Too soon. Many budding musicians found their big break on the American Idol A few people lost their lives during this stage.
Nikki McKibbin was also there Kelly Clarkson Justin GuariniSeason 1, died in November 2020, at the age 42. The Fear Factor alum, who finished in third place on the competition’s debut season in 2002, suffered a brain aneurysm several weeks before her death.
“She would already be gone, but she’s an organ donor and has been kept on life support to make that possible,” McKibbin’s husband, Craig SadlerAt the time, he wrote via Facebook. “That shouldn’t be a surprise to us. She is still giving even at the end. She was so loved that I am sure thousands of you will be mourning with her. There are only a few hours left for me to hold her hand and kiss her forehead.”
McKibbin — who returned to the reality TV program in 2014 when son Tristen Langley auditioned — was later honored by Guarini.
“@realnikkimckibbin was a fiery, funny lady who could sing the Hell out of a rock song with the same kind of ease and command she lovingly used to cut you with her twangy Southern wit,” the Broadway vet — who placed in second behind Clarkson — wrote via Instagram after his former competitor’s death. “Even in our 20’s when we were on American Idol together I could tell that she’d had a challenging life, and that not that many people had been kind to her along the way. … After the kind of emotional beating she took at the hands of the masses, she deserved to feel good about herself, even for a little while. Rest well, ‘Gypsy’…and thank you for the laughter, merciless teasing, strength, vulnerability, love and friendship you showed me during our time together in the spotlight.”
McKibbin’s not the only one American Idol After their tenure on reality TV, an alum has died. Us Weekly August 2019 confirmed that Haley Smith was in a fatal motorcycle accident.
Smith, who had auditioned for the season 11, was declared dead by police officers at the Millinocket scene, Maine after failing to make a sharp turning while riding her motorcycle.
The Utah native of the late era once won a crowd Jennifer Lopez, Steven Tyler Randy Jackson2012, her folky rendition of Rufus Chaka Khan’s “Tell Me Something Good.”
“We are sorry to hear of the passing of Haley Smith and our thoughts and prayers are with her family,” a tweet from the show’s official account read after news of her death made headlines.
For more information, scroll down American Idol’s biggest tragedies through the years:
