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A Franklin Police Department spokesperson said officers were involved in an active death investigation Friday after Christian singer and American Idol alum Mandisa was found dead in her Franklin-area home. Nashville a day early.
Mandisa, born in Citrus Heights, California as Mandisa Lynn Hundley, was 47 years old.
A representative for the singer, The Media Collective, released a statement confirming her death Friday morning.
“At this time we do not know the cause of death or any other details,” the statement said. “We ask for your prayers for his family and close-knit circle of friends during this incredibly difficult time.”
Franklin police declined to confirm that Hundley had died in connection with the death investigation, but the home address where the investigation is taking place was linked to the singer through a records search.
“What I can confirm is that our officers attended a residence for a death investigation Thursday evening, and the investigation is currently under active investigation,” the spokesperson wrote of Franklin Police Department Max Winitz in an email to The Tennessean Friday.
No further details were immediately released.
After growing up in California, Hundley attended Fisk University in Nashville and was a member of the famous Fisk University Jubilee Singers. She earned a bachelor’s degree in music from Fisk in 2000, according to the university.
In 2005, Hundley auditioned for “American Idol” in Chicago, where she finished in the final nine.
Hundley released his debut album, “True Beauty” in July 2007, debuting on the Top Christian Album charts with its lead single, “Only the World”.
The Christian artist would win Best Contemporary Christian Music Album for “Overcomer” at the 56th Annual Grammy Awards in 2014.
David Pierce, media manager for Christian radio station KLOVE, posted this quote on the radio station’s social media after learning of the singer’s death:
“Mandisa loved Jesus and she used her unusually large platform to speak about Him at every turn. His kindness was epic, his smile electric, his voice massive, but it was no match for the size of his heart. Mandisa struggled and she was vulnerable enough to share that with us, which helped us talk about our own struggles. Mandisa’s struggles are over, she is now with the God she sang about. Although we are saddened, Mandisa is home. We pray for Mandisa’s family and friends and ask you to join us.
Christian singer Natalie Grant, who wrote the foreword for Mandisa’s 2022 book “Out of the Dark: My Journey through the Shadows to Find God’s Joy,” had this to say on Instagram about her friend:
“I can’t find the words. When I heard about your passing yesterday, I begged God that it wasn’t true. I remember our Opry debut together. We were so excited. But I remember our conversation so well You You always belonged there, Disa. Your smile and infectious spirit lit up every room. You were a true champion of others. I have been the benefactor of your encouragement more times than I. can’t count it.
Fellow musician Don Moen issued a statement to The Tennessean, saying Mandisa was not only a powerhouse of talent, but also possessed a genuinely kind spirit.
“We have ministered together on several occasions, she sang backing vocals on my album ‘Thank You Lord’ and joined me on several tours,” the statement said. “On one particular tour, notes would appear in everyone’s bunks on the bus or in their instrument cases. These were encouraging messages such as: ‘You are blessed and highly favored’ or ‘You are such a blessing on this tour.” It wasn’t until the end of the tour that we found out it was Mandisa. Whether behind the scenes or on stage, her presence always brought joy and hope.
We will continue to update this story as additional details become available.
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