Willie Spence Car Accident: What Happened to Willie from American Idol?
by Kowsalya | Updated May 16, 2023
Willie Spence Car Accident
On Tuesday, authorities announced the death of Willie Spence, the former runner-up of American Idol Season 19, due to a car accident in East Tennessee's Marion County.
The incident happened in October 2022 when Spence's 2019 Jeep Cherokee collided with a parked tractor-trailer on the east side of Interstate 24. The tractor-trailer driver, who was wearing a seatbelt and aged 68, was involved in the accident as well.
The cause of the accident is under investigation by the Tennessee Highway Patrol, but initial reports indicate that Spence's car went off the road. The Marion County medical examiner confirmed Spence's death due to multisystem trauma caused by the accident, and he was pronounced dead at the scene.
Just before the accident, Spence had shared a video of himself singing "You Are My Hiding Place" on his Instagram page.
What Happened to Willie from American Idol?
Willie Spence, who was the runner-up on American Idol in 2021, passed away at the age of 23 in October 2022 after being involved in a car accident in Tennessee on Tuesday. According to reports, Spence's car collided with a parked semi-truck while he was driving back to Atlanta from Tennessee.
A preliminary report from the Tennessee Highway Patrol suggests that Spence's car crashed into the back of the truck. He was taken to the hospital but later died from his injuries.
American Idol expressed its condolences to Spence's family and paid tribute to the singer, saying that he was a true talent who will be deeply missed. Spence had shared a video of himself singing on Instagram just hours before the accident and was promoting a show scheduled for November. He impressed the judges with his rendition of "Diamonds" by Rihanna during his audition for the show.
Who was Willie Spence?
Willie Spence, an American singer who gained fame as the runner-up of the nineteenth season of American Idol, was born on June 18, 1999, in West Palm Beach, Florida.
He spent most of his childhood in Douglas, Georgia, where his family moved. During his high school days, Spence posted videos of himself singing online, and one of his performances of Rihanna's song "Diamonds" went viral on YouTube in 2017, amassing over 15 million views.
As a result, he gained significant attention, which led to an appearance on the talk show Steve, hosted by Steve Harvey. In 2021, Spence auditioned for American Idol's nineteenth season and received positive feedback from the judges for his performances. Ultimately, he finished second in the competition, behind winner Chayce Beckham.
Willie Spence Bio
NAME
Willie Spence
AGE
23 years
DATE OF BIRTH
June 18, 1999
BORN COUNTRY
West Palm Beach, Florida, U.S.
OCCUPATIONS
Singer
DIED
October 11, 2022
DIED COUNTRY
Jasper, Tennessee, U.S
DETAILS
SPECIFICATIONS
Willie Spence Car Accident - FAQs
Willie Spence was an American singer who rose to fame as the runner-up of the nineteenth season of American Idol.
Willie Spence passed away at the age of 23 on October 11, 2022.
In 2017, Willie Spence posted a video of himself singing the Rihanna song Diamonds which went viral on YouTube, eventually garnering over 15 million views.
In addition to his success on American Idol, Willie Spence also performed at various venues and events, including singing the national anthem at an Atlanta Hawks game in 2021.
Willie Spence died in a car accident in Tennessee on October 11, 2022.