American Idol runner-up Willie Spence is dead at 23 years old after sustaining injuries in a car crash in Tennessee, Douglas Now has reported. A family member also confirmed the news to TMZ and detailed how the singer had a flat tire that had been fixed, but at some point during his trip to Atlanta, he hit a parked semi-truck.
Willie Spence is best known as a runner-up in season 19 of American Idol. He sang songs like A Change is Gonna Come by Sam Cooke and Georgina on My Mind by Hoagy Carmichael, Ray Charles, and Stuart Gorrell. Chayce Beckham ended up winning that season.
American Idol runner-up Willie Spence reported dead after a car crash
The start that led him to earn second place on the singing competition show was his audition of Diamonds by Rihanna. He told judges Katy Perry, Luke Bryan, and Lionel Richie that he was doing it for family and how they “supported” him “from the very beginning.” He also told them about his love for performing.
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Coming off his successful run on American Idol, Willie Spence was set to perform in London on November 12 to promote his EP The Voice. He was going to perform with Lois Moodie, Emmanuel Smith, Loxton Michael, and Kieron Daniel.
