World News – US – American Idol Season 1 contestant Nikki McKibbin dies at 42

Nikki McKibbin, who finished third in season one of "American Idol," has died aged 42

CAMEROON MAGAZINE - GM01/11/20202 Mins read84 Views

The Texas-born singer died on Saturday (Oct 31) after suffering a brain aneurysm earlier in the week, according to a Facebook post by her husband, Craig Sadler She was 42 years old

In his post, Sadler wrote that his wife had been kept on life support because she was an organ donor

« Even at the end she still gives She was so loved I know thousands of you will mourn with us I only have a few hours left to hold her hand and kiss her forehead » , wrote Sadler

He added that McKibbin was a longtime Stevie Nicks fan and that the 1975 Fleetwood Mac song « Landslide » would be played for her before doctors performed her last operation.

“If you can you can take a 3:00 pm break wherever you are and listen to it with her,” Sadler wrote “She will know you share her goodbyes She loved you so much and I know that you liked it too «

McKibbin is best known for finishing third in American Idol’s first season in 2002, behind runner-up Justin Guarini and champion Kelly Clarkson

While on the popular music competition show, McKibbin blew viewers away with covers from Nicks, Alanis Morissette, Melissa Etheridge, Janis Joplin and others

Her 15-year-old son, Tristan Langley, auditioned for Idol in 2014, but was cut while touring in Hollywood

McKibbin’s struggle with alcoholism and drug addiction was later featured in Celebrity Rehab With Dr Drew in 2008, and a subsequent spin-off of the series, Sober House

Guarini, another Idol contestant, remembered McKibbin as a « fiery, funny woman who could sing a rock song » in a tribute post on Instagram

« I will never forget the day her idol, Stevie Nicks, sent her flowers with a card that read: ‘You are the gypsy that I was,’ Guarini wrote on Saturday » Nikki was on cloud nine new and the joy and excitement radiating from her were contagious After the kind of emotional blows she took at the hands of the masses, she deserved to feel good about herself, even for a little while «

He added: « Have a good rest, ‘Gypsy’ and thank you for the laughter, the ruthless teasing, the strength, the vulnerability, the love and the friendship you have shown me during our time together under the projectors «