Willie Spence Cause Of Death, What Happened To American Idol Willie Spence?
by Aishwarya R
Updated Feb 20, 2023
Who Was Willie Spence?
Willie Spence, a talented American singer, gained recognition as the runner-up on the nineteenth season of American Idol at the young age of 23. He was born on June 18, 1999, in West Palm Beach, Florida, and later moved with his family to Douglas, Georgia where he grew up. Even during his high school years, Spence's passion for music shone through as he regularly posted online videos of himself singing. One of his videos, a cover of Rihanna's "Diamonds," went viral on YouTube in 2017 and has since amassed over 15 million views, leading to his appearance on the talk show "Steve" hosted by Steve Harvey. In 2021, Spence auditioned for American Idol and impressed the judges with his exceptional performances, earning him second place in the competition, with only Chayce Beckham ahead of him.
Willie Spence Cause Of Death
Willie Spence, the former runner-up on "American Idol" season 19, passed away on Tuesday due to a car accident, according to authorities. The 23-year-old was driving his 2019 Jeep Cherokee in Marion County, East Tennessee when it went off the road and collided with a tractor-trailer parked on the shoulder of Interstate 24. Both Spence and the 68-year-old driver of the tractor-trailer were wearing seat belts at the time of the crash. The Tennessee Highway Patrol is currently investigating the cause of the accident. Spence's death was declared at the scene by the Marion County medical examiner, Barbara O'Neal, who cited "multisystem trauma due to motor vehicle accident" as the cause of death. Prior to the crash, Spence had shared a video on Instagram of himself singing "You Are My Hiding Place."
What Happened To American Idol Willie Spence?
During the premiere of American Idol's 21st season on Sunday, contestant Kya Monee' made an emotional return to the audition room to honor her late friend and former fellow contestant, Willie Spence. The two were paired as duet partners during Hollywood Week on Season 19 of the show in 2021. Monee' told judges Katy Perry, Luke Bryan, and Lionel Richie that she and Spence had grown very close and that she's still trying to cope with his loss after he was killed in a car accident in Tennessee in October 2022. Monee' explained that Spence was supposed to be with her for her audition but that she knew he would want her to keep pushing. She sang "I'm Here" from "The Color Purple," a song that she and Spence had picked together, and the judges were moved by her emotional performance. They sent her through to the next round, and as Spence's rendition of "Diamonds" played in the background, Monee' thanked him for not letting her give up, saying, "This is for you." Spence, who auditioned for American Idol with "Diamonds" in 2021 after his 2017 viral video of the song, ultimately placed as the runner-up on Season 19.
Willie Spence Death
the hit ABC series American Idol released a statement mourning the loss of former contestant Willie Spence, who reportedly died in a car accident in Jasper, Tennessee. The 23-year-old singer was remembered as "a true talent who lit up every room he entered" and was the runner-up of season 19 in 2021. The show expressed deep condolences to his loved ones. Judge Katy Perry and fellow judge Luke Bryan both shared their own heartfelt tributes on social media, with Perry calling Spence a "purest soul" and Bryan highlighting his ability to instantly change the mood when he began singing.
Willie Spence Cause Of Death - FAQs
Willie Spence was an American singer who gained popularity as a contestant on the reality singing competition show "American Idol" in its 19th season in 2021. He was born on June 18, 1999, in West Palm Beach, Florida.
Willie Spence gained attention after posting videos of himself singing on YouTube during his time in high school. In 2017, a video of him singing Rihanna's "Diamonds" went viral and received over 15 million views. This led to an appearance on the talk show "Steve" hosted by Steve Harvey. In 2021, he auditioned for "American Idol" and ultimately became the runner-up in the competition.
Willie Spence died on October 11, 2022, at the age of 23. He was involved in a car accident in Jasper, Tennessee, where he reportedly crashed his car into a semi-truck.
During his time on "American Idol," Willie Spence performed a variety of songs, including "Rise Up" by Andra Day, "Wind Beneath My Wings" by Bette Midler, "Circle of Life" from "The Lion King," and "I Was Here" by Beyonce. He also performed his audition song, Rihanna's "Diamonds," multiple times throughout the competition.
The news of Willie Spence's death was met with shock and sadness from his fans and the music community. Many took to social media to pay tribute to his talent and kind spirit. His fellow "American Idol" judges, Katy Perry and Luke Bryan, expressed their condolences and shared their memories of Spence.