Kevin Dougherty Funeral Home Obituaries, Articles P

Raised in Toronto, LaBelle had choir experience, participated in beauty pageants and appeared in musicals before she tried out for Idol. After a stint in college, She signed a record deal in 2011 with L.A. Reids Epic that was also associated with Pharrell Williams and Jermaine Dupri. Her most well-known performance may be her rendition of Alannah Myles' song "Black Velvet.". The most recent tragedy struck in early October 2022 when Willie Spence died in a car accident in Tennessee. The Orange County coroner's office told People Johns died of natural causes "as the result of a disease called dilated cardiomyopathy, a condition in which the heart becomes weakened and enlarged." Instead of singing beneath bright lights in large stadiums, part of Smith's job at Coach's Bricktown, a local sports bar, was to sing "Happy Birthday" to customers. ", An outpouring of love was sent to their families upon their death, including a message from Barrino, who tweeted, "This just doesn't seem right even saying right now but Rest In Peace Baby Girl @leahlabelle I will never forget you. Paula Goodspeed Sent Abdul Flowers Days Before Suicide The sheriffs determined that Ms. Goodspeed may be up in the vicinity by Paula Abduls house. Its a different thing, she added. Spence finished second in Season 19 and impressed audiences with his passionate performances. It was a very tragic, unfortunate, [and] sad, Paula told Billy I was very blessed and lucky to have been at [work at Idols] Hollywood Week when it happened.. But after singing her rendition of Tina Turners Proud Mary, the woman was roundly panned by the shows judges. Billy asked Paula if she felt any guilt surrounding Goodspeeds death. She sang Whitney Houstons I Believe in You and Me for her audition and became one of 32 semi-finalists. Copyright 2022 NBCUniversal Media, LLC. When you visit this site, it may store or retrieve information on your browser, mostly in the form of cookies. 'I can't point fingers at them and say they knew everything about this person, because I don't genuinely think that was the case. Goodspeeds 2006 audition was not Paulas first encounter with the stalker. He tried to pursue a music career in L.A. but instead moved back home. American Idol will return for its 21st season next year on ABC. I spoke to them after the incident, they were absolutely horrified. He went to the doctor before christmas because he was feeling tired and they never spotted any problems, she said. At the time, Reuters reported that prescription pills, along with CDs and pictures of Abdul, were found in the car. All the while, he was recording the best music of his life.. However, the producers did not oblige. ", "Idol" judge Simon Cowell made fun of Goodspeed's braces. Lionel Richie, Katy Perry, and Luke Bryan will return as judges, with Ryan Seacrest as host. She spends her spare time shooting astro, nature, and portrait photography, and coming up with movie ideas that she hopes to make into a film someday. Celebs Who Have Been Stalked | Entertainment Tonight PEOPLE.com and the Peoples Choice Awards are counting your votes! When McIntyre visited California, her aunt showed her Abduls house, but not in a way that suggested she was a stalker. 'She would, literally, be first on the list as far as I'm concerned in any capacity. According to The Hollywood Reporter, the Orange County Coroner's report said Johns died from an enlarged heart and a "fatty liver." After Idol, the soul-blues singer released his 2009 full-length album,Hold Back My Heart,followed by the EPLove and Sexin 2012, according toRolling Stone. Rickey Smith, who appeared on American Idol Season 2, was killed by a drunk driver in Oklahoma City on May 5, 2016. During the last few weeks of his life, he was going between friends homes, rehab facilities, psychiatric wards, and hotels. 'American Idol' deaths: Full list of singers we've lost Click the photo above to watch the video. The car, parked a few doors down from Abduls house, featured a license plate ABL LV and had a photo of Abdul hanging from the rear view mirror. Scroll on for a look at each singer's life. The Brooklyn native was 32 years old. Please do not let her in.' James Miller told Access, adding that the coroner's office is still conducting their investigation. James Miller. Its just a sad situation all around., Reporting by JENNIFER GARCIA, LIZA HAMM and KEN LEE. American Idol Stars Who Tragically Passed Away - Nicki Swift She said: 'She has been a stalker-fan for about 17 years and it wasn't until American Idol that she knew how to get to me. A stand-up comic who frequently addressed his own past as a heroin addict, which led to contracting HIV, Mike DeStefano was featured on season 7 of NBC's Last Comic Standing. With online users feeling closer to her than every during her health journey, they were hit hard when the 32-year-old died of endometrial cancer on October 18, 2014. This has been ruled an apparent suicide, said LAPD officer April Harding. If theres anything to take away from this article, and video, its that people can struggle silently. This website uses cookies so that we can provide you with the best user experience possible. Gabriel Ben-Meir, a 30-year-old music coordinator for MTV who worked on Punk'dand other shows for the network, was shot to death outside his home in L.A.'s mid-Wilshire district in May 2011. Paula Abdul's life - chronic pain, death outside home, American Idol Cohen was 25 at the time of her death. We genuinely didn't know.'