowell, something the judge later apologized for.
Mandisa was born in Citrus Heights, California, and studied jazz vocals at American River College in Sacramento and music at Fisk University in Tennessee.
Her debut album, True Beauty, was released in 2007. Her 2013 album Overcomer won a Grammy for Best Contemporary Christian Music Album.
The singer auditioned for American Idol in 2005, citing her musical influences from Def Leppard to Whitney Houston.
During his first appearance on the show, judge Simon Cowell made several jokes about his weight saying: ‘Do we have a bigger stage this year?’
When host Paula Abdul said Mandisa’s voice sounded “French,” Cowell intervened and said a more appropriate comparison would be to the country of France.
The joke sparked complaints from the National Association to Advance Fat Acceptance.
Later in the season, Mandisa finally responded to Cowell.
‘What I want to tell 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 have forgiven you and that you don’t need someone to apologize to forgive someone,” she said.
I figure if Jesus could die so that all my mistakes could be forgiven, I can certainly extend that same grace to you.’
Cowell apologized and said his words “humiliated” him.