C.J. Harris made it to the Top 6 on Season 8 of American Idol in 2014. According to C.J.’s family, he suffered an apparent heart attack on Sunday, January 15th in Jasper, Alabama. He was taken to a local hospital by ambulance but didn’t pull through. He was only 31 years old.
C.J. blew the Idol judges away with his rendition of the Allman Brothers Band, “Soulshine,” during his Idol audition. Keith Urban loved it and said “I just believed it and I felt it.”
One of C.J.’s favorite memories was performing with country singer, Darius Rucker. Here’s part of that performance from the Tuscaloosa Amphitheater. They also performed at the Grand Ole Opry together.
Here’s a list of other American Idol contestants whose lives were taken way too soon.
Nikki McKibbin
Photo by Kevin Winter/ImageDirect/FOX.
Nikki McKibbon was a finalist on the first ever season of American Idol, Season 1, and placed 3rd overall. She died in November of 2020 after suffering a brain aneurysm several weeks before her death. She was only 42 years old.
Rickey Smith
(Photo by Michel Boutefeu/Getty Images)
Rickey Smith was a finalist on season 2 of American Idol. He was killed in a car accident in May 2016. TMZ reported at the time that Smith was driving on the highway in Oklahoma City when another car caused a head-on collision. He was only 36 years old.
Joanne Borgella
(Photo by Brad Barket/Getty Images For The Tennis Channel)
Joanne Borgella was a season 7 contestant, and died in October of 2014 following a long battle with endometrial cancer. She was only 32 years old.
Michael Johns
(Photo by Michael Buckner/Getty Images for Celebrity Fight Night)
Michael Johns competed on Season 7 and he died in August of 2014 after suffering from a blood clot in his ankle, according to The Hollywood Reporter. He was 35 years old.
