Dylan Carter, a former contestant on "The Voice" who studied under the tutelage of country legendReba McEntire, died in a car accident on Saturday, April 25, at the age of 24.
The Local Voice, a women's breast cancer nonprofit Carter co-founded in 2024,announced his deathSunday on its official Facebook page.
"With heavy hearts we share the passing of Dylan Carter, co-founder of The Local Voice, talented musician, and someone who meant so much to our community," the organization said. "Dylan was the heart of what we do. He believed every voice matters and lived that every day. Through his music, his kindness, and his smile, he brought people together and made everyone feel seen."
Carter died after being involved in a single-vehicle crash on Saturday night on a rural road in Colleton County, about 53 miles from Charleston, according to local TV stationWCBD. He was scheduled to perform at the town of Moncks Corner’s “Music on Main” event on Monday, April 27, according to the outlet. The South Carolina town announced that the event had been canceled after his death.
"Our family is heartbroken to hear about the passing of Dylan Carter in a car accident. As a gifted singer, he frequently entertained our community with his performances at Town events," Moncks Corner MayorThomas Hamilton said in a Facebook post. "His kindness and charm earned him immense respect, and his absence will be deeply felt. To the loved ones and acquaintances of Dylan, we offer our sincerest condolences during this difficult period."
Hamilton added, "The Town of Moncks Corner, its Council, and entire staff extend their deepest sympathies. He was much more to our family than an entertainer he was our friend and we are deeply saddened."
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An emotional audition
Carter was a contestant on Season 24 of "The Voice," which aired on NBC in 2023. He told the judges that his audition was inspired by the passing of his mother the year prior – a story that brought McEntire to tears.
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"When I saw y'all turn around, I saw my mom,"Carter explained. "She passed back in October, and she wanted me to sing it at her funeral. So I did it. I tried, but I couldn't make it through it. This was the best second chance. I just made her so proud."
As a devout fan of McEntire's work, Carter enlisted her as his coach.
"So much emotion, and I saw it and I felt it when you were singing," the country icon said at the time of Carter's audition. "That's the kind of songs that do that to me too, because I saw you get so emotionally involved, and that's when you know you've got a great song and a great singer: when it touches your heart."
On Monday, April 27, McEntireposted a tributeto her former protege on Instagram: "We will miss Dylan so much. He was a brilliant, talented and kind young man who brought a huge ray of sunshine to The Voice. Rest in peace, my dear friend."
Despite wowing the judges with his initial rendition ofWhitney Houston's "I Look to You," Carter was ultimately eliminated from the show in the Battle Rounds.
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'Always helping others find a place to belong'
Following his stint on The Voice, Carter co-founded the non-profit The Local Voice. He also owned an RV and a campground facility and worked as a realtor, "always helping others find a place to belong," as The Local Voice put it in its Facebook tribute.
"We are heartbroken, but find comfort knowing he is in heaven with his mother," the group wrote. "We are so grateful for Dylan, for the love he gave this community, and for the impact he leaves behind. We will carry his light forward and continue this mission in his honor."
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY:Former 'The Voice' contestant, Dylan Carter, dead at 24