. Sadly, since the timeAmerican Idoldebuted in 2002,a few contestants have lost their lives in tragic car accidents, while another contender took her own life near one of the judges' homes. According to reports, prescription pills, CDs, and pictures of the singer were found littered in Goodspeed's car. 1. He left the show to join rehab, and get his substance abuse under control. She was 42. Thats where she belted out Ben (Top 10), Piece of My Heart (Top 8), Heartbreaker (Top 7), Hard-Hearted Hannah (Top 6), (Theres) Always Something There to Remind Me (Top 5) and Mary Jane (Top 4). She was 30 and had been obsessed with Abdul since she was 12 years old. Her performance of Total Eclipse of the Heart in the semi-finals sent her through to the live shows. Online. Jewell, the fiance of Real Housewives of AtlantastarKandiBurruss,was fatally shot during a brawl at an Atlanta nightclub in Dec. 2009. An obsessed fan of American Idol and star Paula Abdul, Paula Goodspeed had her first name legally changed to that of her hero. Paula Goodspeed's suicide: Don't blame 'Idol,' even as we all At the time, Reuters reported that prescription pills, along with CDs and pictures of Abdul, were found in the car. She was one of the first Idol singers, having appeared in the show's first season. Joanne Borgella impressed the judges during American Idol Season 7, reaching the Top 24. At first reports said he died from a blood clot after suffering an ankle injury. It is said that Goodspeed sent Abdul a bouquet of flowers before killing herself. Detective Robert Bub, of Los Angeles police, said he thought Paula Goodspeed had died of "suicide by overdose". Goodspeeds Idol audition was prominently featured by the show, and in her interview with host Ryan Seacrest, she clearly expressed her affection for Abdul. His mother opened up to The Mirror and talked about how she had no idea her son was struggling. Paulas Sherman Oaks home is currently listed for sale, and Paula says she was glad not to be at home the day the heartbreaking event occurred. Abdul was at the studio at the time the body was found and wasnt aware of it until she was told by the network, her rep says. Some of these American Idol singers who died too soon were fan favorites. PLAY IT NOW: Dish Of Salt: American Idol Stars Holiday Concert, Metropolitan Police Department (DC Police / MPD), Family Awaits Return of DC Mother Missing for More Than 3 Weeks, Man Shot Wife, Her Brother Before Shooting Himself: Police, Daughter of Buccaneers LB Shaq Barrett Drowns in Family Pool, 3 People Found Dead in Home in Springfield, Virginia; Toddler Found Alive, Why Fans Say Trips to Disney World Are Now Incredibly Complicated' to Pull Off. Excerpts of the coroner's report, which was released. Cause of death: When she was 42 years old, McKibbin suffered an aneurysm. Her parents, who reported her missing the same day, had previously told sheriffs that they thought she would be at Abduls house. Goodspeed killed herself by overdosing on drugs in her car outside . During that same audition, Cowell also said he saw a resemblance between Goodspeed and her idol Abdul. Police confirmed Goodspeed died after overdosing and had been involved in several incidents at Abdul's home in recent years. She was 26. Gold Derby editors and Experts Christopher Rosen and Joyce Eng debate the big category switch by Kieran Culkin (Succession), who is now competing for Best Drama Actor. Paula Mae Goodspeed was born July 4,1978 in Waterville,Maine by the name of Sandra Mae McIntyre and later married and had 2 boys,It wasnt until after her divorce she moved to California to try to get into the entertainment industry and changed her first name to . All rights reserved. She died in her car, parked outside Abdul's home in Sherman Oaks, California. "It's the typical brother thing that we have. She was kept on life support until her organs could be harvested. Leah LaBelle was just 16-years-old when she auditioned for Season 3 ofAmerican Idol. He confessed to drinking "about six beers" and driving drunk, but his lawyer believed he had been "coerced into confessing," theNY Daily News reported. But what people don't realize, this was a serious, serious situation. He finished in eighth place and took part in the American Idol Live! Joanne Borgella, from Season 7, died in October 2014 at age 32 after a rare form of endometrial cancer spread to her brain, according to Pop Culture. [UPDATING LIVE BLOG], Im a Celebrity Get Me Out of Here! Winners List: All 22 Champs in Chronological Order [PHOTOS], Emmy