Jump to content

Willie Spence: Difference between revisions

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Browse history interactively
← Previous edit
Content deleted Content added
VisualWikitext
Pughugs (talk | contribs)
35 edits
No edit summary
No edit summary
 
(45 intermediate revisions by 37 users not shown)
Line 1: Line 1:
{{Short description|American singer (1999–2022)}}
{{Short description|American singer (1999–2022)}}
{{similar names|William Spence (disambiguation){{!}}William Spence}}
{{Infobox musical artist
{{Infobox noble
| name = Willie Spence
| name = Willie Spence
| image =
| image =
[[File:Willie Spence on American Idol.jpg|frame]]
| caption = Spence performing on American Idol in 2021.
|CoA=|tenure=|predecessor=| birth_name =
| caption =
| birth_name = Willie Spence
| alias =
| alias =
| birth_date = {{Birth date|1999|06|18}}
| birth_date = {{Birth date|1999|06|18}}
| birth_place = [[West Palm Beach, Florida]]
| birth_place = [[West Palm Beach, Florida]], U.S.
| death_date = {{Death date and age|2022|10|11|1999|06|18}}
| death_date = {{Death date and age|2022|10|11|1999|06|18}}
| death_place = [[Jasper, Tennessee]]
| death_place = [[Jasper, Tennessee]], U.S.
| origin =
| origin =
| genre =
| genre =
Line 16: Line 16:
| instrument =
| instrument =
| label =
| label =
| years_active = 2017–2022
|successor=| years_active = 2017–2022
| website =
| website =
}}
}}


'''Willie Spence''' (June 18, 1999 – October 11, 2022) was an American singer. He was a runner-up of [[American Idol (season 19)|Season 19]] of ''[[American Idol]]'' at the age of 22.
'''Willie Spence''' (June 18, 1999 – October 11, 2022) was an American singer. He was the runner-up of the [[American Idol (season 19)|nineteenth season]] of ''[[American Idol]]'' at the age of 21.


==Early life==
==Life==
Spence was born on June 18, 1999<ref>{{cite web |title=williespenceofficial |url=https://twitter.com/williespence |website=[[Twitter]] |access-date=October 12, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221012193714/https://twitter.com/williespence |archive-date=October 12, 2022}}</ref> in [[West Palm Beach, Florida]] and grew up in [[Douglas, Georgia]] after his family moved there.<ref name="cnn-death">{{cite news |last1=France |first1=Lisa Respers |title=Willie Spence, 'American Idol' Season 19 runner-up, dead at 23 |url=https://www.cnn.com/2022/10/12/entertainment/willie-spence-dead/index.html |access-date=October 12, 2022 |work=[[CNN]] |date=October 12, 2022 |archive-url=https://archive.ph/PP2Je |archive-date=October 12, 2022 |url-status=live}}</ref>
Spence was born on June 18, 1999,<ref>{{cite web |title=williespenceofficial |url=https://twitter.com/williespence |website=[[Twitter]] |access-date=October 12, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221012193714/https://twitter.com/williespence |archive-date=October 12, 2022}}[[Wikipedia:SPS|{{sup|[''self-published'']}}]]</ref> in [[West Palm Beach, Florida]], and grew up in [[Douglas, Georgia]], after his family moved there.<ref name="cnn-death">{{cite news |last1=France |first1=Lisa Respers |title=Willie Spence, 'American Idol' Season 19 runner-up, dead at 23 |url=https://www.cnn.com/2022/10/12/entertainment/willie-spence-dead/index.html |access-date=October 12, 2022 |work=[[CNN]] |date=October 12, 2022 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20221012192051/https://www.cnn.com/2022/10/12/entertainment/willie-spence-dead/index.html |archive-date=October 12, 2022 |url-status=live}}</ref>


