Willie Spence

S19 · Runner-up

Latest documented update, December 23, 2022

Willie Spence, runner-up on season 19 of American Idol, released the six-song EP The Voice on April 2, 2021. He was killed in a car crash on Interstate 24 near Chattanooga, Tennessee, on October 11, 2022, at age 23. Pastor Van henderson's single Weeping won't last, featuring Spence, came out on December 23, 2022.⁠[1][2]

Career

Before the show

  1. January 6, 2020He released the single Champion on January 6, 2020. The copyright line names Champion Records and the year 2019.⁠[2]
  2. January 14, 2021He released the single So Gone on January 14, 2021.⁠[2]

During or around the show

  1. April 2, 2021He released the six-song EP The Voice on April 2, 2021, on Red Agency Records.⁠[2][5]

After the show

  1. August 12, 2022He and Briana Moir released the single The Living Years on August 12, 2022.⁠[2]
  2. October 11, 2022He was killed in a car crash on Interstate 24 near Chattanooga, Tennessee, on October 11, 2022, at age 23.⁠[1][5]
  3. November 12, 2022He was scheduled to perform in London on November 12.⁠[5]
  4. December 23, 2022Pastor Van henderson released Weeping won't last, featuring Willie Spence, on December 23, 2022.⁠[2]

Discography

TitleTypeYearLabelRIAA certificationU.S. sales
The Voice⁠[2][5]EP2021Red Agency Records

Awards

Checked October 8, 2026; none found.

Other activity

  • 2017In 2017 a video of him singing Rihanna's Diamonds went viral on YouTube, with over 39 million views, and he appeared on the talk show Steve, hosted by Steve Harvey.⁠[1]

Sources

5 sources

  1. Willie Spence — Wikipedia, updated August 24, 2026. Reference work (secondary). Retrieved October 7, 2026.
    Cited parts (8)
    • Lead: “He was the runner-up”
    • Death: “on October 11, 2022, at 23 years old.”
    • Lead sentence: “June 18, 1999”
    • Infobox, Born line (birth_date): {{Birth date|1999|06|18}}
    • Lead sentence: “October 11, 2022”
    • Infobox, Died line (death_date): {{Death date and age|2022|10|11|1999|06|18}}
    • Infobox death_place: “Jasper, Tennessee”
    • Background: “In 2017, a video he had posted”
  2. Apple album lookup for artist 1485480697 — Apple. Release database. Retrieved October 8, 2026.
    Cited parts (8)
    • Weeping won't last (feat. Willie Spence) - Single: "releaseDate":"2022-12-23T08:00:00Z"
    • Champion - Single: "copyright":"℗ 2019 Champion Records"
    • Champion - Single: "releaseDate":"2020-01-06T08:00:00Z"
    • So Gone - Single: "copyright":"℗ 2021 Willie Spence"
    • The Voice - EP: "copyright":"℗ 2021 Red Agency Records/Willie Spence"
    • The Living Years - Single: "copyright":"℗ 2022 OUR ARTISTS"
    • Weeping won't last (feat. Willie Spence) - Single: "copyright":"℗ 2022 1468412 Records DK"
    • Champion - Single: "collectionName":"Champion - Single"
  3. List of American Idol finalists — Wikipedia, updated June 10, 2026. Reference work (secondary). Retrieved October 6, 2026.
    Cited parts (1)
    • Contestants table, row Willie Spence: Season 19, Place finish Runner-up
  4. American Idol season 19 — Wikipedia, updated July 21, 2026. Reference work (secondary). Retrieved October 6, 2026.
    Cited parts (1)
    • Lead section; Elimination chart, row Willie Spence: Pl. 2, Finale (5/23) Runner-up: “Willie Spence was the runner-up”
  5. Willie Spence, 'American Idol' Season 19 Runner-Up, Dies at 23 — TheWrap, published October 12, 2022. News report. Retrieved October 8, 2026.
    Cited parts (3)
    • Closing career paragraph: “a six-track EP”
    • Opening: “died Tuesday from injuries sustained in a car accident in Tennessee”
    • Closing career paragraph: “scheduled to perform in London on Nov. 12.”

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