CJ Harris, a former contestant on “American Idol,” died on Sunday of an apparent heart attack. He was 31.
A family member told TMZ on Monday that Harris, who competed on the singing competition series in 2014, was brought to a hospital in Jasper, Alabama, where he subsequently died.
Harris placed sixth on “Idol” after impressing judges Keith Urban, Jennifer Lopez, and Harry Connick Jr. with his performance of “Soulshine” by the Allman Brothers Band during his audition.
Urban told Harris at the time, “You sing because you have to sing, not because you want to sing.” “And I mean that with the greatest sincerity. That is why it is so convincing and authentic.”
After Harris failed to garner enough votes to continue to the finals, the judges chose to save him in the semi-finals, but Caleb Johnson went on to win Season 13.
Harris decided on a whim to audition for “Idol” after being rejected from “The X Factor” and “The Voice.”
In 2014, he told the Hollywood Reporter, “I saw they were doing the bus tour, and they were going to be 30 minutes down the road from me.”
“I responded, ‘Know what? I will give it a second opportunity. My voice has grown, and both my singing and playing have significantly improved. I am 23 years old and will be 33 years old before you know it; I want to give it another shot.
Harris, whose full name was Curtis Harris, played alongside his mentor Darius Rucker and on the “American Idol” tour after his triumph on the Fox show.
»American Idol alumnus CJ Harris passes away at age 31«