Mandisa’s cause of death has finally been determined to be natural after much speculation since her passing in April. According to a recent autopsy report acquired by People, gospel singer and American Idol star Mandisa passed away at the age of 47 from complications related to class III obesity.
The Cleveland Clinic defines class III obesity as a condition in which a person “has a body mass index (BMI) of 40 or higher or a BMI of 35 or higher and is experiencing obesity-related health conditions.”
Friends found the Grammy winner dead in her home on April 18, after she “was last known alive approximately three weeks” earlier.
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The Citrus Heights native studied music in college and rose to prominence when she appeared on season 5 of American Idol and ended in the top 9. She subsequently launched her debut album, “True Beauty”, in 2007, which debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard Top Christian Albums chart, making her the first new female artist to do so, and she received her first Grammy nomination for best pop/contemporary gospel album.
She went on to release five more albums over the course of her career, including Overcomer in 2013, which earned her a Grammy Award for Best Contemporary Christian Music Album the following year.
Unfortunately, Mandisa fell into sadness after her best friend and backup singer, Kisha Mitchell, died from breast cancer while pregnant in 2014. Mandisa ultimately put on weight, became more withdrawn, and struggled with suicidal thoughts.
She told People in 2017, “You’re battling shame, and you don’t want to leave the house. I didn’t leave the house, for the most part. When I got up, I went downstairs, sat in the recliner, and I watched television nonstop. The only time I left was when I got tired of pizza delivery and decided to get McDonald’s.”
She also recounted, “I am a woman of faith, and I believe that heaven is real, and when I do leave here, I’m going to be in heaven with Jesus. One of the things I started hearing during that dark period was: ‘You’re in so much pain. If you take your life, you could be in heaven right now with Jesus.'”
Her friends and family continued to express affection and concern for her. The “Overcomer” singer eventually went to therapy and focused on her physical wellness. The “Good Morning” artist then used her hardships as inspiration for her 2017 album “Out of the Dark”. She also authored a memoir, “Out of the Dark: My Journey Through the Shadows to Find God’s Joy”, in 2022, detailing her experiences.
She told the outlet, “When you are walking through this, you think you’re the only one. But you are never the only person walking through something like that.”
Mandisa’s fellow Idol alumni, Danny Gokey (season 8), Colton Dixon (season 11), and Melinda Doolittle (season 6) all returned to the show in May to perform the song “Shackles (Praise You)” in remembrance of the late singer, according to Billboard.
“Not only did our industry lose a really big voice and a powerhouse of a person, but Christian music lost its No. 1 cheerleader,” Dixon said in an interview with Billboard ahead of the tribute’s airing.
