‘American Idol’ Contestant Dies at 32

American Idol contestant Doug Kiker has died at age 32.

The singer’s sister, Angela Evans, shared the inside track with a Fb publish on Wednesday, writing, “It’s with a heavy center that we need to announce the passing of my brother Douglas Kiker.”

“He used to be sooo beloved and will likely be ignored via such a lot of!” she endured. “[You’re] making a song with the Angel’s now Bubba Please pray for our circle of relatives as we cross [through] this very tricky time.”

Donna Kiker Carrillos-Ramirez, any other circle of relatives member, additionally posted about Doug’s dying on Fb. “Lately I were given the decision that no person needs to get,” she wrote. “We misplaced a great individual nowadays. He had the most important smile and knew how one can make you giggle.”

She added, “Douglas Kiker you’ll eternally be ignored. Fly top. Say hello to grandma.”

Neither publish shared Doug’s explanation for dying.

The Cell, Alabama, singer competed on season 18 of American Idol in 2020, the place he earned the nickname “The Making a song Rubbish Guy” due to his day task as a sanitation employee. His audition moved then-judge Katy Perry to tears, with Doug acting Rascal Flatts’ “Bless the Damaged Highway.” Although he used to be eradicated the next spherical after making a song Marvin Gaye’s “Ain’t No Mountain Top Sufficient,” Doug used to be later invited again to just about carry out “Bless the Damaged Highway” once more with the rustic trio.

In 2021, Doug used to be arrested and charged with third-degree home violence. The following 12 months, an unbiased movie produced in Doug’s house town titled Rubbish Guy premiered on Vimeo. The undertaking discovered him portraying a fictionalized model of himself, along with his persona running as a bouncer at a membership website hosting a making a song festival.

Doug is survived via two daughters, photos of whom he occasionally posted on Instagram. In his bio at the platform, he described himself as “simply common man looking to make it who discovered love in song!!!!!!”