Mandisa Hundley, a gospel singer whose sturdy vocals had been applauded on “American Idol” and who later gained a Grammy Award for finest modern Christian music album, was discovered lifeless at her residence in Nashville on Thursday. She was 47.
The Media Collective, which represented Ms. Hundley, confirmed her loss of life and mentioned in a press release that the trigger was not identified.
Ms. Hundley carried out and produced music with Christian themes. She was a fan favourite on “American Idol” in 2006, however turned the fourth of the 12 finalists to be eradicated.
As a soul singer, she spoke brazenly about her love of God, and her music resonated with followers.
Ms. Hundley famously stood as much as Simon Cowell, the “American Idol” decide, who has a fame for being intimidating. In her video interview for the present, she referred to her audition in Chicago, when Mr. Cowell, in an obvious joke about her weight, mentioned after she left the room, “Do we have now a much bigger stage this 12 months?”
Ms. Hundley mentioned within the video that, regardless of the comment, she would nonetheless journey to Hollywood and face Mr. Cowell within the closing judging.
“Once I received to Hollywood, I knew I needed to put my sport face on,” she mentioned. “I knew that I’d lastly get to talk my piece.”
“You harm me, and I cried,” she later informed Mr. Cowell. “However I need you to know that I’ve forgiven you.” Mr. Cowell replied that he was “humbled,” and the 2 hugged.
Ms. Hundley informed The Oklahoman in 2006 that her religion helped her overcome Mr. Cowell’s hurtful comment.
“Meals has all the time been an issue for me,” she mentioned. “When Simon first made the feedback, it was a nightmare. However God turned it round. These phrases turned the impetus I wanted to kick-start my plan to stay a extra healthful way of life and get my consuming below management.”
She went on to file a number of albums. Her first was “True Magnificence,” in 2007. Her 2013 Grammy profitable album, “Overcomer,” debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard Christian Albums Chart. It was her first Grammy Award after three nominations.
Mandisa Hundley was born in Sacramento on Oct. 2, 1976. She sang at church and studied vocal efficiency at American River Faculty, a group faculty in Sacramento, after which continued her research at Fisk College in Nashville.
After faculty, she labored as a vocalist for the singers Trisha Yearwood and Shania Twain.
On her 2017 album, “Out of the Darkish,” she addressed her struggles with despair, which she additionally wrote about in a 2022 memoir of the identical identify.
“My dream is that this e-book will likely be a device utilized in residing rooms and occasional retailers everywhere in the world to assist immediate discussions about our psychological well being,” she informed “Good Morning America.”
An entire obituary will observe.