America’s Got Talent fans are mourning the loss of former contestant Skilyr Hicks.
Musician Skilyr Hicks has passed away under mysterious circumstances. The singer was found dead at her friend’s residence. The news was confirmed by her mother Jodi and her sister Breelyn.
The singer-songwriter and guitar player, who competed on season eight of the NBC competition series in 2013, was found dead at age 23 in a friend’s home in Liberty, S.C. on Monday, Dec. 6, Skilyr’s mother, Jodi Simak Cronk, told TMZ.
The Pickens County Coroner’s Office confirmed that the musician died that night at a residence in the town and that they are investigating the case.
A cause of death is currently unknown, but Hicks told TMZ her daughter suffered from both substance abuse and depression.
In the past few years, the young singer-songwriter made headlines when she was arrested for underage drinking and charged for domestic violence for allegedly assaulting her family members.
Her sister, Breelyn Hicks, also confirmed her passing through a Facebook post.
“My super beautiful, extremely talented, hilarious, free spirit of a sister left this world to be with Jesus. I can’t possibly put into words how broken-hearted I am,” Breelyn wrote in a post on Wednesday.
“I will miss her like crazy. I’ll miss her voice, her long warm hugs, her constantly making jokes using puns. Her ability to create music that inspired thousands of people. She had so much life left to live.”
Breelyn Hicks went on to describe her sister as a light that shined “brighter than ever.”
“You were my best friend, you were my rock. We always had each other’s back no matter what. Just know that I love you unconditionally, That you will live on in our hearts, minds, memories, and through your God Given Musical Ability. Your Songs are your legacy,” she concluded.
In her Facebook post back on June 20, 2021, Skilyr Hicks, wrote:
“I don’t make music. Music makes me, it’s my life, the breath in my lungs, and it’s the steady beating of my heart. It has helped me cry the tears that I was holding onto for so long. It has shown me that I don’t have to put on this so-called ‘metaphorical mask’ that everyone seems to be putting on these days.”
“That I don’t have to hide my pain, that it’s okay to show how you feel, it’s okay to be you. It had touched a deep part of my soul that before I never knew existed.”
Her final Facebook post continued, “Every song I write is a different story. It’s not just lyrics and a tune. It’s an expression of how I feel. It’s the pain; it’s the laughter, the tears, and the heartbreak that I have known. It has touched other people in ways I never would have imagined possible. And just being able to make a difference in someone’s life, even in the smallest way, is the most amazing feeling for me.”
She added, “I don’t write songs because I have to, or because I’m expected to… I write them because it’s the one thing in this world that makes me truly happy. And I hope that one day, you too will find that one thing.”
Her mother, Jodi, also reported that her daughter had battled with mental health issues including depression and substance abuse. Jodi has shared that Skilyr will “live on through her music.”
According to AWM:
When Hicks was found, she was lying on the bathroom floor. Her corpse was surrounded by drugs and various paraphernalia. Right now, authorities are running toxicology reports to see if she did die of an overdose as they suspect, according to Chief Deputy Brooks.
Jodi, Hick’s mother, told TMZ that the young singer-songwriter struggled with depression and substance abuse throughout her life. Nevertheless, Jodi told the tabloid that “She will live on through her music.”
Watch the video below for more details:
Sources: AWM, TMZ, InsideEdition
