Cause Of Death Revealed For ‘American Idol’ Alum Mandisa Over A Month After Her Passing At Age 47

More than a month after her passing, Mandisa‘s cause of death has been disclosed.

Mandisa was 47 when she died on April 18 in her Nashville, Tennessee home. According to an autopsy reported by People, she died of complications caused by class III obesity, and her death is listed as natural.

As the outlet notes, Cleveland Clinic defines class III obesity as “a complex chronic disease in which a person has a body mass index (BMI) of 40 or higher or a BMI of 35 or higher and is experiencing obesity-related health conditions.”

The report also reveals that the former American Idol contestant and Grammy award-winning Christian music artist was discovered by her friends, and noted that she “was last known alive approximately three weeks” prior.

Days after her passing, Idol announced a musical tribute in honor of Mandisa, which took place at the end of April and featured fellow Idol alums Danny Gokey, Melinda Doolittle and Colton Dixon performing “Shackles (Praise You).”

Mandisa was born Mandisa Lynn Hundley in Citrus Heights, California. Following her Season 5 run on Idol, where she placed in the Top 9, Mandisa went on to release her first album, True Beauty. Her 2013 album Overcomer won her a Grammy for Best Contemporary Christian Music Album in 2014.

Her most recent album was released in 2017, titled Out of the Dark, which also served as the title of her 2022 memoir. The book tackled various topics, including her struggles with depression and mental health, as well as her physical health and weight, per NPR.

Many mourned Mandisa’s passing, including Robin Roberts, who wrote that she was “incredibly blessed that [Mandisa] was there [her] first day back on ⁦@GMA⁩ following [her] long medical leave,” per USA Today.