spotlight: Yellowjackets costume designer Amy Parris deserves first nomination for that gnarly winter gear. As previously reported by the outlet, she made . My heart and prayers go out to her family. Simon Cowell reveals his 'regret' over American Idol contestant's American Idol Stars Who Tragically Passed Away. Let us know what you feel about this article. I will miss you my Friend RIP Ricky Smith. Show history: McKibbin appeared on Season 1 of American Idol in 2002, where she ultimately placed third behind runner-up Justin Guarini and winner Kelly Clarkson. Abdul on Fan Suicide: 'Been a Very Tough Three Weeks for Me' Her final performances on the show turned out to be Edge of Seventeen and Black Velvet during Top 3 week. My heart and prayers go out to her family.. Abdul 'shocked' over death of fan 11:12 EDT 18 Dec 2008. Subscribe for full access to The Hollywood Reporter. Stalker: Paula Goodspeed - Former "American Idol" contestant who pronounced her love for the "X-Factor" judge at a 2006 audition - Reportedly died from an apparent suicide outside Abdul's home. Why a Paula Abdul fan died | The Week WGA Tells Members to Get Ready to Picket If a Deal Isnt Reached, Shonda Rhimes, Queen Charlotte Cast on Telling an Empowering Story in Bridgerton Spinoff, Emmy-Winning Series 100 Foot Wave Returns Heres When to Soak Up Season 2 Online, Penske Media Corporation Launches The Hollywood Reporter Roma With Brainstore Media, John Oliver Mocks Matthew McConaugheys Five-Hour Virtual Motivational Seminar, The Morning Show Snags Early Season 4 Renewal at Apple TV+, Barry Star Sarah Goldberg on Sallys Point of No Return: Its the Final Nail in the Coffin, Succession Director on Filming That Surprise Cameo and Tying Up Her Kendall Trilogy, Melanie Lynskey Says Cate Blanchett, Sarah Paulson Lent Their Trailers on Mrs. LaBelle's blood alcohol level was .144. She was cut in the top 30 round, but Paula Abdul used her wildcard selection to advance her to the top 12. Show history: She tried out for the 3rdSeason of American Idol at age 16 and appeared on the show as a senior in high school. 'Prior to that, it was always through a fan club. Because the truth of the matter is we brought them there. Burruss, a successful songwriter and producer behind hits like TLC's "No Scrubs" and Pink's "Can't Take Me Home," tweeted at the time, " I could never n a million years imagine this happening. Paula, originally, Sandra Goodspeed was found dead in her car, parked close to Abdul's house in what appeared to be a case of suicide. Unfortunately, Spence is one of several Idol contestants who have died since they appeared on the show. McKibbin performed on American Idol when the show was beginning to develop huge audiences for its episodes. Join the Fun!! Whos your Favorite Star Under 35? Photo: Fitzroy Barrett/Landov; Courtesy Entertainment Tonight/Reuters/Landov, N.J. Student, 11, Found Dead in School Bathroom After She Reported Alleged Bullying, BTS Members: Everything to Know About the K-Pop Supergroup, Joey McIntyre on His 'Extraordinary Night' Performing at Carnegie Hall: 'It Was Hard Not to Get Emotional', Benson Boone Says His Debut Album Which He Confirms Is Coming Is the Start of a 'New Era', Katy Perry, Lionel Richie and Luke Bryan Tear Up at 'Idol' Contestant's Tribute to Willie Spence, Who Is Jen Shah's Husband? Weve seen a lot of people. I feel awful and don't know how to cope. A DMV check of the license showed that the car was registered to Goodspeed. According to Paula, this was not the first time Goodspeed had come to Paulas house to attempt to end her life. News. That's rude. Its not like Im moving just because of this, Paula explained. Her death was covered by such major outlets as The New York Times, Entertainment Weekly and Newsweek. Dunn, who was 34 at the time of his death, was found to have a blood alcohol level of 0.196 percent more than twice the legal limit and was traveling between 132 and 140 miles per hour when the car crashed. 'Ill make a decision next year as to what I do as an onscreen judge because there is a big, big schedule now and I do two other shows, so its been hard. And the thing is, that all she could do was get a hold of me through my fan club.. You know, [she] had attempted to do that a few months prior, Paula continued. Lynche, who also appeared on the All-New Mickey Mouse Club as a child actor, died from "acute and chronic alcoholism," according to officials. Paula Abdul Opens Up About Stalker's Suicide | Access Online Kovar later appeared on VH1's Celebrity Rehab with Dr. Drew. 