Former American Idol Contestant Willie Spence Has Passed Away at the Age of 23
It is with a very heavy heart that we share the news that former American Idol Season 19 contestant Willie Spence has died in a car crash at the age of 23.
According to a piece in Variety, Spence (who was runner up in Season 19) was driving from Tennessee to his home in Atlanta and crashed into a semi truck that was parked on the side of the road.
Below is a look at the official Instagram post from American Idol:
View this post on Instagram
The caption posted by American Idol reads, “We are devastated about the passing of our beloved American Idol family member, Willie Spence. He was a true talent who lit up every room he entered and will be deeply missed. We send our condolences to his loved ones.”
Spence quickly became a fan favorite in the series from his renditions of Sam Cooke’s “A Change Is Gonna Come” and Hoagy Carmichael’s “Georgia on My Mind,” made famous by Ray Charles. He finished the season in second place to winner Chayce Beckman.
Below is a clip of Spence performing Circle of Life during Disney Night.
Filming for Season 19 Disney Night took place at Walt Disney World Resort.
MickeyBlog was on the scene and managed to capture these images of Spence walking in Magic Kingdom (when masks were still required) with a family member.
Season 5 runner-up Katharine McPhee posted a message on Instagram regarding Spence’s passing saying, “Life is so unfair and nothing is ever promised. God rest your soul Willie. It was a pleasure to sing with you and to know you.” The pair teamed up for a duet in Season 19.
Our deepest condolences go out to Willie Spence’s friends, family, colleagues and fans.
Source: Variety