American Idol star CJ Harris died of a heart attack at the age of 31, a Walker County Coroner spokesman told People Thursday.
The singer, who finished sixth on the reality show in 2014, died Sunday at Walker Baptist Medical Center in his hometown of Jasper, Alabama.
He had been taken to the emergency room by ambulance, but shortly after arriving, the musician – whose full name is Curtis “CJ” Harris – was pronounced dead, according to a Monday report by TMZ.
A family member spoke to the website and said the family was shocked by his death.
His road to Idol was bumpy.
Harris first auditioned for The X-Factor and The Voice but was unsuccessful. It was then that he turned his attention to American Idol, where he made a huge impact during season 13, which took place in 2014.
The judges back then with Jennifer Lopez, Harry Connick Jr. and Keith Urban.
He auditioned first in Tuscaloosa, then in Salt Lake City, Utah.
Shock: The singer, who placed sixth on the reality show in 2014, died Sunday at Walker Baptist Medical Center in his hometown of Jasper, Alabama – seen in 2014
Harris wowed the judges with his rendition of the Allman Brothers Band’s classic hit Soulshine.
Judge Urban told CJ, “You sing because you have to sing, not because you want to sing. And I mean that in the deepest sense. And that’s why it’s so believable and real.”
Then CJ sang Too Close, American Woman and Free Fallin’.
He made it to sixth place.
American Idol said in a social media statement: “CJ Harris was an incredible talent and we are deeply saddened by the news of his passing. He will really be missed.’
In 2014, he told The Hollywood Reporter that he auditioned for American Idol on a whim. “I saw they did the bus tour and they would be 30 minutes down the road from me,” he began.
He then added: “I said, ‘You know what? I’ll give him one more chance. I’ve gotten so much better, my voice has matured and my playing has gotten so much better. I’m 23 years old before you know I’m turning 33 and I want to give it another chance,” he shared.
He had a voice: Harris made a big impression when he appeared on American Idol nine years ago. He auditioned in Salt Lake City, Utah in 2014. Harris impressed the judges with his performance of Allman Brothers Band’s Soulshine. seen in 2014
He also found success after Idol when, after a move to Nashville, he performed with Darius Rucker at the Grand Ole Opry.
And he was part of American Idol’s Season 13 tour.
Harris had shared that he came from humble beginnings.
At the age of eight he learned to play on a broken guitar his grandfather had given him. It only had three strings, but was enough to get him addicted to 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 an independent musician.
Jessica Meuse, who starred alongside Harris on season 13 of Idol, shared a heartfelt tribute.
“Your talent and smile will be missed and the world is definitely a darker and eerily calmer place without you,” she wrote. “I will miss your random phone calls asking for life advice and talking about the music world… There are a lot of things I know I’ll never understand – your leaving us so soon is one of those things .”
Background: 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 an independent musician. seen in 2014