News December 08, 2021
‘America’s Got Talent’ Contestant Skilyr Hicks Passes Away at 23

Skilyr Hicks — who wowed the judges on Season 8 of “America’s Got Talent” when she was only 14 years old — has passed away at the age of 23.
As reported by TMZ, the musician’s mother Jodi says her daughter was found dead Monday at a house in Liberty, South Carolina. Though TMZ reported that the house belonged to a friend, Jodi is not aware of the homeowner.
In an update, Chief Deputy Chad Brooks of the Pickens County Sheriff’s Office told the outlet that it is believed Hicks died of a suspected drug overdose.
Reportedly, Hicks was found on the floor of a bathroom. Drugs and paraphernalia were allegedly found at the scene.
According to Jodi, Skilyr battled with mental health issues, including depression and substance abuse.
“She will live on through her music,” Jodi added.
Skilyr was also honored by her younger sister Breelyn on Facebook, who wrote in a post, “My super beautiful, extremely talented, hilarious, free spirit of a sister left this world to be with Jesus.”
“I can’t possibly put into words how broken-hearted I am,” Breelyn added. “I will miss her like crazy. I’ll miss her voice, her long warm hugs, her constantly making jokes using puns. Her ability to create music that inspired thousands of people. She had so much life left to live…”
On “AGT,” Skilyr performed an original song and told judges — Howard Stern, Mel B, Heidi Klum, and Howie Mandel — that she had lost her father a few years prior.
“He made some bad decisions and I hadn’t seen him in a few years,” Skilyr said on the show. “After his funeral, I wrote my first song.”
After making it through the first round, Skilyr was sadly eliminated before the live rounds in New York.
In 2017, TMZ reported that Skilyr did jail time for allegedly assaulting three family members — including her grandmother — after coming home intoxicated.
The next year, the outlet reported that she was arrested for underage drinking.
Our thoughts and prayers go out to Skilyr’s family and loved ones for their loss.