American Idol star Nikki McKibbin has passed away after being on life support.
The 42-year-old television personality, who placed third on the first season of the singing competition in 2002, died of a brain aneurysm, sources close to Nikki’s family told TMZ.
The publication reports that she was in the hospital on life support and was taken to the operating room during the early hours of Sunday morning where she was pronounced dead.
Nikki’s best remembered American Idol performances include a cover of Alannah Myles song Black Velvet.
She also covered Stevie Nicks, Alanis Morissette and Melissa Ethridge, and Janice Joplin in front of then judges Randy Jackson, Paula Abdul and Simon Cowell.
American Idol star Nikki McKibbin has passed away after being on life support
Nikki’s co-star Justin Guarini, who came second place on the singing show, remembers the singer as a “fiery, funny lady.”
Taking to his Instagram on Sunday, Justin captioned a black-and-white photo of the songstress: “@realnikkimckibbin was a fiery, funny lady who could sing the Hell out of a rock song with the same kind of ease and command she lovingly used to cut you with her twangy Southern wit.
“Even in our 20’s when we were on American Idol together I could tell that she’d had a challenging life, and that not that many people had been kind to her along the way…
“But I’ll never forget the day that her idol, Stevie Nicks, sent her flowers with a card that said ‘You are the Gypsy that I was…’.”
The singer finished third place behind Justin Guarini and winner Kelly Clarkson (Image: Reuters)
He continued: “Nikki was on cloud nine and the joy and excitement that radiated from her was infectious. After the kind of emotional beating she took at the hands of the masses, she deserved to feel good about herself, even for a little while.”
Justin ended the emotional post: “Rest well, ‘Gypsy’…and thank you for the laughter, merciless teasing, strength, vulnerability, love and friendship you showed me during our time together in the spotlight. #rip #americanidol.”
Nikki was born in Texas and appeared on Season 1 of American Idol.
She finished third place behind Justin and winner Kelly Clarkson.
It turns out that Nikki was not the only member of the family to compete on American Idol.
Her 15-year-old son Tristan Langley auditioned for the show in 2014 and made it to the Hollywood round but got cut.
Nikki appeared on Dr. Drew’s Celebrity Rehab in 2008 and then moved to a sober living house.
She also starred in Fear Factor and Battle of the Network Reality Stars.
Nikki marriedCraig Sadler in 2007 and was surrounded by family when she passed, TMZ reports.
Source: Celebrities - dailystar.co.uk
