American Idol alum C.J. Harris, who placed sixth on the show’s 13th season, has died at 31.
According to reports, Harris had an apparent heart attack on Sunday in Jasper, Alabama.
American Idol fans first met Harris in 2014 when he auditioned for judges Keith Urban, Jennifer Lopez and Harry Connick Jr. in Salt Lake City, performing “Soulshine” by The Allman Brothers Band, which Urban praised.
“You sing ’cause you have to sing, not ’cause you want to sing. And I mean that in the deepest way. And that’s why it’s so believable and real,” Urban said, per TMZ.
People reports Jessica Meuse, Harris’ season 13 competitor, honored the singer in a touching Instagram tribute.
Meuse’s post featured photos of her and Harris together along with a caption that read, “My heart is heavy to hear of the passing of fellow @americanidol and friend @cjharrismusic. I’m completely shocked. Your talent and smile will be missed, and the world is definitely a darker and eerily quieter place without you in it. I’ll miss your random phone calls asking for life advice and talking about the music world. When you go through something like Idol together, it brings everyone involved together like a big, weird, dysfunctional family. I’m grateful that our paths crossed and that I can say you were (and always will be) a part of mine. There are a lot of things I realize I will never understand — you leaving us so soon is one of those things. Rest easy, friend. See you on the other side.”
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