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(CP) Police have offered an replace on their investigation into the dying of 47-year-old Christian artist Mandisa on April 18 as fellow musicians have mirrored on the affect she had on their lives.
While no explanation for dying has been revealed, Franklin Police Department officers in Tennessee stated Monday that no foul play is suspected.
“At this time, there isn’t a indication the dying was the results of suspicious or prison exercise,” stated police spokesperson Max Winitz in a statement. “The Franklin Police Department ship its condolences to Hundley’s household, buddies, and followers.”
In a social media put up shortly after Hundley was discovered dead in her Franklin house on April 18, TobyMac (Toby McKeehan), who collaborated with the “American Idol” alum on a number of songs, together with “Lose My Soul,” “Good Mornin'” and “Bleed the Same,” lamented the lack of a “stunning soul.”
He remembered her as an “genuine” Christian who wasn’t afraid to share her battles with a watching world.
“I’ve by no means met an artist who’s extra encouraging and supportive to different artists than Mandisa,” he captioned a photograph of the 2 of them.
“She was sincere and genuine however I all the time left her aspect feeling higher. She watched each act, each evening on each tour singing together with a smile that made you are feeling alive. From ‘Lose My Soul’ to ‘Bleed the Same’ to ‘Good Mornin’ I used to be honored not solely to collaborate together with her however to name her pal. She was sincere about her struggles and seen her break throughs as a chance to let others know that they’ll expertise victories similar to her. She noticed us as a household. God’s household. In all our variety. All flawed. And all in want of the love of a Good Father, a Heavenly Father.”
I do know her battle is over however I’ll all the time treasure her reminiscence and that smile and infectious chortle that I had the pleasure of experiencing so typically.”
The Christian radio station Okay-LOVE first reported Mandisa’s dying in an announcement on Friday.
“Mandisa cherished Jesus, and he or she used her unusually in depth platform to speak about Him at each flip,” stated Okay-LOVE Chief Media Officer David Pierce. “Her kindness was epic, her smile electrical, her voice large, however it was no match for the scale of her coronary heart.”
In 2005, Hundley appeared on “American Idol” and superior to the highest 9 contestants. She launched her first album, True Beauty in 2007 and debuted on the Top Christian Album charts together with her first single, “Only the World.”
Hundley gained Best Contemporary Christian Music Album for Overcomer on the 56th Grammy Awards in 2014.
Over the years, the artist was open about her struggles with psychological sickness and melancholy. In a 2022 interview with The Christian Post, she stated she started scuffling with melancholy and anxiousness after considered one of her finest buddies died of breast most cancers.
“I remoted myself, I did not need to discuss it, and I battled with the disgrace of feeling like I did not have sufficient religion or that God was displeased with me,” she recalled.
The singer stated she modified her perspective after studying the Bible and discovering that “plenty of these individuals we examine wrestled with comparable issues.”
She cited as examples Elijah, “who one minute is asking down fireplace from the heavens and defeating the prophets of Baal, after which the subsequent second sitting by a tree and asking God to let him die,” and David, “who could be very sincere all through the Psalms concerning the ache he felt internally, and he was somebody God known as a person after His personal coronary heart.”
Mandisa discovered consolation in Psalm 13:1-6, which asks, “How lengthy, O LORD? Will you neglect me endlessly? How lengthy will you disguise your face from me?” At the identical time, the Bible verse declares, “my coronary heart rejoices in your salvation,” and features a vow to “sing to the LORD, for he has been good to me.”
Following the information of her dying, a number of Christian singers and “American Idol” alumni who knew the late singer shared her constructive affect on their lives.
“Mandisa’s smile was like turning on sunshine,” stated singer-songwriter Amy Grant on Instagram.
“Broke my coronary heart after I heard the information!” wrote singer and actress Jennifer Hudson. “She was actually a lady of religion. A vibrant mild that made such a strong imprint on this world. Rest in heaven, Mandisa!”
Fellow American Idol alumn Artist Danny Gokey stated he’s “devastated.”
“Not solely did we join over being American Idol alumni — we had a good time on the street doing a number of excursions collectively,” he wrote. “Her pleasure was infectious & I cherished her coronary heart to encourage individuals on & off stage! When I made my debut in Christian music she was my best supporter. It wasn’t simple coming off my first failed file deal after the present however she was the one who welcomed me first and loudest and rallied everybody to help me. Mandisa you left too quickly — our group won’t ever be the identical with out you.”
© The Christian Post