'Heart and prayers' She also shot Wilson's dog. The Toronto, Ontario native had a brief recording deal in 2011 with L.A. Reid's Epic Records. Cause of death: He was killed at age 36 after a drunk driver going the wrong way crashed into his car when he was returning to his home in Oklahoma City. She also won the first season of Mo'Nique's Fat Chance pageant in 2005. Johns was 35 years old. Raiola had been a main character on the VH1 show since 2012. She died in her car, parked outside Abdul's home in Sherman Oaks, California. She signed up with Wilhelmina Models and appeared on the show Curvy Girls in 2013. As one of the finalists on the show, he was part of the American Idol Live! Sign up for THR news straight to your inbox every day. The Dark Side of Reality TV: 27 Tragic Deaths "She lived with me and she was my roommate.". A post shared by Simone Battle (@simonebattle). His set list included I Was Here (Showstopper), Wind Beneath My Wings (Top 24), The Prayer (Top 24), Set Fire to the Rain (Top 16), Diamonds (Top 16), Stand Up (Top 12), Circle of Life (Top 10), Yellow (Top 7), You Are So Beautiful (Top 7), Glory (Top 4), What Theyll Say Bout Us (Top 4), Georgia On My Mind (Finale) and A Change is Gonna Come (Finale). Second best episode of the season. Country star Mindy McCready appeared on Celebrity Rehab with Dr. Drew in 2009, in which her struggles with addiction were documented. We invited them there and then they show up at our house for a cocktail party and Simon goes, What the hell are you doing here? But the thing is, their talent does not warrant, you suck, because these are talented kids.. Alexis Cohen was featured in the auditions episodes of Seasons 7 and 8. I can't even imagine if I was right there in my home. Her time in the spotlight was far from over, though. Show history: Smith tried out on Season 11 in 2012 at age 18 during auditions that were held in Colorado. Death 11 Nov 2008 (aged 30) Sherman Oaks, Los Angeles County, California, USA . As The Telegraph reported at the time, Goodspeed used her MySpace blog to write about how difficult life became after her audition, in which Cowell mocked her braces. 'Kitchen Nightmares' Restaurateur the Latest Reality TV Tragedy The Bachelor cast member Gia Allmand died tragically in August 2013 at age 29 "following an apparent suicide attempt," a statement from her family read. Hundreds of people attended a memorial event in East London for Jack. Obsessed Abdul Fan's Autopsy | The Smoking Gun Signs of Goodspeeds infatuation with Abdul included her cars personalized license plate ABL LV and a photo of Abdul hanging from the rearview mirror. He was 36 years old. One of the first American Idol contestants, Nikki McKibbin died from a brain aneurysm on Oct. 28, 2020, as reported by her husband, Craig Sadler, and their family. Cookies collect information about your preferences and your device and are used to make the site work as you expect it to, to understand how you interact with the site, and to show advertisements that are targeted to your interests. After singing Jefferson Airplane's "Somebody To Love" in Season 7, Simon Cowell said he didn't think "this competition" was "the route" for her, which prompted Cohen to leave the judging room and fly into a tirade. She was excited, says McIntyre. He became close to that years winner, Ruben Studdard. He was doing some shallow water shots for his daughter Bindi's TV show, Bindi the Jungle Girl, when a stingray pierced his chest with its tail spine. Police: Paula Abdul 'Fan' Likely Died From Overdose Copyright 2022 NBCUniversal Media, LLC. She wore the craziest outfits. All Rights Reserved. Subscribe for Latest Update! She also discussed how she felt her son was hopeless, and lost. Deadline Media, Get our free, urgent prediction updates and news, American Society of Cinematographers Awards 2023, Emmy Noms Predictions Odds: All Star Users, Leaderboards: See All Past Prediction Accuracy Scores, Leaderboards: Best Prediction Accuracy Scores for Film, TV and Music Awards, Leaderboards: Best TV Show Predictions by Gold Derby Users, Find a User or Expert / Download Gold Derbys Free, New App, Watch our video interviews with top awards contenders: directors, producers, below-the-line artisans and , Watch our lively predictions slugfests with Experts and Editors, Jessica Chastain and Michael Shannon (George and Tammy), Jennifer Coolidge (The White Lotus: Sicily), Vera Farmiga and Cherry Jones (Five Days at Memorial), 'American Idol' Top 20: Who gave the best performance? Cause of death: Smith died at age 26 in a motorcycle accident in Millinocket, Maine. Her other plans for 2009 include her first album of new material in more than a decade and a new reality show special for MTV called "Rah! A woman who authorities said once tried to become a contestant on "American Idol" was found dead outside the Sherman Oaks home of "Idol" judge Paula Abdul in a case police are investigating as a. And now, the Idol judge claims that it was not the first time the troubled woman had attempted to take her own life near Paulas home. Baker was featured in auditions filmed in Puerto Rico. Michael Johns was an Australian singer who started a career in Atlanta before he appeared on Idol Season 7 in 2008. You have so much metal in your mouth. And the thing is, that all she could do was get a hold of me through my fan club.. Tour our photo gallery below for a closer look at all of the American Idol deaths. Click here to vote now! Billy asked Paula if she felt any guilt surrounding Goodspeeds death.