C.J. Harris, former “American Idol” contestant, lifeless at 31

Curtis “C.J.” Harris, a former contestant on “American Idol,” has died. The 31-year-old from Jasper, Alabama, died after struggling cardiac arrest on Sunday, a spokesperson for the Walker County Coroner confirmed to CBS News.

Harris competed on the thirteenth season of singing competitors present 2014, at simply 23 years previous, coming in sixth place. He auditioned for the present in Tuscaloosa, in response to AL.com, which profiled the Alabama members on the time.

He carried out for judges Jennifer Lopez, Keith Urban and Harry Connick Jr. and have become identified for his rendition of “Soulshine,” by The Allman Brothers Band, which Urban praised him for. “You sing ‘trigger it’s important to sing, not ‘trigger you need to sing. And I imply that within the deepest manner. And that is why it is so plausible and actual,” Urban stated.

Several of his “American Idol” performances can be found to stream on Spotify. Harris usually posted movies of himself acting on Instagram, most just lately sharing a video of himself singing a canopy of The Fray’s “How to Save a Life.” 

In an interview with The Hollywood Reporter in 2014, Harris stated his mom and grandfather impressed his love of music from a really younger age.

“I used to be six years previous and my mother was in jail. She would sing to me over the cellphone and tears would simply circulate out of my eyes,” he stated. 

“When I used to be just a little older, my granddad gave me a guitar. He had one within the shed and it had three strings on it. He stated I did not want to purchase an entire new set of strings. So I might tune it in a manner that after I strummed it, it sounded prefer it’s in a key of no matter. I discover completely different sounds,” he continued. “I simply love music so I actually attempt to discover a sound that I actually like and simply play it. I do know that is bizarre, however that is what I do.”

After “American Idol,” Harris carried out with Darius Rucker on the Grand Ole Opry in Nashville in 2014, according to Entertainment Tonight. He additionally toured with fellow “American Idol” contestants. He launched his debut single, “In Love,”  in 2019.

Fellow “American Idol” Season 13 contestant Jessica Meuse posted {a photograph} of herself and Harris on Instagram following the information of his dying. “I’m utterly shocked. Your expertise and smile will probably be missed, and the world is unquestionably a darker and eerily quieter place with out you in it,” she wrote. “I’ll miss your random cellphone calls asking for all times recommendation and speaking concerning the music world.”

Harris was a father of two, according to People.