‘American Idol’ alum Mandisa’s cause of death revealed: complications of obesity

Mandisa, the Grammy-winning Christian music singer and former “American Idol” contestant, passed away in April due to complications of class III obesity, as per an autopsy report.

Records obtained by People indicated that her manner of death was deemed natural, and the 47-year-old singer was discovered deceased in her Tennessee residence on April 18. The report mentioned that she was last seen alive approximately three weeks before her passing. Mandisa, born Mandisa Lynn Hundley, had her death confirmed by a representative to the Times on April 19, where they mentioned not having details on the cause of death at that time.

The autopsy report of Mandisa supports her father John Hundley’s statement to Fox News Digital in May, where he expressed his belief that his daughter did not harm herself. He mentioned that investigators did not find any indications that she had engaged in any harmful actions. Following the news of the singer’s death, Tennessee authorities confirmed to the Times that there were no signs of foul play.

Class III obesity, as defined by the Cleveland Clinic, is a chronic condition where an individual has a body mass index (BMI) of 40 or higher, or a BMI of 35 or higher coupled with obesity-related health issues. The clinic states that this level of obesity can lead to severe health conditions like Type 2 diabetes and heart disease. Mandisa, a five-time Grammy nominee who won her first award for the album “Overcomer” in 2014, was known for hits like “Good Morning” and “You Keep Hope Alive,” with her standout appearance on Season 5 of “American Idol.”