One of the stars of America’s Got Talent has died tragically at the age of just 23.
Skilyr Hicks wowed the crowd and judges in her audition during season 8 of the hit show in 2013 when just 14 years old.
Judges Mel B, Heidi Klum, Howie Mandel and Howard Stern all voted unanimously to put the talented teenager through to the next round.
Her mom, Jodi, confirmed her daughter passed away Monday after her body was found in the home of a friend in Liberty, South Carolina.
Her mom also confirmed her daughter had been struggling with depression and substance abuse, although the cause of her death has not been confirmed.
She says her daughter “will live on through her music”.
Hicks becomes the third contestant to die in recent months after Jay Jay Phillips and Thomas Wells also died this year.
Jay Jay Phillips, also a star of America’s Got Talent, died at the age of 30.
The musician had been suffering from COVID-19 when his body was found by him mom and girlfriend on Thanksgiving after they turned up to check on him.
A relative of Phillips’ told TMZ that he was unvaccinated, but was coming around to the idea of getting vaccinated before he contracted the virus.
Just before Thanksgiving, the 30-year-old’s condition worsened, but he chose to rest at home rather than going to hospital for treatment.
Former star of X Factor Thomas Wells died tragically at the age of just 46.
The talented singer was involved in a freak accident at a manufacturing plant in Oklahoma.
Wells got caught in an automatic conveyer belt machine at work, and the machine did not stop. He was rushed to hospital but later died from his injuries.
The obituary reads:
Thomas met the love of his life, Jessica Willis, in 2003 and they were united in marriage on October 29, 2004. He and Jessica reside in Idabel with their three dogs, Chloe, Charlie (his Golden Boy) and Zoey. Thomas competed on National Televised Singing Competitions including America’s Got Talent, X-Factor, The Voice, and The Winner Is. Thomas had an amazing voice and loved singing hymns as well as contemporary music. He loved to make people laugh. He always had a smile and loved to joke and give people a hard time. He was a great entertainer and always became the center of attention.
Wells displayed his talents on “America’s Got Talent” as well as “The Voice” and “The Winner Is” as well as ‘X Factor.’
Rest in peace.
