Singer Mandisa dies at 47 after starring on American Idol as Christian music community mourns her ‘huge voice’

Former American Idol contestant Mandisa died on Thursday.

The 47-year-old Grammy-winning Christian artist appeared on Season 5 of the singing reality show.

Mandisa died at her home in Nashville, Tennessee, according to the Christian Radio Network K-Love.

The cause of his death has not yet been released.

After finishing in the top 10 on Idol, Mandisa released her debut album, True Beauty, in 2007.

Its first single, Only the World, quickly grabbed the top spot on the Billboard Hot Singles chart.

Mandisa has produced several studio albums and has been nominated for five Grammy Awards.

His 2013 album Overcomer won a grandfather for Best Contemporary Christian Music Album in 2014.

“Mandisa loved Jesus and used her unusually large platform to talk about Him at every turn. Her kindness was epic, her smile electric, her voice huge, but she was is no match for the size of his heart,” David Pierce, K-LOVE media director, in a statement announcing his death on X.

“Mandisa struggled and was vulnerable enough to share this with us, which helped us talk about our own struggles.

“Mandisa’s struggles are over. She is with the God she sang about now. While we grieve, Mandisa is home,” Pierce said.

Mandisa has openly shared her struggles with her weight and suicidal thoughts.

Idol host Simon Cowell poked fun at Mandisa’s weight during her season 5 appearance.

“Will we have a bigger stage this year?” the notably sarcastic host asked the Grammy-winning singer on the show.

Mandisa later told Cowell that she forgave him – despite publicly admitting that her comments hurt him deeply.

In 2011, the singer lost 120 kilos. However, she gained it all back and an additional 75 pounds two years later when she lost her best friend to breast cancer.

At the time, she said People she was struggling with depression and suicidal thoughts.

“When she passed away, it shook the foundations underneath me,” Mandisa said.

“I sank into a deep well of depression.”

The singer began using food to help her cope and became a recluse.

“I was so unhappy; I felt so desperate,” the singer told the magazine.

“I am a woman of faith and I believe that heaven is real and when I leave here, I will be in heaven with Jesus.

“One of the things I started hearing during that dark time was, ‘You’re in a lot of pain. If you take your life, you can be in heaven right now with Jesus.’”

The Idol contestant sought treatment at the time and lost weight again.

She released her latest album, Out of the Dark, in 2017 in hopes of helping others who are going through a similar experience.

“When you’re going through this, you think you’re the only one,” she said.

“But you’re never the only person going through something like this.”

“I’m still here,” she added.

If you or someone you know is affected by any of the issues raised in this story, call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 800-273-TALK (8255), chat at 988lifeline.orgor text Crisis Text Line at 741741.