American Idol contestant CJ Harris died at the age of 31 on Sunday(15 January 2023).
Harris first rose to fame nine years ago by placing sixth on the thirteenth season of American Idol in 2014.
He impressed judges Jennifer Lopez, Harry Connick Jr, and Keith Urban with his rendition of the Allman Brothers Band’s classic hit “Soulshine.”
Urban told Harris, “You sing ’cause you have to sing, not ’cause you want to sing. And, I mean that in the deepest way. And, that’s why it’s so believable and real.”
Harris’s road to Idol was not an easy one. He initially auditioned for The X-Factor and The Voice but was not successful.
He then decided to try his luck with American Idol and it paid off. He made it all the way to sixth place and went on to be a part of the season 13 tour.
After the show, Harris found success in the music industry, performing at the Grand Ole Opry with Darius Rucker after a move to Nashville.
He also recorded an album titled Small Town Boy as an independent musician before appearing on American Idol.
Harris had a passion for music from a young age. At eight years old, he started learning how to play the guitar on a broken one that his grandfather gave him.
It had only three strings but was enough to get him hooked on music. He also sang in the church choir and learned how to play the piano.
Some of his influences were John Legend, John Mayer, and Keith Urban.
Jessica Meuse, who competed on season 13 of Idol alongside Harris, shared a heartfelt tribute on social media:
“Your talent and smile will be missed, and the world is definitely a darker and eerily quieter place without you in it,”
“I’ll miss your random phone calls asking for life advice and talking about the music world… There are a lot of things I realize I will never understand — you leaving us so soon is one of those things.”
The artist, whose full name was Curtis “CJ” Harris, suffered an apparent heart attack and was taken by ambulance to the Walker Baptist Medical Center in his hometown of Jasper, Alabama.
Shortly after arriving at the emergency room, he was pronounced dead.
Harris’s passing has come as a shock to his family and fans.
He was a talented musician who had a bright future ahead of him. His death is a reminder of the fragility of life and the importance of cherishing every moment.
Harris’s music will live on, and his memory will be honored by those who knew him and loved him.
