Tragic news from the music world today, as singer and former American Idol finalist CJ Harris has passed away unexpectedly.
The Alabama native is only 31 years old.
Details about Harris’ death are currently scarce, but TMZ reports that he died of a heart attack.
Harris was at home in Jasper, Alabama at the time of the attack.
Sources said he was rushed to a nearby hospital, but doctors could not revive him.
A fan favorite during her time on Idol, Harris was among the show’s top six finalists in 2014.
Harris entered the competition by wowing the judges with her rendition of “Soulshine” by the Allman Brothers Band.
Harris seemed honored to meet Keith Urban, who he described as a major influence in his life and music.
“You sing because you have to sing, not because you want to sing,” Urban said after watching Harris perform.
“And, I mean that in the deepest way. And, that’s why it’s believable and real.
Harris is a fan favorite not only because of her stellar singing voice, but also because of her inspiring story.
He auditioned for Idol after being rejected by The X Factor and The Voice.
“I saw he was doing a bus tour, and it was going to be 30 minutes down the road from me,” he told the Hollywood Reporter in 2014.
“I said, ‘You know what? I’m going to give it another chance. I’m getting better, my voice is maturing and my playing is getting better,'” Harris explained.
“I’m 23, before I know it I’ll be 33, and I want to give it another chance.'”
And while he may not have won the competition, in many ways, Harris’ dream came true as a result of his time on Idol.
In addition to performing for millions of viewers on the show, Harris was invited to join the production of the Idol tour after the season ended.
That meant playing on stage with Darius Rucker, the singer Harris described as his biggest influence.
On Twitter, Idol fans have long appreciated Harris’ immense charisma and talent.
Unfortunately, the discussion about his life is largely hijacked by theories about the cause of his death, and many believe that it was the result of the Covid-19 vaccine.
To be clear, there is no evidence of this, and we do not know if Harris was vaccinated.
“I’m Sure CJ Wants To Be Remembered For His Music… & Talent‼️ Let Us Appreciate Him,” one fan tweeted.
Hopefully, everyone can make that wish come true and hold off on speculation for at least a few days.
Our thoughts go out to the Harris family during this very difficult time.