Skilyr Hicks, former America’s Got Talent contestant, dies at 23

Skilyr Hicks, the then 14-year-old who won the hearts of all the judges in America’s Got Talent season 8 audition, died on Monday, at the age of 23. 

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Skilyr’s body was found at a friend’s house in Liberty, South Carolina. The cause of the death is suspected to be a drug overdose, Chief Deputy Chad Brooks of the Pickens County Sheriff’s Office informed. However, an in-depth investigation regarding the death is still ongoing.

Breelyn, Hick’s sister wrote in a Facebook post about her sister and her passing away, it read, “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.” She also recalled her sister’s “ability create music that inspired thousands of people.”

Hick’s mother, Jodi also told Thirty Mile Stone (TMZ) that “[Skilyr] will live on through her music.”

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The singer had given a performance at America’s Got Talent in 2013, where she sang a self composed song called “made bad decisions,” which she had written for her deceased father.

“It’s a message that came too late for my dad, but I know if he could see me now, he’d be really proud of me,” she said.

The singer won the approval of all the four judges to proceed to the next round. However, she was eliminated soon after.

According to her, the former AGT contestant was facing mental health issues and substance abuse.

In 2017, Skilyr Hicks also had encounter with the law, when she was arrested for assaulting three family members while intoxicated. The following year, she was also arrested for underage drinking.

The singer and song-write posted the last clip of her singing on her Instagram Account in 2019.