AMERICAN IDOL Alum Willie Spence Dies At 23 in Car Crash
By Movieguide® Staff
Singer Willie Spence, best known as a runner-up finalist on Season 19 of AMERICAN IDOL, died in a car crash on Oct. 11. He was 23.
DouglasNow, a local Tennessee news station, first reported that the Douglas, Tennessee native was killed after a motor vehicle accident.
Fellow AMERICAN IDOL alum Katharine McPhee confirmed the news on her Instagram Story, which included a video of her and Spence together.
“I received very tragic news tonight,” McPhee wrote in the caption. “Sweet @williespenceofficial passed away in a car accident. Only 23 years old. Life is so unfair and nothing is ever promised. God rest your soul Willie. It was a pleasure to sing with you and to know you.”
McPhee wrote in a later comment on his Instagram: “Sweet Willie… you deserved the stars and the moon. I’m so sorry for the world to be robbed of more precious time with you. You were an absolute Angel. I know you are up there now with the rest of the angels. God rest your soul. For now I’m 💔”
FOX31 reported: “Preliminary findings say that Spence’s Jeep Cherokee left the roadway around 4 p.m. and collided into the back of the tractor trailer.”
The news outlet also noted that Spence had fixed a flat tire on his Jeep earlier in the day on that same Tuesday.
Spence had posted a video of himself singing a worship song in the car just hours before the fatal accident.
The hymn that Spence sang was originally written by Michael Ledner and reads:
You are my hiding place
You always fill my heart
With songs of deliverance
Whenever I am afraidI will trust in You
I will trust in You
Let the weak say I am strong
In the strength of the Lord
I will trust in You
AMERICAN IDOL producer Randall Emmett also left a tribute to Spence, saying: “I was lucky to have him sing for me live at my home and other events. I will miss you my friend. I know you touched so many of us.”
Country star Mickey Guyton commented on Instagram: “You truly were and will always be such a gift to us. We love you.”
