'American Idol' singer Mandisa dies

In her 2022 memoir, “Out of the Dark: My Journey Through the Shadows to Find God's Joy,” Mandisa got candid about being raped as a teenager and her mental health struggles.

Mandisa graduated from Fisk in 2000 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in music. Before her solo career, she worked for a short time as a recording session backup singer for artists such as Sandi Patty, Shania Twain, and Trisha Yearwood.

We're gonna miss her, but our loss is heaven's gain." Mandisa competed on the singing competition show in its fifth season, winning over the OG judging panel of Simon Cowell, Paula Abdul, and Randy Jackson when she auditioned with Alicia Keys' classic single "Fallin."