‘American Idol’ singer CJ Harris dies

CJ Harris, a singer-songwriter from Jasper, Alabama, who competed on “American Idol,” has died. He was 31 years old.

Harris died on Sunday after suffering what appeared to be a heart attack in his hometown, a family member told TMZ. He was rushed to Walker Baptist Medical Center in Jasper after CPR efforts were unsuccessful, he confirmed to People a spokesman for the Walker County Coroner.

In 2014, Harris finished in sixth place on season 13 of “American Idol.” During your audition, Harris dedicated his version of the Allman Brothers Band’s “Soul Shine” to his late father. At 22, the guitar teacher and father earned the votes of all three famous judges at the time: Jennifer Lopez, Harry Connick Jr. and Keith Urban.

“You sing because you have to sing, not because you want to sing,” Urban told Harris at the time. “And that’s why it’s so believable and real.”

Throughout the competition, Harris performed songs like Tom Petty’s “Free Fallin’”, John Mayer’s “Gravity”, Ray LaMontagne’s “Shelter”, SteelDrivers’ “If It Hadn’t Been for Love”, “American Woman ” by Guess Who and “Can’t You See” by the Marshall Tucker Band, as well as “Radio” and “Alright” by Darius Rucker. The judges deemed him a “special” talent with a soulful “scream” in his voice and an innate ability to connect with the audience on an emotional level.

“In the small town that I’m from, you don’t see a bunch of black guys out there playing music … as far as guitar and especially doing county music,” Harris said after excelling at her audition.

“I feel like that makes me unique and gives some of the guys in my town a chance to look up to somebody, to do something big.”

Five years after her stint on “American Idol,” Harris released her first single, “In Love.” She also posted cover songs on TikTok and recently performed live at last year’s Frog Festival in Alabama.

Other contestant of season 13, Jessica Meuse, remembered Harris on Instagram as an “American Idol” alumni and friend whose “talent and smile will be missed.”

“The world is definitely a darker and eerily quieter place without you,” Meuse wrote.

“I am grateful that our paths have crossed and to be able to say that you were (and always will be) a part of me. There are many things I realize I will never understand: leaving us so soon is one of those things.” .”

In a release shared on instagram the “American Idol” team said, “CJ Harris was an incredible talent and the news of his passing saddens us deeply. We will really miss him.”

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