The “American Idol” family has misplaced a beloved member.
C.J. Harris, who appeared on the singing level of competition in 2014, died on Jan. 15 in Jasper, Ala., the Walker County coroner verified to E! Information. He was 31.
Harris’ loss of life seemed “purely natural,” the coroner reported. There is presently no proof of foul perform, and his bring about of dying has not but been verified.
In 2014, Harris landed a spot on “American Idol’s” 13th season after attending bus tour auditions in Tuscaloosa and later on performing in entrance of the judges—who at the time were Harry Connick Jr., Jennifer Lopez and Keith City — in Salt Lake Metropolis with his rendition of Allman Brothers Band’s “Soulshine.”
Harris highly developed all the way to the show’s leading 10 finalists, carrying out tunes this kind of as The Marshall Tucker Band’s “Are not able to You See” and John Mayer’s “Gravity.” He completed in sixth location that season.
Adhering to news of Harris’ loss of life, his fellow “American Idol” contestants paid tribute to him on social media, like period winner Caleb Johnson.
“This hurts so substantially,” Johnson wrote on Instagram Jan. 16. “CJ was my roommate on @americanidol for the duration of Hollywood 7 days and then lived proper future doorway to me and @realalexpreston through the are living reveals. We right away grew to become close friends and formed a brotherhood pack,” together with contestants Alex Preston and Sam Woolf.
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Johnson reported he formed “so quite a few awesome memories and experiences” with Harris, including, “Life is so fragile!”
“I am so grateful that our life bought to cross paths in this life span,” he ongoing. “You were being a attractive, kind soul that always created the place brighter with your smile and laughter. Appreciate you brother. you were taken from us way to soon! Until eventually we meet once more.”
Preston — who put 3rd in season 13 — reported he “woke up and thought it was a desire.”
“I cant feel this,” Preston wrote. “I adore you dude. I will constantly don’t forget the good situations we all had.”
Woolf described Harris as “a legitimate and loving individual,” recalling that they “turned shut friends in the course of the demonstrate and have been roommates on the tour.”
“I am very grateful to have gone as a result of that outstanding expertise with him together with Caleb and Alex,” Woolf wrote. “My thoughts go out to his family members. Rest simple my dude.”
Before producing strides on “American Idol’s” 13th period, Harris experienced auditioned just before in 2010 but “never ever designed it past the 1st spherical,” he told the Hollywood Reporter in 2014. He also attempted his hand at “The X-Factor” and “The Voice,” while he explained he “never received by, and it damage me.”
Nevertheless, Harris — whose grandfather released him to songs — was determined to see his aspiration by.
He extra, “I was constantly on the net, hoping to come across a crack, seeking for which producers I could send out my things to.”
Following his time on “American Idol,” Harris took detect on how his lifetime was commencing to alter.
“Just about everywhere I go I’ve been acknowledged, like at Taco Bell, the shopping mall and airports,” he claimed. “People check with me, ‘Are you C.J. Harris?’ I believe, ‘What in the planet is likely on?’ I’m stunned. I do not know them, they are from a complete other entire world than me, but they know who I am. It’s amazing.”
