On Thursday night, Rickey Smith, a season 2 American Idol alum, tragically lost his life at 36 years old after he was involved in a car crash on a highway outside of Oklahoma City.
Apparently, Smith was driving down the I-240 when Gerardo Cedra Jr., who was driving a 2003 GMC pickup traveling the wrong way, slammed into the singer’s vehicle head-on. Once police arrived, they pronounced Rickey dead on the scene and TMZ reports that police booked Cedra for a DUI.
Related: Prince Reportedly Promised His Inner Circle He Was Fine Days Before His Death
Back in 2003 Rickey made it all the way to the finals of Idol and ended up coming in eighth place. Ruben Studdard ended up winning the season by beating out Clay Aiken.
During his run on the singing competition show, Smith was most well-known for performing What the World Needs Now Is Love by Dionne Warwick​ and was compared to Brian McKnight for his vocal talent.
After learning about the news, both Studdard and Aiken took to Twitter to share:
Suffice it to say my heart is truly breaking today. ├░┼╕ΓÇÖΓÇ¥ Heaven’s choir has a new beautiful voice. I love you and will miss you, Rickey. ├░┼╕ΓÇÖΓÇ¥
— Clay Aiken (@clayaiken) May 6, 2016
As I sit here in utter disbelief about the fact that you went to be with the Lord. I think back on all the fun times we had. How we set up for hours in our room in the Idol Mansion talking and listening to music. How much fun we all had on our very first tour. You were the heart of our season and the true definition of a real friend.. I will miss you my Friend RIP Ricky Smith. I’m sure you’re in heaven singing you’re heart out!!!A photo posted by @realrubenstuddard on May 6, 2016 at 10:28am PDT
After the 36-year-old was on Idol, he spoke with USA Today and said:
“I almost had an album. I had some good people around me ├óΓé¼┬ª I wasn’t ready to accept the fact that I had to come back and give up music. I’ve made peace with it, but it’s still frustrating.”
We’re so heartbroken by this tragic loss and our hearts go out to all those affected by Smith’s passing.
As a reminder of how incredibly talented Rickey was, take a listen to his performance of I’ve Done Enough Dyin’ Today by Larry Gatlin:
[Image via FOX.]
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