⚫
Spence posted online videos of him singing during his time in high school. In 2017, a video he had posted singing the [[Rihanna]] song "[[Diamonds (Rihanna song)|Diamonds]]" went viral on [[YouTube]], eventually garnering over 32&nbsp;million views.<ref name="cnn-death" /> This brought him significant attention, including an appearance on the talk show ''[[Steve (talk show)|Steve]]'', hosted by [[Steve Harvey]].<ref name="cnn-death" /><ref name="newsweek-tribute">{{cite news |last1=Keeley |first1=Matt |title=RIP Willie Spence: Tributes pour in for "American Idol" singer after crash |url=https://www.newsweek.com/rip-willie-spence-tributes-pour-american-idol-singer-after-crash-1751366 |access-date=October 13, 2022 |work=[[Newsweek]] |date=October 12, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221013035534/https://www.newsweek.com/rip-willie-spence-tributes-pour-american-idol-singer-after-crash-1751366 |archive-date=October 13, 2022 |url-status=live}}</ref> In 2021, Spence auditioned for the [[American Idol (season 19)|nineteenth season]] of ''[[American Idol]]''. His performances received a positive reception from the judges,<ref name="cnn-death" /> and Spence ended up placing second in the competition, only behind [[Chayce Beckham]].<ref name="taste-of-country-beckham-tribute">{{cite news |last1=Whitaker |first1=Sterling |title=Chayce Beckham Tributes 'American Idol' Star Willie Spence After Fatal Crash |url=https://tasteofcountry.com/chayce-beckham-american-idol-willie-spence-dead-tribute/ |access-date=October 13, 2022 |work=[[Taste of Country]] |publisher=[[Townsquare Media]] |date=October 12, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221013040403/https://tasteofcountry.com/chayce-beckham-american-idol-willie-spence-dead-tribute/ |archive-date=October 13, 2022 |url-status=live}}</ref>
==Musical career and ''American Idol''==
⚫
Spence posted online videos of him singing during his time in [[high school]]. In 2017, a video he had posted singing the [[Rihanna]] song "[[Diamonds (Rihanna song)|Diamonds]]" went viral on [[YouTube]], eventually garnering over 15 million views.<ref name="cnn-death" /> This brought him significant attention, including an appearance on the talk show ''[[Steve (talk show)|Steve]]'', hosted by [[Steve Harvey]].<ref name="newsweek-tribute">{{cite news |last1=Keeley |first1=Matt |title=RIP Willie Spence: Tributes pour in for "American Idol" singer after crash |url=https://www.newsweek.com/rip-willie-spence-tributes-pour-american-idol-singer-after-crash-1751366 |access-date=October 13, 2022 |work=[[Newsweek]] |date=October 12, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221013035534/https://www.newsweek.com/rip-willie-spence-tributes-pour-american-idol-singer-after-crash-1751366 |archive-date=October 13, 2022 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="cnn-death" />


==Death==
In 2021, Spence auditioned for [[American Idol (season 19)|season 19]] of ''[[American Idol]]''. His performances received a positive reception from the judges,<ref name="cnn-death" /> and Spence ended up placing second in the competition, only behind [[Chayce Beckham]].<ref name="taste-of-country-beckham-tribute">{{cite news |last1=Whitaker |first1=Sterling |title=Chayce Beckham Tributes 'American Idol' Star Willie Spence After Fatal Crash |url=https://tasteofcountry.com/chayce-beckham-american-idol-willie-spence-dead-tribute/ |access-date=October 13, 2022 |work=[[Taste of Country]] |publisher=[[Townsquare Media]] |date=October 12, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221013040403/https://tasteofcountry.com/chayce-beckham-american-idol-willie-spence-dead-tribute/ |archive-date=October 13, 2022 |url-status=live}}</ref>
⚫
Spence was killed in a [[traffic collision|car crash]] on [[Interstate 24#Georgia and Chattanooga|Interstate 24]] near [[Chattanooga]] on October 11, 2022, at 23 years old.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-10-12 |title='American Idol' finalist dies in vehicle crash |url=https://www.ctvnews.ca/entertainment/american-idol-finalist-dies-in-vehicle-crash-1.6106025 |access-date=October 12, 2022 |website=[[CTV News]] |language=en}}</ref> His death was reported by the [[Marion County, Tennessee|Marion County]] Sheriff's Office.<ref name="wsbtv-killed">{{cite news |title=Georgia-born American Idol star Willie Spence killed in car accident at 23 |url=https://www.wsbtv.com/news/local/georgia-born-american-idol-runner-up-willie-spence-killed-car-accident-23/ZPBFK3LEUVCMJHV45ZNJGHUGJM/ |access-date=October 12, 2022 |work=[[WSB-TV]] |date=October 12, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221012191415/https://www.wsbtv.com/news/local/georgia-born-american-idol-runner-up-willie-spence-killed-car-accident-23/ZPBFK3LEUVCMJHV45ZNJGHUGJM/ |archive-date=October 12, 2022 |url-status=live}}</ref> According to [[WSB-TV]] in Atlanta, he was driving a [[Jeep Cherokee]] when he veered off I-24 at around 4:00PM ET. His vehicle struck a tractor-trailer that was stopped on the [[Shoulder (road)|shoulder]] of the road. The driver of that vehicle was not injured.<ref name="wsbtv-killed" />


