New information is coming to light following the tragic passing of 23-Year-Old Willie Spence. According to TMZ, their sources have revealed that the deadly car accident occurred as Spence “was driving back home to Atlanta from Tennessee.”
While it still remains unclear what caused Spence to veer on to the side of the road, TMZ reports the singer allegedly “crashed into a semi parked on the side of the road.”
On Ocotober 11 DouglasNow news reported, “DouglasNow has learned that Douglas native and American Idol Season 19 runner-up Willie Spence, 23, has passed away due to injuries sustained in an automobile accident in Tennessee.”
Read Mamas Uncut’s original report below, published on October 12:
Heartbreaking news is coming out of Tennessee after it was learned that American Idol’s runner-up from 2021 has passed away.
According to immediate reports, Willie Spence was just 23 years old at the time of his passing. People reports that Spence died after being involved in a car accident on October 11.
American Idol Runner-Up Dies at 23 Years Old
Willie Spence first took the world by storm when he performed his own rendition of Rihanna’s Diamond. You can watch his performance below:
According to TMZ, details about the crash have yet to be released to the public. Spence was 21 at the time of his American Idol audition and he would ride his talent all the way to the final two contestants. Ultimately Spence would be named the runner-up of his season, with Chayce Beckham winning the whole thing.
Just before singing for the judges, Spence to them that he was doing this for his family, a family who has supported him every step of the way. He later said this to judge Katy Perry, who asked him what he hoped his life would look like five years from then if there was nothing standing in his way:
“I just want my voice to reach the world,” Spence admitted. “And just share my gift. Hopefully winning a GRAMMY one day. That’s where I see myself in five years.”
And so much of the world has been touched by Willie’s voice. Just hours before the crash occurred, Spence took to Instagram to leave the world with one final song and one final message.
During his season of American Idol, Willie got the chance to sing with American Idol alum Katharine McPhee. On Instagram, she took a moment to remember her friend.
Our thoughts and prayers are with Willie Spence’s family and those he loved the most.
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