NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) 鈥 Mandisa, a contemporary Christian singer who appeared on 鈥淎merican Idol鈥 and won a Grammy for her 2013 album 鈥極vercomer鈥, has died. She was 47.
A representative for the singer told The Associated Press that the singer was found dead in her home in Nashville, Tennessee, on Thursday. The representative said the cause of Mandisa's death was not yet known.
Mandisa, whose full name was Mandisa Lynn Hundley, was born near Sacramento, California, and grew up singing in church. She gained stardom after finishing ninth on 鈥淎merican Idol鈥 in 2006.
As she left, host Ryan Seacrest told the singer that she was 鈥渁 great spirit on the show."
Mandisa moved on, releasing her debut album in 2007 called 鈥淭rue Beauty,鈥 which received a Grammy nomination that year for best pop and contemporary gospel album.
She went on to release five more albums, including a Christmas album.
In 2014, she won a Grammy for best contemporary Christian music album for 鈥淥vercomer,鈥 her fifth album.
Mandisa spoke openly about her struggles with depression, releasing a memoir entitled 鈥淥ut of the Dark: My Journey Through the Shadows to Find God鈥檚 Joy鈥 in 2022 that detailed her experiences with severe depression, weight-related challenges, the coronavirus pandemic and her faith.
On Friday, the Christian radio network K-Love paid tribute to the singer on social media, saying: 鈥淢andisa struggled, and she was vulnerable enough to share that with us, which helped us talk about our own struggles.鈥
