“American Idol” paid tribute to Season 5 contestant Mandisa after her unexpected death at age 47.
Former contestants Melinda Doolittle, Colton Dixon and Danny Gokey returned to the show on Monday night to perform a rendition of “Shackles (Praise You)” by Mary Mary, which was the first song Mandisa sang on the “Idol” stage in 2006.
The trio discussed the significance of the gospel tune, with Dixon telling host Ryan Seacrest that it summed up the late Christian singer’s life.
“I think she came in praisin’ and she left praisin’,” he said, “but our loss is heaven’s gain.”
Christian rock radio station K-Love announced on April 19 that Mandisa had died at home in Nashville. No cause of death had been given, though the station’s chief media officer, David Pierce, said the “Overcomer” singer’s struggles had ended with her death.
“Mandisa struggled, and she was vulnerable enough to share that with us, which helped us talk about our own struggles,” he shared in a statement.
“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.”
Born and raised in California, Mandisa Lynn Hundley detailed in her 2022 memoir, “Out of the Dark,” the trauma she faced after being raped as a teenager.
She later revealed that her friends’ support and a staged intervention had stopped her from attempting suicide.
“In the same way that if you have a physical ailment, you would go and see a doctor, I’ve come to appreciate counselors,” she shared at the time.
“These are professionals to help you deal with some things that are easy to sweep under the rug. So, through my counseling journey, which has continued, it’s helping me to talk about difficult issues … that I’m forcing myself to face.”
If you or someone you know is affected by any of the issues raised in this story, call or text the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline at 988.
