Former American Idol contestant CJ Harris has tragically died suddenly after suffering an “apparent heart attack,” according to reports.
Harris, who was a contestant on the show in 2014 and made it to the top 6, died on Sunday in his hometown of Jasper, Alabama, TMZ reported.
The singer, whose full name is Curtis “CJ” Harris, was rushed to the hospital where he was later pronounced dead, according to his family.
The Daily Mail reports that Harris auditioned first in Tuscaloosa then in Salt Lake City, Utah.
The talented singer shot to fame after he wowed the judges with a rousing rendition of the Allman Brothers Band’s song Soulshine.
Judge Keith Urban told the star: “You sing because 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.”
Fellow judge Jennifer Lopez told CJ she “really liked” his performance, while Harry Connick Jr said: “There’s something about the entirety of what you are, it’s really a vibe that you have that was very pleasant.”
People have been taking to social media to express their “shock” at the news of Harris’s unexpected death.
Jessica Meuse, who competed on season 13 of Idol alongside Harris, shared a heartfelt tribute.
“I’m completely shocked,” she said in a post on Facebook.
“Your talent and smile will be missed, and the world is definitely a darker and eerily quieter place without you in it,” she wrote.
“I’ll miss your random phone calls asking for life advice and talking about the music world…
“There are a lot of things I realize I will never understand — you leaving us so soon is one of those things.”
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