The soulful vocalist, who finished in the top 9 during the fifth season of ‘American Idol’, later won a Grammy in 2014 for her inspirational album ‘Overcomer’.
Mandisa’s cause of death has been revealed.
The Grammy winner and American Idol alum passed away due to complications from class III obesity at the age of 47, as confirmed by an autopsy report.
According to the report, she was discovered by friends at her home on April 18, and had last been known to be alive about three weeks earlier.
Her death was described as natural.
Class III obesity is defined by having a body mass index (BMI) of 40 or higher, or a BMI over 35 with related health issues, according to the Cleveland Clinic.
On April 19, a representative for Mandisa confirmed her death. The statement read, “We can confirm that yesterday Mandisa was found in her home deceased. At this time, we do not know the cause of death or any further details. We ask for your prayers for her family and close-knit circle of friends during this incredibly difficult time.”
Originally from Citrus Heights, California, the singer pursued music during college and gained widespread admiration as a contestant on season 5 of American Idol. She secured a spot in the top 9 alongside other favorites such as Katharine McPhee, Kellie Pickler, Chris Daughtry, Paris Bennett, Elliott Yamin, and eventual winner Taylor Hicks.
After her time on Idol, Mandisa released her debut album, True Beauty, in 2007, debuting at No. 1 on the Billboard Top Christian Albums chart. This achievement made her the first new female artist to hold that position, and earned her a Grammy nomination for best pop/contemporary gospel album.
Over her career, Mandisa released five more albums, including 2013’s Overcomer, which garnered her the Grammy Award for best contemporary Christian music album the following year.
Following the death of her best friend and backup singer Kisha Mitchell from breast cancer in 2014, Mandisa faced a dark period. “When she passed away, it shook the foundations underneath me,” she shared in 2017. “I sank into a deep pit of depression.”
Her struggles with mental health led to weight gain and a reclusive lifestyle.
“You’re battling shame, and you don’t want to leave the house,” recalled Mandisa. “I didn’t leave the house, for the most part. When I got up, I went downstairs, sat in the recliner, and watched television nonstop. The only time I left was when I got tired of pizza delivery and decided to get McDonald’s.”
Closing herself off from friends and her passion for music, Mandisa admitted to feeling “so miserable” and “hopeless,” struggling with thoughts of suicide.
“I am a woman of faith, and I believe that heaven is real, and when I do leave here, I’m going to be in heaven with Jesus,” she recalled. “One of the things I started hearing during that dark period was: ‘You’re in so much pain. If you take your life, you could be in heaven right now with Jesus.’”
In 2016, she ventured out to watch a movie and encountered a heartwarming intervention from friends. “When I left the movie theater, I saw my car: It had a bunch of sticky notes all over it. The notes said things like ‘We love you’ and ‘We miss you’ and ‘Come back to us,’” she said.
“As I walked closer to my car, I realized a bunch of my friends had been sitting there waiting for me. They insisted that I get counseling, and that is what helped me finally start dealing with my grief. If that hadn’t happened, I probably wouldn’t be here today,” Mandisa added.
As she focused on improving her mental well-being, she also worked on her physical health. “I’m making one healthy choice after another, 1 lb. at a time,” she stated.
She channeled her experiences into her 2017 album, Out of the Dark, and shared her journey in the 2022 memoir, Out of the Dark: My Journey Through the Shadows to Find God’s Joy.
“When you are walking through this, you think that you’re the only one,” she said. “But you are never the only person walking through something like that.”
If you or someone you know needs mental health help, text “STRENGTH” to the Crisis Text Line at 741-741 to be connected to a certified crisis counselor.
