MUMBAI: An announcement on Mandisa's verified social media accounts confirms the demise of the Grammy-winning, soulful gospel singer, who first appeared on "American Idol" in 2006. She was 47.
“We can confirm that yesterday Mandisa was found in her home deceased. At this time we do not know the cause of death or any further details,” the post reads. “We ask for your prayers for her family and close-knit circle of friends during this incredibly difficult time. Mandisa was a voice of encouragement and truth to people facing life’s challenges all around the world.”
The Tennessean stated that Mandisa lived in Nashville. The popular news portal has contacted her agent to request a statement.
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Her first singing experience was in a church. She was born Mandisa Lynn Hundley in Citrus Heights, California. Her life began to revolve on music.
She attended American River College in Sacramento, California, where she studied vocal jazz, and later joined the renowned Fisk University Jubilee singers at Fisk University in Nashville.
After putting in an audition for "American Idol" in 2005, she was selected to compete in the show's fifth season, which debuted in 2006.
Mandisa's strong voice and radiant personality made her stand out even among the other candidates, which included eventual season winner Taylor Hicks, Katherine McPhee, Kellie Pickler, Chris Daughtry, and others.
She continued to pursue her career goals after being knocked out of the top 10 in the competition. Mandisa would later release "True Beauty," her debut album, in 2007. It brought Mandisa her first Grammy nominations and debuted at No. 1 on Billboard's Top Christian Albums chart.
Five more albums would follow: “It’s Christmas” in 2008; “Freedom” in 2009; “What If We Were Real” in 2011; “Overcomer” in 2013; and “Out of the Dark” in 2017.
“Overcomer” earned her the Grammy for Best Contemporary Christian music album in 2014.
Along with success, some tough times challenged her faith. According to Mandisa’s website, “After the prayers of a multitude didn’t stop her dearest friend from succumbing to cancer, Mandisa withdrew, wrestled with God, and fell into a deep depression.”
“To be honest, that’s not how I thought things were going to happen. I was disappointed with God,” she said of the death of her friend Kisha. “I was mad because as I prayed for her, I believed that God was going to heal her. I’m not the kind of person who shakes my fist at the Lord and yells and screams. I just shut down and started turning to food again for comfort.”
To help others, Mandisa wrote about her experiences with mental heath struggles in her memoir "Out of the Dark: My Journey Through the Shadows to Find God's Joy" published in 2022.
“I want to encourage the people who may have a loved one who is maybe in the middle of a mental health issue,” she said in an interview shared on Instagram in 2022. “Don’t think that even if your messages are not being responded to that they don’t hear them.”
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Credit- News 18
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