Mandisa’s Father Reveals Why American Idol Star Was Physically “Weak” Before Tragic Death

Summary

• Mandisa’s father speculates that COVID-19 may have played a role in her death, ruling out self-harm as a cause.
• John Hundley believes Mandisa was too weak to call for help, as she was found lying on the floor with her phone out of reach.
• Mandisa had a successful music career after American Idol, earning Grammy nominations and releasing multiple albums in the Christian music genre.

Former American Idol contestant Mandisa’s father, John Hundley, has opened up about how he thinks she died. The 47-year-old Mandisa Lynn Hundley, known mononymously as Mandisa, was found dead in her Franklin, Tennessee home on April 18, 2024. The Franklin Police Department announced they had opened an investigation into Mandisa’s cause of death the following day. Mandisa had a celebrated career in Christian music after American Idol. Mandisa was a five-time Grammy nominee and her 2013 album “Overcomer,” had won a trophy in the contemporary Christian album category at the 56th Grammy Awards in 2014.

“She had been weak.”

American Idol star Mandisa’s father has shared new details about what could have led to the late singer’s mysterious death. According to WKRNMandisa’s life was honored and celebrated at the Brentwood Baptist Church in Nashville, where John told the people gathered that Mandisa could have passed away likely due to her battle with COVID-19. John does not believe that Mandisa’s cause of death was self-harm. “She told me some time ago that she had gotten COVID-19,” he said. John recalled Mandisa being “weak” trying to get over it, but she was trying to “press through.”

Mandisa’s Father Claims She Was Unable To Call 911

Mandisa’s Father’s Theory About Her Cause Of Death Explained

John tried to explain how Mandisa had fallen down in her bedroom, and she was found lying on her left side on the floor (via TasteOfCountry.) There were a couple of big rugs where she was lying along with some clothes. John mentioned that there was a nightstand in front of the right side of the bed. He found his daughter’s phone on the right side of the bed. As per John, it wasn’t possible for Mandisa to get around the bed and go thereso she could get a phone to call for help.

John recalled the last conversation he had with Mandisa before the former American Idol contestant passed away.

John’s last conversation with his daughter was on Easter Sunday. She had bought her father a phone as she wanted to make sure they could communicate regularly. Mandisa and her father had been in touch regularly since that time. She had texted him at Easter saying, “He is risen.” Mandisa was seemingly happy when she spoke to John. She had talked “on and on” about it. To John, Mandisa would always be the little girl who loved to sing with her mom as she played the piano.

Mandisa had finished in the top nine in season 5 of American Idol. Chris Daughtry and Kellie Pickler joined Mandisa as contestants on the season. Taylor Hicks ultimately won the season, while Katharine McPhee was the runner-up. Mandisa released her first out of six albums, “True Beauty,” the following year, in 2007. The reality TV star has been a Christian radio staple with songs such as “My Deliverer.” Mandisa was in the news in 2012 for her impressive 100-pound weight loss. Her death was announced by the Christian radio network K-Love. No cause of death was disclosed.

American Idol

season 5 airs Sundays and Mondays at 8 p.m. EDT on ABC.

Source: WKRN, TasteOfCountry