American Idol's CJ Harris dies from apparent heart attack
Jasper, Alabama - CJ Harris, a singer who competed on the 13th season of American Idol, has died.
A family member told TMZ that Harris was taken to a hospital via ambulance but died following a suspected heart attack on Sunday in Jasper, Alabama. He was 31 years old.
Harris placed sixth on American Idol's 13th season, giving his takes on songs like Darius Rucker’s Radio, John Mayer’s Waiting on the World to Change, and Ray LaMontagne’s Shelter, amongst others.
"You sing ‘cause you have to sing, not ‘cause you want to sing," Idol judge Keith Urban told Harris during the competition.
Harris followed his American Idol run with a performance with Rucker at the Grand Ole Opry and an Idol concert tour with other contestants from his season.
Following the news of Harris' death, Rucker took to Twitter to share his condolences: "My heart goes out to CJ and his family. Sad day."
"I grew up in the church, playing gospel music and singing in the choir. I guess I was a little nervous to go on Idol, because I didn’t know if I was prepared. I didn’t have the training," Harris told AL.com in 2015. "Now, when I get on stage in front of these crowds, it doesn’t matter if I have my eyes closed. I don’t have to keep a camera view. I can calm down, relax and be myself," he said.
The singer remained active on social media before his death, posting a selfie to Twitter on Sunday and sharing a TikTok video of himself performing The Fray’s song How to Save a Life in late December.
"When I’m behind the microphone, I let everything go and let the music flow through me," Harris previously wrote in his Facebook bio, per AL.com.
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