Mandisa death investigated by cops after American Idol star dies aged 47 trends now

Cops are investigating the death of former American Idol contestant Mandisa Lynn Hundley who passed away at age 47. 

The Grammy Award-winning musician competed on the fifth season of the popular talent show, finishing in ninth place. After that, she went on to have a celebrated career in Christian music. 

A statement released on Mandisa's Facebook page revealed that she was found dead in her home on April 18. 

Her cause of death is unknown and Franklin Police Department officials have opened an investigation into her passing, according to the Tennessean.

'Mandisa was a voice of encouragement and truth to people facing life’s challenges all around the world.' The post concluded with some of her own lyrics. 

'I'm already home/You've got to lay it down/'cause Jesus holds me now - And I am not alone.'  

In a 2017 interview with ABC News, Mandisa opened up about her struggles with depression, saying that she contemplated suicide.  

'Even more than her music, the Platinum-selling singer will forever be known for her huge heart and sincerity,' Christian radio station K-Love said in a statement announcing her passing. 

'Mandisa loved Jesus, and she used her unusually extensive platform to talk about Him at every turn. Her kindness was epic, her smile electric, her voice massive, but it was no match for the size of her heart,' the station's media officer, David Pierce said.

'Mandisa struggled, and she was vulnerable enough to share that with us, which helped us talk about our own struggles.'

Mandisa was a native of Citrus Heights, California, and studied vocal jazz at American River College in Sacramento and music at Fisk University in Tennessee. 

Her debut album, True Beauty, was released in 2007, it was her 2013 album Overcomer which won a Grammy for Best Contemporary Christian Music Album and helped to propel her into being one of the biggest Christian music stars in the country.  

The singer auditioned for American Idol in 2005, citing her musical influences as being everything from Def Leppard to Whitney Houston. 

During her first appearance on the show, judge Simon Cowell made several jokes about her weight saying: 'Do we have a bigger stage this year?' 

When fellow host Paula Abdul said that Mandisa's voice sounded 'French,' Cowell jumped in and said that a more appropriate comparison would be to the entire country of France. 

The joke prompted complaints from the National Association to Advance Fat Acceptance. 

Later in the season, Mandisa finally responded to Cowell.

'What I want to say to you is that, yes, you hurt me and I cried and it was painful, it really was. But I want you to know that I've forgiven you and that you don't need someone to apologize in order to forgive somebody,' she said.

I figure that if Jesus could die so that all of my wrongs could be forgiven, I can certainly extend that same grace to you.'

Cowell apologized and said he was 'humbled' by her words. 

In 2012, Mandisa revealed that she had lost a staggering 100 pounds in the six years since her appearance on the show, with the starlet revealing that she had hired a personal trainer and taken up popular dance workout Zumba in the wake of Cowell's 'hurtful and mean' comments.