CJ Harris (Photo by Chelsea Lauren/WireImage)
CJ Harris, the former “American Idol” contestant who made the Top 6 in 2014, has died at the age of 31. A family member told TMZ that he apparently suffered a heart attack Sunday night in Jasper, Alabama.
Shortly after arriving at a local hospital, the singer, whose full name is Curtis “CJ” Harris, was pronounced dead, according to TMZ.
A family member spoke to the above website and shared that he was shocked by his death.
Harris first auditioned for “The X-Factor” and “The Voice” but was unsuccessful. At that time he applied to “American Idol”.
Fans of the show remember auditioning for the judges in Salt Lake City in 2014 and surprising them with his cover of the Allman Brothers Band’s “Soulshine.”
CJ Harris (Photo by Michael Tran/FilmMagic)
Judge Keith Urban told CJ: “You sing because you have to sing, not because you want to sing. And I mean it. And that’s why it’s so believable and real.”
After her incredible audition, CJ wowed audiences with powerful covers of “Too Close”, “American Woman” and “Free Fallin'”. He was selected by the judges as a wildcard in the semifinals after failing to get enough votes, staying in the competition and making it into the last 6 before being eliminated.
After “American Idol,” CJ appeared on The Grand Ole Opry with Darius Rucker, someone who he says was a big influence on his style. She even performed to audiences on the Singing Reality Season 13 Tour.
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In 2014, he told The Hollywood Reporter that he explained that he happened to audition for American Idol. “I saw that they were doing the bus tour and that they would be 30 minutes from my house,” he said.
He then added, “I said, ‘You know what? I’ll give him one more chance. I’ve improved a lot, my voice has matured and my game has improved a lot. I want to give myself another chance,” he said.
Cj Harris, former American Idol contestant
Harris shared a little about his life before becoming known for his involvement in real estate.
At the age of eight he started learning to play the guitar with a broken guitar that his grandfather had given him. It only had three strings, but it was enough to make him fall in love with the music. He also sang in the church choir and learned to play the piano.
Some of his influences were John Legend, John Mayer and Keith Urban.
Prior to American Idol, he recorded an album entitled Small Town Boy as a freelance musician.
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