The official [[Instagram]] account for ''American Idol'' reposted a video of Spence's audition for the show as a tribute.<ref name="cnn-death" /> Beckham and [[Katharine McPhee]], a contestant on the show's [[American Idol (season 5)|fifth season]] who had previously performed with Spence, posted their own tributes to Spence on Instagram.<ref name="newsweek-tribute" /><ref name="taste-of-country-beckham-tribute"/>
==Death and reactions==
⚫
Spence was killed in a [[traffic collision|car accident]] on [[Interstate 24#Georgia and Chattanooga|Interstate 24]] near [[Chattanooga]] on October 11, 2022.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-10-12 |title='American Idol' finalist dies in vehicle crash |url=https://www.ctvnews.ca/entertainment/american-idol-finalist-dies-in-vehicle-crash-1.6106025 |access-date=2022-10-12 |website=CTVNews |language=en}}</ref> His death was reported by the [[Marion County, Tennessee|Marion County]] Sheriff's Office.<ref name="wsbtv-killed">{{cite news |title=Georgia-born American Idol star Willie Spence killed in car accident at 23 |url=https://www.wsbtv.com/news/local/georgia-born-american-idol-runner-up-willie-spence-killed-car-accident-23/ZPBFK3LEUVCMJHV45ZNJGHUGJM/ |access-date=October 12, 2022 |work=[[WSB-TV]] |date=October 12, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221012191415/https://www.wsbtv.com/news/local/georgia-born-american-idol-runner-up-willie-spence-killed-car-accident-23/ZPBFK3LEUVCMJHV45ZNJGHUGJM/ |archive-date=October 12, 2022 |url-status=live}}</ref> According to WSB-TV in Atlanta, he was driving a [[Jeep Cherokee]] when he veered off I-24 at around 16:00 ET. His vehicle struck a car that was stopped on the [[Shoulder (road)|shoulder]] of the road. The driver of that vehicle was not injured.<ref name="wsbtv-killed" />


== Dustin Poirier Tribute ==
Spence's death drew a large outpouring of sympathy. The official Instagram account for ''American Idol'' reposted a video of Spence's audition for the show, writing "We are devastated about the passing of our beloved American Idol family member, Willie Spence. He was a true talent who lit up every room he entered and will be deeply missed. We send our condolences to his loved ones."<ref name="cnn-death" />
On June 1st 2024, at UFC 302, Famous Fighter [[Dustin Poirier]] paid his respects to the death of Spence by using his famous "Diamonds" by Rihanna cover as his walkout music during his journey to the octagon.

