America’s Got Talent Season 8 contestant Skilyr Hicks is reportedly dead at 23.
The singer’s official cause of death has not yet been released. But her mom, Jodi Hicks told reporters that her daughter suffered from mental health issues and substance abuse.
Hicks auditioned in the hit NBC reality TV show when she was just 14 years old.
At the time, she performed the song that she wrote from her dad, who she lost at an early age.
Prior to her performance, Hicks told judge Mel B that her dad made some bad choices that forced them to be apart. And the last time that she saw him was right before he passed away.
Hicks also told the judges that music saved her life and it also helped her deal with her dad’s untimely passing.
Following her performance, Hicks received four yeses from the judges. Howard Stern, who was still a judge on the show then, told Hicks that her dad must be glowing with pride while watching her performance from above.
According to The New York Post, Hicks reached the second round of auditions and was booted off right before the live shows.
Following her stint on America’s Got Talent, she went on with her life and had several encounters with law enforcement. At the age of 18, she was arrested for underage drinking. She also spent some time in prison for attacking her family members, according to Mirror UK.
Meanwhile, Hicks isn’t only America’s Got Talent contestant that passed away in recent years.
Last week, 30-year-old heavy-metal keyboardist Jay Jay Phillips after succumbing to COVID-19. According to Deadline, Phillips was unvaccinated.
The musician’s bandmates announced his passing on their Instagram account.
“It is with great sadness we inform you all of the loss of our bandmate, brother, and friend jayjayrocks. It still doesn’t feel real and we would give anything to change it. Please respect the family, as well as our wishes as we take our time to grieve and process this detrimental loss,” they said.
Brandon Rogers, a singer, and doctor from Virginia passed away following a fatal car accident in 2017. He auditioned for America’s Got Talent just before he died but when the reality TV show aired, he had already passed on.
At the request of his family, Rogers’ audition was still featured on the show. He received four yeses from the judges.