American Idol said goodbye to one of its own on Monday night.
The long-running competition honored Mandisa — a season five finalist who was found dead in her Nashville home this month — by having series alums Colton Dixon, Melinda Doolittle and Danny Gokey return and reunite to perform Mary’s single “Shackles.” to perform Mary.
Mandisa released this same track as a contestant on the show and said in 2006 that the song meant a lot to her “because it is a testimony that there is nothing too hard for God.”
The artist later recorded this song for her debut album True Beauty in 2007.
At the conclusion of this special performance, the aforementioned trio spoke a few words about Mandisa.
“I’ve known her for over twenty years,” said Doolittle, for example.
“We started singing background in sessions together. And then she came on Idol and I was cheering for her, and I came on the next season and she was cheering for me.
“This is my girl through and through.”
For his part, Gokey said Mandisa was “a fan of people,” adding:
“She was a cheerleader for other people’s music.”
The singer recalled that Mandisa “had the biggest voice for me” when he was released from a record label.
Noting that “Shackles” summed up Mandisa’s life in an imaginative way, Dixon said on television:
“I think she came in praising, I think she left praising. We will miss them, but our loss is a heavenly gain.”
To clarify, we do not yet know Mandisa’s cause of death.
A contemporary Christian singer who made it to the top 10 on the fifth season of American Idol and won a Grammy Award in 2013 for her album “Overcomer,” she was 47 when she died.
“We can confirm that Mandisa was found dead in her house yesterday. “At this time we do not know the cause of death or any further details,” said a social media post confirming the sad news from a few weeks ago.
“We ask for your prayers for her family and close circle of friends during this incredibly difficult time.
“Mandisa was a voice of encouragement and truth to people around the world facing life’s challenges.”
Ahead of the tribute, American Idol released a statement following the news of Mandisa’s death.
“Mandisa was a revered icon on American Idol and in the music industry,” the reality show said in a statement.
“She had become a platinum-selling artist and had won several Grammys for her music. Her death has left everyone on the show heartbroken and we extend our deepest condolences to her family.”
On April 21, Ryan Seacrest confirmed that a tribute was being planned for Mandisa, saying at the time:
“We wanted to take a moment to honor a dear member of the Idol family that we sadly lost this week – Mandisa. She was an inspiration on the show and beyond.
“Our condolences go out to her family and everyone who, like us, called her a friend.”