Former “American Idol” contestant CJ Harris has passed away after suffering a heart attack on Sunday night in Jasper, Alabama, according to TMZ.
The 31-year-old native of Jasper rose to fame after impressing judges during his 2014 audition on American Idol in Salt Lake City with his rendition of the Allman Brothers Band’s hit, “Soulshine.”
Contestant judge Keith Urban told Harris at the time, “You sing ’cause you have to sing, not ’cause you want to sing. And, I mean that in the deepest way. And, that’s why it’s so believable and real.”
The singer went on to captivate audiences with his performances of “Too Close,” “American Woman,” and “Free Fallin'” and was chosen as a wild card in the semi-finals, ultimately making it to the top 6.
After his time on the show, Harris went on to perform with Darius Rucker at The Grand Ole Opry, who he cited as a major influence on his style, and even played for audiences on the season 13 tour of “American Idol.”