Chayce Beckham, the winner of Season 19 of ''American Idol'', posted a tribute on [[Instagram]] to the man he had bested that year. "He had a laugh that could make you melt, an honest humor you couldn't help but love, and the biggest heart you could imagine all wrapped up into one human".<ref name="newsweek-tribute" /><ref name="taste-of-country-beckham-tribute"/> [[Katharine McPhee]], a former contestant on [[American Idol (season 5)|Season 5]] of ''American Idol'', who had also previously performed with Spence, also took to Instagram to express her sadness over Spence's death.<ref name="taste-of-country-beckham-tribute"/>


== References ==
== References ==
{{reflist}}
{{Reflist}}


{{American Idol}}
{{American Idol}}
{{Authority control}}


{{DEFAULTSORT:Spence, Willie}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Spence, Willie}}
Line 46: Line 45:
[[Category:2022 deaths]]
[[Category:2022 deaths]]
[[Category:21st-century American male singers]]
[[Category:21st-century American male singers]]
[[Category:21st-century American singers]]
[[Category:21st-century African-American singers]]
[[Category:21st-century African-American singers]]
[[Category:American Idol participants]]
[[Category:American Idol participants]]

Latest revision as of 03:11, 16 June 2024

For other people with similar names, see William Spence.
Willie Spence
Years active2017–2022
Born(1999-06-18)June 18, 1999
West Palm Beach, Florida, U.S.
DiedOctober 11, 2022(2022-10-11) (aged 23)
Jasper, Tennessee, U.S.
OccupationSinger

Willie Spence (June 18, 1999 – October 11, 2022) was an American singer. He was the runner-up of the nineteenth season of American Idol at the age of 21.

Life

[edit]

Spence was born on June 18, 1999,[1] in West Palm Beach, Florida, and grew up in Douglas, Georgia, after his family moved there.[2]

Spence posted online videos of him singing during his time in high school. In 2017, a video he had posted singing the Rihanna song "Diamonds" went viral on YouTube, eventually garnering over 32 million views.[2] This brought him significant attention, including an appearance on the talk show Steve, hosted by Steve Harvey.[2][3] In 2021, Spence auditioned for the nineteenth season of American Idol. His performances received a positive reception from the judges,[2] and Spence ended up placing second in the competition, only behind Chayce Beckham.[4]

Death

[edit]

Spence was killed in a car crash on Interstate 24 near Chattanooga on October 11, 2022, at 23 years old.[5] His death was reported by the Marion County Sheriff's Office.[6] According to WSB-TV in Atlanta, he was driving a Jeep Cherokee when he veered off I-24 at around 4:00PM ET. His vehicle struck a tractor-trailer that was stopped on the shoulder of the road. The driver of that vehicle was not injured.[6]

The official Instagram account for American Idol reposted a video of Spence's audition for the show as a tribute.[2] Beckham and Katharine McPhee, a contestant on the show's fifth season who had previously performed with Spence, posted their own tributes to Spence on Instagram.[3][4]

Dustin Poirier Tribute

[edit]

On June 1st 2024, at UFC 302, Famous Fighter Dustin Poirier paid his respects to the death of Spence by using his famous "Diamonds" by Rihanna cover as his walkout music during his journey to the octagon.

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "williespenceofficial". Twitter. Archived from the original on October 12, 2022. Retrieved October 12, 2022.[self-published]
  2. ^ a b c d e France, Lisa Respers (October 12, 2022). "Willie Spence, 'American Idol' Season 19 runner-up, dead at 23". CNN. Archived from the original on October 12, 2022. Retrieved October 12, 2022.
  3. ^ a b Keeley, Matt (October 12, 2022). "RIP Willie Spence: Tributes pour in for "American Idol" singer after crash". Newsweek. Archived from the original on October 13, 2022. Retrieved October 13, 2022.
  4. ^ a b Whitaker, Sterling (October 12, 2022). "Chayce Beckham Tributes 'American Idol' Star Willie Spence After Fatal Crash". Taste of Country. Townsquare Media. Archived from the original on October 13, 2022. Retrieved October 13, 2022.
  5. ^ "'American Idol' finalist dies in vehicle crash". CTV News. 2022-10-12. Retrieved October 12, 2022.
  6. ^ a b "Georgia-born American Idol star Willie Spence killed in car accident at 23". WSB-TV. October 12, 2022. Archived from the original on October 12, 2022. Retrieved October 12, 2022.
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Willie_Spence&oldid=1229310903"