(CP) Police have given an replace on their investigation into the April 18 demise of 47-year-old Christian artist Mandisa as fellow musicians mirror on the affect she has had on their lives.
Whereas no explanation for demise has been launched, officers with the Franklin Police Division in Tennessee mentioned Monday that foul play is just not suspected.
“There isn’t any indication at the moment that the demise is the results of suspicious or prison exercise,” police spokesman Max Winitz mentioned. declaration. “The Franklin Police Division sends its condolences to Hundley's household, associates and followers.”
In a social media put up shortly after Hundley was discovered lifeless at her Franklin residence on April 18, TobyMac (Toby McKeehan), who collaborated with the “American Idol” alum on a number of songs, together with “Lose My Soul,” “Good Mornin '” and “Bleed the Identical,” lamenting the lack of a “lovely soul.”
He remembered her as an “genuine” Christian who wasn't afraid to share her battles with the watching world.
“I've by no means met an artist who encourages and helps different artists greater than Mandisa,” he captioned a photograph of the 2.
“She was sincere and genuine, however I all the time left her feeling higher. She watched each act, each night time on each tour she sang with a smile that made him really feel alive. From 'Lose My Soul' to 'Bleed the Identical' to 'Good morning, it was an honor not solely to work along with her however to name her good friend.She was sincere about her struggles and noticed her breakthroughs as a chance to let others know that they will expertise victory identical to her household of God in all our variety and all want the love of an excellent Father, heavenly Father.”
I do know her battle is over, however I’ll all the time cherish her reminiscence and that smile and contagious giggle that I had the pleasure of experiencing so typically.”
Christian radio station Okay-LOVE first reported Mandisa's demise in a press release Friday.
“Mandisa cherished Jesus and used her unusually large platforms to speak about Him at each flip,” mentioned Okay-LOVE Media Director David Pierce. “Her kindness was epic, her smile electrical, her voice huge however no match for the dimensions of her coronary heart.
In 2005, Hundley appeared on “American Idol” and superior to the highest 9 contestants. She launched her first album, True magnificence in 2007 and debuted on the Prime Christian Album chart along with her first single, “Solely the World.”
Hundley gained the award for Greatest Modern Christian Music Album Conqueror on the 56th Grammy Awards in 2014.
Through the years, the artist has been open about her struggles with psychological sickness and despair. In an interview with The Christian Put up in 2022, she mentioned she started fighting despair and anxiousness after one among her greatest associates died of breast most cancers.
“I remoted myself, didn't need to speak about it, and struggled with the disgrace of feeling like I didn't have sufficient religion or that God didn't like me,” she recalled.
The singer mentioned she modified her perspective after studying the Bible and realizing that “a whole lot of these individuals we had been studying about had been fighting comparable issues.”
She cited as examples Elijah “who is asking down fireplace from the heavens and defeating the prophets of Baal one minute, after which the subsequent he’s sitting by a tree asking God to let him die,” and David “who may be very sincere within the Psalms concerning the ache that he felt inwardly, and he was one whom God known as a person after his personal coronary heart.”
Mandisa discovered consolation in Psalm 13:1-6, which asks, “How lengthy, Lord? Will you overlook me perpetually? How lengthy will you conceal your face from me?” On the similar time, the Bible verse declares: “my coronary heart rejoices in your salvation” and accommodates the promise to “sing to the Lord, for he has been good to me”.
Following the information of her demise, a number of Christian singers and “American Idol” alumni who knew the late singer shared her constructive affect on their lives.
“Mandis' smile was like sunshine,” singer-songwriter Amy Grant mentioned on Instagram.
“I used to be heartbroken to listen to the information!” wrote singer and actress Jennifer Hudson. “She was actually a lady of religion. A brilliant mild that left such a robust mark on this world. Relaxation in Heaven, Mandisa!”
Artist Danny Gokey, a former member of American Idol, mentioned he was “devastated”.
“Not solely did we bond over being American Idol alumni — we had a good time on the highway doing a number of excursions collectively,” he wrote. “Her pleasure was infectious and I cherished her coronary heart as she inspired individuals on and off the stage! She was my greatest supporter after I made my debut in Christian music. It wasn't simple strolling away from my first failed document deal after the present, however she was the one who stored me going he welcomed first and loudest and rallied everybody to assist me, Mandisa, you're gone too quickly – our group won’t ever be the identical with out you.”
© The Christian Put up
