Nashville music community mourns death of Grammy-winning Christian artist Mandisa

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN) — Christian singer and former “American Idol” contestant Mandisa has died at the age of 47, with her representative confirming she was found dead in her Nashville home on Thursday.

“At this time we do not know the cause of death or any further details,” the spokesperson told News 2. “We ask for your prayers for her family and close knit circle of friends during this incredibly difficult time.”

Over the years, Mandisa used her musical passion and her dedication to God to build an award-winning career. Some of her accolades include finishing in the top 10 of “American Idol” season five, reaching number one on Billboard’s top Christian albums, winning multiple Grammy awards, and selling more than a million records.

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Beyond the awards and fame, Mandisa’s friends said it was her compassion for others that shined bright.

“Mandisa was an extraordinary person. She connected on a very deep level with people who were broken, people who had issues with self esteem,” music producer Chris Stevens said, adding that the singer was “very magnetic.”

Stevens helped produce Mandisa’s last two albums, “Overcomer” (2013) and “Out of the Dark” (2017). He spoke about her kind and caring nature, saying she was an advocate to those who needed help and that her use of music as a powerful force for good was one of her strongest traits.

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Mandisa had strong ties to Nashville. She graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in music from Fisk University, where she also was part of the iconic Fisk Jubilee Singers. The group posted the following statement on Facebook about the singer’s death:

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