Leah LaBelle
S3 · Eliminated 12th
Latest documented update, September 7, 2018
Leah LaBelle died on January 31, 2018, at age 31, in a single-vehicle car crash in Los Angeles. After American Idol she worked as a backing vocalist and signed with Epic Records in 2011; her singles included Sexify (2012) and Lolita (2013), and her debut album was never released. A posthumous EP, Love to the Moon, came out in September 2018.[1][2]
Career
During or around the show
- 2004Recorded Betcha by Golly, Wow for the compilation American Idol Season 3: Greatest Soul Classics.[2]
After the show
- 2008Worked as a backing vocalist, first for Keri Hilson and then on tours by Robin Thicke, Jordin Sparks, the Jonas Brothers, Britney Spears and Eric Benet.[2]
- 2011Signed a recording contract with Epic Records in partnership with Pharrell Williams' I Am Other and Jermaine Dupri's So So Def Recordings.[2]
- 2012Received the Soul Train Centric Award at the 2012 Soul Train Music Awards.[2]
- 2012Released the single Sexify, which peaked at number 23 on Billboard's Adult R&B Songs chart and number 89 on Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs.[2]
- May 1, 2012Released a five-track sampler, Pharrell Williams and Jermaine Dupri Present Leah LaBelle, distributed to record companies.[2]
- May 2013Released the non-album single Lolita, which reached number 7 on Billboard's Dance Club Songs chart.[2]
- October 2013Opened for JoJo on the Agape Tour.[2]
- 2014Was featured with JoJo on the hidden track Freq on Pharrell Williams' album G I R L.[2]
- January 31, 2018Died at age 31 in a single-vehicle car crash in the Studio City area of Los Angeles.[1][2]
- September 7, 2018A posthumous five-song EP, Love to the Moon, was released; its producers donated the songs.[2]
Discography
Awards
Checked October 6, 2026; none found.
Other activity
Sources
4 sources
- NBA player Rasual Butler and R&B singer Leah LaBelle killed in car crash — NBC News, published January 31, 2018, updated February 1, 2018. News report. Retrieved October 6, 2026.
Cited parts (2) of source 1
- Opening paragraphs: “LaBelle, 31, meanwhile, had a career as an R&B singer, finding her start on the third season of American Idol in 2003.”
- Opening paragraphs: “died after Butler crashed his car early Wednesday on a Los Angeles street.”
- Leah LaBelle — Wikipedia, updated September 11, 2026. Reference work (secondary). Retrieved October 6, 2026.
Cited parts (8) of source 2
- Lead section; Death and aftermath section: “A posthumous EP, Love to the Moon, was released on September 7, 2018.”
- Lead sentence: “September 8, 1986”
- Infobox, Born line (birth_date):
{{Birth date|1986|9|8}} - Lead sentence: “January 31, 2018”
- Infobox, Died line (death_date):
{{Death date and age|2018|1|31|1986|9|8|mf=yes}} - 2011-2018: Record contract: “LaBelle signed a record deal in 2011 with L.A. Reid's company, Epic Records”
- 2011-2018: Record contract; infobox labels: “in a partnership with Pharrell Williams' I Am Other and Jermaine Dupri's So So Def Recordings.”
- 1986-2004: Early life and American Idol: “for the 2004 compilation album American Idol Season 3: Greatest Soul Classics.”
- American Idol season 3 — Wikipedia, updated August 19, 2026. Reference work (secondary). Retrieved October 6, 2026.
Cited parts (2) of source 3
- Elimination chart row Leah LaBelle: Pl. 12, Eliminated in the Top 12 column (3/17); ratings table episode 'Top 12 Results', March 17, 2004
- Elimination chart, place 12
- List of American Idol finalists — Wikipedia, updated June 10, 2026. Reference work (secondary). Retrieved October 6, 2026.
Cited parts (1) of source 4
- Contestants table, row Leah LaBelle: season 3, place finish 12th