Colton Dixon, Melinda Doolittle, Danny Gokey Honor Mandisa on AMERICAN IDOL
By Movieguide® Contributor
AMERICAN IDOL alums Colton Dixon, Melinda Doolittle and Danny Gokey recently returned to the show to perform a tribute for the late Mandisa.
The trio sang “Shackles,” which Mandisa performed as a contestant on AMERICAN IDOL in 2006. At the time, she said the song meant a lot to her “because it’s a testimony that there’s nothing too hard for God.”
At the end of the performance, Dixon, Doolittle and Gokey shared their memories of Mandisa.
“I’ve known her for over twenty years,” Doolittle said. “We started off singing background in sessions together. And then she got on IDOL, and I cheered for her, and I came the next season, and she cheered for me. That is my girl through and through.”
Gokey called Mandisa “a fan of people” and a “cheerleader for other people’s music.”
In a statement about performing in the tribute, Gokey elaborated on his relationship with Mandisa, saying, “Mandisa was not only a fellow Idol, but a true friend and a huge part of the CCM music community…Her joy was infectious and she encouraged people on and off stage! When I made my debut in Christian music, she was my greatest supporter.”
“She loved to cheer people on, to help them see the God-given purpose they had in the world. It’s an honor to be the one cheering her on this time and highlighting the impact she had in so many people’s lives,” he concluded.
“I think she came in praising, I think she left praising,” Dixon shared. “We’re going to miss her, but our loss is heaven’s gain.”
Mandisa’s friends and family shared their remembrances of the singer at a recent celebration of Mandisa’s life.
“She brought such joy to our family, to our lives that we’re just going to miss her every day,” Mandisa’s father, John Hundley, said.
Beth Moore, a coworker from Living Proof Ministries, said, “As it turned out, what Mandisa had asked of the Lord over and over again in the presence of many other witnesses, He did indeed grant. He took those shackles off her feet so she could dance.”
Movieguide® previously reported on Mandisa’s death:
Grammy Award-winning Christian artist Mandisa died on Thursday, April 18, at her home in Nashville, Tennessee. She was 47 years old.
Her cause of death is unknown.
“We can confirm that yesterday Mandisa was found in her home deceased,” a rep for the singer told PEOPLE. “At this time we do not know the cause of death or any further details. We ask for your prayers for her family and close knit circle of friends during this incredibly difficult time.”
“Mandisa loved Jesus, and she used her unusually extensive platform to talk about Him at every turn. Her kindness was epic, her smile electric, her voice massive, but it was no match for the size of her heart,” said David Pierce, K-LOVE Chief Media Officer, after her death.
“Mandisa struggled, and she was vulnerable enough to share that with us, which helped us talk about our own struggles. Mandisa’s struggles are over. She is with the God she sang about now. While we are saddened, Mandisa is home. We’re praying for Mandisa’s family and friends and ask you to join us,” he added.
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