{"id":95094,"date":"2022-10-12T19:05:05","date_gmt":"2022-10-12T19:05:05","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/harchi90.com\/willie-spence-american-idol-season-19-runner-up-dead-at-23\/"},"modified":"2022-10-12T19:05:05","modified_gmt":"2022-10-12T19:05:05","slug":"willie-spence-american-idol-season-19-runner-up-dead-at-23","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/harchi90.com\/willie-spence-american-idol-season-19-runner-up-dead-at-23\/","title":{"rendered":"Willie Spence, ‘American Idol’ Season 19 runner-up, dead at 23"},"content":{"rendered":"
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\n CNN<\/span>
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Willie Spence, a singer who as a teen went viral with his rendition of Rihanna’s hit \u201cDiamonds\u201d and was the runner up on Season 19 on \u201cAmerican Idol, has died the show confirmed in a social media posting on Wednesday.\n <\/p>\n

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He was 23 years old.\n <\/p>\n

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\u201cWe are devastated about the passing of our beloved American Idol family member, Willie Spence,\u201d read the caption on a video of Spence’s \u201cIdol\u201d audition, posted on the show’s verified Instagram account. \u201cHe was a true talent who lit up every room he entered and will be deeply missed. We send our condolences to his loved ones.\u201d\n <\/p>\n

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The singer was killed in a car accident in Tennessee on Tuesday, according to CNN affiliate WSB, citing the Marion County Sheriff’s Office.\n <\/p>\n

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Spence was driving an SUV when he went off the road and crashed into a car that was stopped on the shoulder, according to the accident report.\n <\/p>\n

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TMZ also reported that a family member confirmed to them that Spence died after a crash.\n <\/p>\n

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CNN has reached out to representatives for Spence.\n <\/p>\n

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The West Palm Beach, Florida native relocated with his family to Georgia as a child. It was while singing in his local high school that Spence was first discovered.\n <\/p>\n

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A video of him singing \u201cDiamonds\u201d in what appeared to be a classroom in 2017 went viral and has since racked up more than 15 million views on YouTube.\n <\/p>\n

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The performance landed him an appearance on Steve Harvey’s daytime talk show. Spence also chose to perform the song for his audition for \u201cAmerican Idol\u201d in 2021.\n <\/p>\n

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He blew judges Lionel Richie, Katy Perry and Luke Bryan away with Richie declaring Spence \u201cunbelievable\u201d and Bryan saying he did not want the singer’s performance to end.\n <\/p>\n

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\u201cWhen you think about your future, and you think about the voice you have cause you know it stops people in their tracks, this is the magic you have, in five years what do you want it to look like?\u201d Perry asked Spence. \u201cIn your wildest dreams, if nothing was standing in your way?\u201d\n <\/p>\n

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\u201cI just want my voice to reach the world and just share my gift,\u201d Spence replied. \u201cHopefully winning a Grammy one day. That’s where I see myself in five years.\u201d\n <\/p>\n

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\u201cAmerican Idol\u201d fifth season runner up Katharine McPhee Foster took to her Instagram stories to post a tribute to Spence, who she met on \u201cIdol\u201d during his season.\n <\/p>\n

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\u201cI received very tragic news tonight. Sweet @williespenceofficial passed away in a car accident, \u201dshe wrote on her Instastory along with a video of her and Spence from the show. \u201cOnly 23 years old. Life is so unfair and nothing is ever promised. God rest your soul Willie. It was a pleasure to sing with you and to know you.\u201d\n <\/p>\n

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She also shared his final Instagram posting, a video of himself in a car singing the Christian tune \u201cYou Are My Hiding Place.\u201d\n <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n