“American Idol” alum Mandisa died Thursday. She was 47.
The “Overcomer” singer died at home in Nashville, Christian rock radio station K-Love announced.
Her cause of death remains unknown.
Born and raised in California, Mandisa Lynn Hundley gained fame when she hit back at notoriously critical “American Idol” judge Simon Cowell with kindness while appearing on Season 5 of the singing competition series in 2006.
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Mandisa made it to the show’s Top 10 and went on to release her debut album, “True Beauty,” in 2007. She then become a Christian radio staple upon releasing energetic and affirming tunes such as “Stronger,” “Good Morning” and “My Deliverer.”
She candidly detailed in her 2022 memoir, “Out of the Dark,” the trauma she endured as a teenager when she was raped as well as her mental health struggles.
At one point, Mandisa considered suicide but was saved by her friends who staged an intervention and forced her to go to therapy in addition to relying on prayer.
“I went to counseling as a result of their intervention. And who knew that talking about these things, it’s actually good and healthy for you? It’s not a sign of weakness,” she shared (via The Christophers Blog).
“In the same way that if you have a physical ailment, you would go and see a doctor, I’ve come to appreciate counselors. These are professionals to help you deal with some things that are easy to sweep under the rug. So, through my counseling journey, which has continued, it’s helping me to talk about difficult issues … that I’m forcing myself to face.”
K-Love chief media officer David Pierce shared in a statement Friday that the author’s struggles are “over.”
“Mandisa struggled, and she was vulnerable enough to share that with us, which helped us talk about our own struggles,” he shared.
“Mandisa’s struggles are over. She is with the God she sang about now. While we are saddened, Mandisa is home. We’re praying for Mandisa’s family and friends and ask you to join us.”
If you or someone you know is affected by any of the issues raised in this story, call or text the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline at 988.
