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After learning of the decease of Willie Spence, who was the runner-up connected play 19 of American Idol, respective of the show's stars, including Katy Perry and Luke Bryan, honored him.
American Idol Runner-Up Willie Spence Dead astatine 23
American Idol's stars are paying tribute to precocious contestant Willie Spence.
Following the play 19 runner-up's decease connected Oct. 11, the singing contention and respective of its alums took to societal media to grant him.
The show's authoritative Instagram mourned Spence's decease by sharing a video from his audition, where he performed a rendition of Rihanna's "Diamonds" and received precocious praise from judges Lionel Richie, Katy Perry and Luke Bryan.
"We are devastated astir the passing of our beloved American Idol household member, Willie Spence," the Oct. 12 station read. "He was a existent endowment who lit up each country helium entered and volition beryllium profoundly missed. We nonstop our condolences to his loved ones.
Perry was among those grieving Spence's passing successful the comments of American Idol's post. "I emotion you Willie… purest soul," she wrote. "Sing with the angels my darling."
Re-sharing the audition footage to his Instagram Stories, host Ryan Seacrest looked backmost astatine his memories of Spence. "Everybody connected and disconnected acceptable loved him," helium recalled. "@williespenceofficial you'll beryllium profoundly missed."
Bryan did the same. "Willie truly did airy up each country helium walked into," the state vocalist wrote successful a abstracted post. "He could alteration the temper instantly erstwhile helium started singing. He volition genuinely beryllium missed."
Several of Spence's chap contestants from play 19 besides shared messages—including winner Chayce Beckham who wrote connected Instagram Stories, "Love you brother. Rest successful bid king."
Eric McCandless via Getty Images
Top 10 finalist Alyssa Wray expressed her heartache successful a moving station dedicated to the precocious singer.
"To cognize you was to emotion you," she wrote connected Instagram alongside a photograph of herself with Spence. "Willie loved music. Willie loved his family. Willie loved his friends. Willie loved to laugh. Willie loved the Lord. And we each loved Willie. The full WORLD loved Willie, rather literally. He was a psyche that radical were drawn to. He had a dependable that was manus made and manus picked by God himself and bestowed connected him to interaction lives. Anointed. Willie touched hearts. With his voice. With his smile. I tin perceive him laughter close now."
Alyssa added, "I'm truthful heartbroken. I'm sick to my stomach. I'm shocked. Still not definite my caput is afloat processing this. I emotion you brother. The memories we person unneurotic are immoderate of the champion memories I person successful this beingness and I volition cherish them forever. I volition clasp you successful my bosom forever. You taught maine truthful much. Your voice. That voice. Your kindness. Your love. By the grace of God, I sing for you everlastingly present Willie."
Contestants from different seasons sent condolences too. "Such a saccharine guy. So sad," play 7 victor David Cook tweeted. "RIP Willie. Thoughts are with his friends and family."
Katharine McPhee, who was the runner-up connected play 5 of American Idol in 2006 and returned arsenic a mentor connected play 19 successful 2021, shared quality of Spence's passing.
"I received precise tragic quality tonight," she wrote connected Instagram Stories Oct. 11. "Sweet @williespenceofficial passed distant successful a car accident. Only 23 years old."
According to a Tennessee Highway Patrol study obtained by E! News, Spence died aft his conveyance collided with a tractor trailer successful Marion County.
"Life is truthful unfair and thing is ever promised," McPhee continued. "God remainder your psyche Willie. It was a pleasance to sing with you and to cognize you."
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