Willie Spence, a songster who as a teen went viral with his rendition of Rihanna’s hit “ Diamonds ” and was the runner up on Season 19 on “ American Idol, has failed the show verified in a social media advertisement on Wednesday.
He was 23 times old.
“ We’re devastated about the end of our cherished American Idol family member, Willie Spence, ” read the caption on a videotape of Spence’s “ Idol ” investigation, posted on the show’s vindicated Instagram account. We shoot our condolences to his favored bones
The songster was killed in a auto accident in Tennessee on Tuesday, according citing the Marion County Sheriff’s Office.
Spence was driving an SUV when he went off the road and crashed into a auto that was stopped on the shoulder, according to the accident report.
TMZ also reported that a family member verified to them that Spence failed after a crash
The West Palm Beach, Florida native dislocated with his family to Georgia as a child. It was while singing in his original high academy that Spence was first discovered.
A videotape of him singing “ Diamonds ” in what appeared to be a classroom in 2017 went viral and has since racked up further than 15 million views on YouTube.
The performance landed him an appearance on Steve Harvey’s day talk show. Spence also chose to perform the song for his investigation for “ American Idol ” in 2021.
He blew judges Lionel Richie, Katy Perry and Luke Bryan down with Richie declaring Spence “ unthinkable ” and Bryan saying he didn’t want the songster’s performance to end.
“ When you suppose about your future, and you suppose about the voice you have cause you know it stops people in their tracks, this is the magic you have, in five times what do you want it to look like? ” Perry asked Spence.
“ Hopefully winning a Grammy one day. That’s where I see myself in five times. ”
“ American Idol ” fifth season runner up Katharine McPhee Foster took to her Instagram stories to post a homage to Spence, who she met on “ Idol ” during his season.
“ I entered veritably woeful news tonight. “ Only 23 times old. Life is so illegal and nothing is ever promised. God rest your soul Willie. ”
She also participated his final Instagram advertisement, a videotape of himself in a auto singing the Christian tune “ You Are My Hiding Place.