Douglas Kiker, a contestant on Season 18 of American Idol, who brought judge Katy Perry to tears over his rendition of Rascal Flatts’ “Bless The Broken Road”, died Monday, March 10. He was 32.
The cause of death is under investigation, according to multiple media reports.
His sister Angela Evans announced his death on Facebook. “It is with a heavy heart that we have to announce the passing of my brother Douglas Kiker he was sooo loved and will be missed by so many! Your singing with the Angel’s now Bubba Please pray for our family as we go threw this very difficult time,” she wrote.
In a separate Facebook post, his other sister Donna Kiker Carrillos-Ramirez shared a photo of her brother from his Idol audition and a photo in which she posed with him, writing, “We lost an amazing person today. He had the biggest smile and knew how to make you laugh. I know I didn’t raise him but I never stopped loving him. My parents did an amazing job with him. Douglas Kiker you will forever be missed. Fly high. Say hey to grandma.”
Known by the moniker “The Singing Garbage Man” (Kiker was a garbage collector from Mobile, AL), when he finished his emotional rendition of the Rascal Flatts’ song during his audition in 2020, Perry said to Kiker,”That was not garbage. It was greatness.” He was then unanimously awarded a golden ticket to the Hollywood round, but was eliminated a week later.
A year later, he was arrested and charged with domestic violence.
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In one of his last posts to Instagram in 2022, Kiker wrote, “To all the people that have shown your love and support!!!! I appreciate you!!!! I may have been down but don’t ever count me out I refuse to give up on all the people rooting for the dreamers of the world as long theres breath in me I’m gonna live and strive everyday to be my best self and show that I’m not just talk Im working very hard both mentally and physically let me know what you think also before I forget if you haven’t clicked the follow button or visited and subscribed to my youtube channel please don’t forget to continue to show your support by doing so thank you once again.”
A GoFundMe has been set up by Kiker’s family to help cover his funeral expenses.
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