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In Memoriam: Fallen Stars of 2022
The American Idol family has mislaid a beloved member.
C.J. Harris, who appeared connected the singing contention successful 2014, died connected Jan. 15 successful Jasper, Ala., the Walker County coroner confirmed to E! News. He was 31.
Harris' decease seemed "natural," the coroner said. There is presently nary grounds of foul play, and his origin of decease has not yet been confirmed.
In 2014, Harris landed a spot connected American Idol's 13th season aft attending autobus tour auditions in Tuscaloosa and aboriginal performing successful beforehand of the judges—who astatine the clip were Harry Connick Jr., Jennifer Lopez and Keith Urban—in Salt Lake City with his rendition of Allman Brothers Band's "Soulshine."
Harris precocious each the mode to the show's apical 10 finalists, performing songs specified as The Marshall Tucker Band's "Can't You See" and John Mayer's "Gravity." He finished successful sixth spot that season.
Following quality of Harris' death, his chap American Idol contestants paid tribute to him connected societal media, including play victor Caleb Johnson.
"This hurts truthful much," Johnson wrote connected Instagram Jan. 16. "CJ was my roommate connected @americanidol during Hollywood week and past lived close adjacent doorway to maine and @realalexpreston during the unrecorded shows. We instantly became friends and formed a brotherhood pack," alongside contestants Alex Preston and Sam Woolf.
Johnson said helium formed "so galore astonishing memories and experiences" with Harris, adding, "Life is truthful fragile!"
"I americium truthful grateful that our lives got to transverse paths successful this lifetime," helium continued. "You were a beautiful, benignant psyche that ever made the country brighter with your grin and laughter. Love you brother. you were taken from america mode to soon! Until we conscionable again."
Preston—who placed 3rd successful play 13—said helium "woke up and thought it was a dream."
"I cant judge this," Preston wrote. "I emotion you dude. I'll ever retrieve the bully times we each had."
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Woolf described Harris arsenic "a genuine and loving person," recalling that they "became adjacent friends during the amusement and were roommates connected the tour."
"I'm precise grateful to person gone done that unthinkable acquisition with him alongside Caleb and Alex," Woolf wrote. "My thoughts spell retired to his family. Rest casual my dude."
Before making strides connected American Idol's 13th season, Harris had auditioned earlier successful 2010 but "never made it past the archetypal round," helium told the Hollywood Reporter successful 2014. He besides tried his manus astatine The X-Factor and The Voice, though helium said helium "never got through, and it wounded me."
However, Harris—whose gramps introduced him to music—was determined to spot his imagination through.
He added, "I was ever connected the internet, trying to find a break, looking for which producers I could nonstop my worldly to."
Following his time on American Idol, Harris took announcement connected however his beingness was opening to change.
"Everywhere I spell I've been recognized, similar astatine Taco Bell, the promenade and airports," helium said. "People inquire me, ‘Are you C.J. Harris?' I think, ‘What successful the satellite is going on?' I'm shocked. I don't cognize them, they're from a full different satellite than me, but they cognize who I am. It's amazing."
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