In an increasingly disturbing trend, another American Idol alum was thought to have died unexpectedly, until police found the former contestant alive, if not so well.
Josh Gracin, who competed on season two of the Fox show, left a disturbing note on his Facebook page on Aug. 14 (screen-grabbed here on Taste of Country), in which he wrote, “Please remember me as someone who gave his all in music” and “pray for my family as they carry on in this world without me.”
No sooner did the word start to spread on social media did the police show up to his home and confirm that he did not commit suicide. Gracin’s manager later tweeted from his handle, “Josh is safe & with his family now. I promise to update soon.”
Gracin won America’s heart, but finished fourth on the 2003 edition of the once popular series. His backstory as a Marine who loved to sing helped endear him to millions.
Following the show, he was signed to Lyric Street Records and would go on to chart 11 singles on the Hot Country Songs chart, including the No. 1 “Nothin’ To Lose” in 2005. His self-titled debut album, released in 2004, hit No. 2 on the Top Country Albums chart and No. 11 on the Billboard 200. It sold 705,000 copies in the U.S., according to Nielsen SoundScan. He followed it with two further albums, 2008’s We Weren’t Crazy (No. 4 on Country Albums) and 2011’s Redemption (No. 39 on Country Albums).
News of another Idol death would have further pained an already suffering community, which lost one of its own, season seven alum Michael Johns, on Aug. 2. The cause of death remains unknown with an autopsy proving inconclusive.
