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In Memoriam: Fallen Stars of 2022
The origin of decease for C.J. Harris has been confirmed.
The American Idol alum died of a bosom attack at 8:53 p.m. connected Jan. 15 successful Jasper, Ala., Walker County lawman coroner Danielle Calloway told E! News. He was 31.
The Walker County coroner had antecedently told E! News that Harris' decease appeared "natural" with nary signs of grounds showing foul play.
Harris appeared connected American Idol's 13th play successful 2014, wowing the judges—who at the clip were Harry Connick Jr., Jennifer Lopez and Keith Urban—with his rendition of Allman Brothers Band's "Soulshine" during Salt Lake City auditions. His talents took him to the apical 10, with his notable performances including covers of The Marshall Tucker Band's "Can't You See" and John Mayer's "Gravity."
After quality of his passing, members of the American Idol household paid tribute to the singer, who finished successful sixth spot that season.
"C.J. Harris was an unthinkable talent, and the quality of his passing profoundly saddens us," American Idol tweeted connected Jan. 16. "He volition beryllium genuinely missed."
Season 13 victor Caleb Johnson said helium formed "so galore astonishing memories and experiences" with Harris, adding, "Life is truthful fragile!"
"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.
Jess Meuse, who finished successful 4th place, said she felt "completely shocked."
"Your endowment and grin volition beryllium missed, and the satellite is decidedly a darker and eerily quieter spot without you successful it," she said connected Instagram Jan. 16. "I'll miss your random telephone calls asking for beingness proposal and talking astir the euphony world. When you spell done thing similar Idol together, it brings everyone progressive unneurotic similar a big, weird, dysfunctional family."
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Before landing a spot successful American Idol's 13th season, Harris auditioned successful 2010 but "never made it past the archetypal round," helium told the Hollywood Reporter successful 2014. He besides applied for The X-Factor and The Voice, though helium said helium "never got through, and it wounded me."
Nevertheless, Harris was passionate astir pursuing his dream.
"I was ever connected the internet, trying to find a break, looking for which producers I could nonstop my worldly to," helium said. "I searched for American Idol and I saw they were doing the autobus circuit and they were going to beryllium 30 minutes down the roadworthy from me. I said, ‘You cognize what? I'm going to springiness it different chance. I've gotten truthful overmuch better, my dependable has matured and my playing has gotten truthful overmuch better."
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