"American Idol" alumnus CJ Harris has reportedly passed away at the age of 31 years old.
According to TMZ, a member of the Harris household told the outlet that CJ Harris' cause of death was a heart attack he suffered Sunday night, Jan. 15, 2022.
Apparently, when Harris suffered the heart attack in Jasper, Alabama, he was subsequently taken to a local hospital by first emergency responders but eventually did not make it.
As of this writing, the real cause of CJ Harris's heart attack has not yet been revealed up until now. It is expected that the cause will be revealed or disclosed to the public in the days or weeks to come.
The Alabama native auditioned on a Tuscaloosa bus tour back in 2014 in Salt Lake City. CJ Harris' audition piece was Allman Brothers Band's "Soulshine." He sang in front of Jennifer Lopez, Harry Connick Jr., and Keith Urban at the time.
According to People Magazine, Harris' "Soulshine" cover was dedicated to his father - which eventually earned him three votes from the bench.
"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," Keith Urban said at the time.
After his incredible audition, Harris gave his own take on "Too Close," "American Woman," "Free Fallin'," "Can't You See," and "If It Hadn't Been For Love," among others.
READ ALSO : Simon Cowell Sued: 'X-Factor' Contestant Claims She Was Paid £1 Per Live Show, Negligence
At one point in the competition, Harris got eliminated after not getting enough votes. But thanks to the judges, he was kept as a wildcard in the semi-finals. However, he was eliminated up until the Top 6.
After her stint in the show, Harris debuted at The Grand Ole Opry with Darius Rucker, an artist to whom he attributes a large portion of his influence.
Meanwhile, tributes for Harris are starting to pour online, with Jessica Meuse, one of his competitors in the said season, penning a heartfelt tribute to him.
"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... There are a lot of things I realize I will never understand - you leaving us so soon is one of those things," she said in an Instagram post.
© 2024 MusicTimes.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
