C.J. Harris’ reason behind demise was made public on Thursday (Jan. 19), lower than every week after his sudden and tragic passing.
The singer died at simply 31-years-old after struggling a coronary heart assault on Sunday (Jan. 15), based on reporting by Folks. (Billboard has reached out to the Walker County Coroner’s Workplace in Harris’ native Alabama for affirmation.)
Harris first made waves throughout the nation by competing on Season 13 of American Idol in 2014, when he auditioned for judges Jennifer Lopez, Keith City and newcomer Harry Connick Jr. with a canopy of “Soulshine” by The Allman Brothers Band. After incomes his golden ticket, he progressed by means of Hollywood week and the semifinals to turn out to be one of many three Wild Card contenders to make the season’s crop of 13 finalists.
In the course of the dwell exhibits, Harris usually carried out along with his trusty guitar, churning out country-soul covers of Darius Rucker’s “Radio,” “Can’t You See” by Toy Caldwell of The Marshall Tucker Band, Hunter Hayes’ “Invisible,” The SteelDrivers’ “If It Hadn’t Been For Love” and extra. Ultimately, he was eradicated in sixth place behind eventual winner Caleb Johnson, runner-up Jena Irene and fellow finalists Alex Preston, Jessica Meuse and Sam Woolf.
Following his stint on Idol, Harris launched into the post-season American Idols LIVE! Tour 2014 with the remainder of the highest 10 and even duetted with Rucker — one among his main inspirations — on the Grand Ole Opry. In 2016, the singer confronted authorized troubles after being arrested in a drug bust in Walker, Ala., the place he was charged with three counts of alleged felony distribution of a managed substance, together with oxycodone and marijuana. His debut single, “In Love” was launched in 2019, and simply weeks earlier than his demise he hinted at new music he was planning to launch later this 12 months.
