'American Idol' alum, gospel singer Mandisa dead at 47, police investigating

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Fox News Flash top entertainment headlines April 18

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Mandisa, a gospel singer who kicked off her singing career as a contestant on "American Idol," died. She was 47.

Mandisa's father, John Hundley, confirmed her death to Fox News Digital, saying it was a shock. It's unclear what caused the singer's death.

Authorities are "conducting an active death investigation stemming from a body that was discovered Thursday evening at a residence," Franklin Police Department Public Information manager Max Wintz told Fox News Digital.

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Mandisa performs onstage during the 6th Annual KLOVE Fan Awards at the Grand Ole Opry May 27, 2018, in Nashville. (Jason Davis/Getty Images for KLOVE)

Mandisa competed on season 5 of "American Idol," which aired in 2006. She made it to the top nine in the music competition show. A year later, she released her first full-length album, "True Beauty."

During her time on "American Idol," she became known not only for her powerhouse vocals, but also for an inspiring speech she gave to judge Simon Cowell. After her audition, Cowell made remarks about her weight, and later in the process she confronted him about his comments in a conversation with him and his fellow judges Paula Abdul and Randy Jackson.

"Simon, a lot of people want me to say a lot of things to you," she began. "But this is what I want to say to you is that, yes, you hurt me, and I cried and it was painful. It really was. But I want you to know that I've forgiven you and that you don't need someone to apologize in order to forgive somebody. I figure that if Jesus could die so that all of my wrongs could be forgiven, I can certainly extend that same grace to you."

Mandisa had a touching moment with Simon Cowell during her time on "American Idol." (Ray Mickshaw/WireImage)

Cowell immediately gave her a hug, telling her that he felt "humbled," then noting he felt "one millimeter small."

His comments helped inspire the name of her first album. In 2013, she told The Hollywood Reporter, "Coming straight off ‘American Idol,’ and having Simon Cowell talk to me about the way I look, I recorded ‘True Beauty,’ [asking questions like] 'Where am I going to put my value?’, ‘Am I going to determine my worth by people like Simon or am I going to put my trust into what God says about me?’"

The gospel album went on to do well on music charts, landing at no. 43 on the Billboard 200 after its release. It also earned her a Grammy nomination for best pop/contemporary gospel album.

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Mandisa was nominated for the same award in 2010 for her album "Freedom," and for best contemporary Christian music album for 2012's "What If We Were Real." She won the award in 2014 for her album "Overcomer."

Mandisa was nominated for four Grammy Awards, winning one in 2014. (Jason Davis/Getty Images for KLOVE)

She notably was absent from the awards ceremony, explaining on her website the next day that she'd skipped the show because of her busy schedule, her reluctance at having her appearance critiqued and because "I have been struggling with being in the world, not of it lately. I have fallen prey to the alluring pull of flesh, pride, and selfish desires quite a bit recently."

That same year, she experienced an intense personal loss when a close friend died after battling cancer. In a 2017 interview on "Good Morning America," she revealed her friend's death left her questioning her faith and struggling with her mental health.

"It got pretty bad — to the point where if I had not gotten off that road I would not be sitting here today," she admitted. "God is what I say. He saved my life quite literally."

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She also described friends staging an intervention for her in an attempt to help her come out of her deep depression, which inspired her last album, 2017's "Out of the Dark."

Mandisa attends the premiere of "Overcomer" at The Woodruff Arts Center & Symphony Hall Aug. 15, 2019, in Atlanta. (Paras Griffin/Getty Images for AFFIRM Films A Sony Company )

"I realized I don’t have to be perfect and have it all together," she said. "I am a masterpiece in the making, I’m just unfinished for right now."

In 2022, she released a memoir called "Out of the Dark: My Journey Through the Shadows to Find God's Joy." The book's publisher, K-Love, released a statement on her death via David Pierce, the organization's chief media officer.

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"Mandisa loved Jesus, and she used her unusually extensive platform to talk about Him at every turn," he said. "Her kindness was epic, her smile electric, her voice massive, but it was no match for the size of her heart. Mandisa struggled, and she was vulnerable enough to share that 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 are saddened, Mandisa is home. We’re praying for Mandisa’s family and friends and ask you to join us."