Goodspeed, 30, was found dead Nov. 11 of an apparent suicide. Topics; Paula Abdul; Thinking they had come from her restaurateur boyfriend J.T. I can't even imagine if I was right there in my home. On Sept. 5, 2014, Battles boyfriend found her hung in her West Hollywood home. An obsessed fan of American Idol and star Paula Abdul, Paula Goodspeed had her first name legally changed to that of her hero. She was unresponsive to officers.. Fans of the show adore each winner from their respective seasons, but it's also easy to get attached to some of the contestants who didn't quite make the cut. You two are the best parents," Hug wrote in a suicide note read aloud at his funeral. PEOPLE.com and the Peoples Choice Awards are counting your votes! The flower thing was really scary Paula [Abdul] really couldnt handle that. Mexican-American singer JenniRivera had been involved in several Spanish-language reality shows, and was starring in I Love Jenni on Mun2 when she was killed in a private plane crash that took the lives of seven people after it took off from Monterrey, Mexico, in Dec. 2012. Two days later, on Aug. 1, 2014, he passed away at the age of 35. It was a very tragic, unfortunate, [and] sad, Paula told Billy I was very blessed and lucky to have been at [work at Idols] Hollywood Week when it happened.. As previously reported by AccessHollywood.com, Goodspeed was found dead shortly after 6 PM on November 11, after the Los Angeles Police Department received a tip from a neighboring agency. Abdul, 46, claimed last week she had been stalked by Goodspeed for 17 years and she had filed restraining orders against her in the past. I spoke to them after the incident, they were absolutely horrified. Abdul and Cowell were filming the new series of American Idol with fellow judges Randy Jackson and Kara DioGuardi when she was informed of Goodspeed's suicide in her car on November 11th. The girl group broke up for a point in time, but has since gotten back together. "More than just the name.". Before Spence's death, the most recent Idol contestant who passed away was Nikki McKibbin. She was 26. It is said that Goodspeed sent Abdul a bouquet of flowers before killing herself. Ive been drawing ever since I was a little kid and my first drawing was of Paula Abdul.. She said I am deeply shocked and saddened at what transpired yesterday. And I made life-sized drawings of Paula. Spence was 23 and was the runner-up in Season 19. Jewell, the fiance of Real Housewives of AtlantastarKandiBurruss,was fatally shot during a brawl at an Atlanta nightclub in Dec. 2009. The Toronto, Ontario native had a brief recording deal in 2011 with L.A. Reid's Epic Records. "I am deeply shocked and saddened at what transpired," Abdul says of the apparent suicide of Paula Goodspeed. Alexis Cohen made a lasting impression in 2008, even though the Pennsylvania native's vocals fell flat. American Idol will return for its 21st season next year on ABC. You can find out more and change our default settings with Cookies Settings. As previously reported by AccessHollywood.com, Goodspeed was found dead shortly after 6 PM on November 11, after the Los Angeles Police Department received a tip from a neighboring agency. "The Bachelor's" Gia Allemand is just the latest fatality. She was 21. She just liked the name Paula, she says. I think that this show could continue for another 10, 20 years, to be honest with you.'. He moved to Atlanta to pursue a music career before heading to Los Angeles, where he signed with Maverick Records in 2002. Join the Fun!! "We are devastated about the passing of our beloved American Idol family member, Willie Spence," the Idol team wrote on Twitter. Goodspeed killed herself by overdosing on drugs in her car outside Abdul's Sherman Oaks home in Nov. 2008. Why a Paula Abdul fan died | The Week According to Goodspeed's mother, the victim was obsessed with Paula Abdul and told her she was going to visit Paula on Tuesday. Paula Goodspeed Died: November 11, 2008 Cause of death: Suicide via drug overdose at age 30 in Sherman Oaks, California. "If somebody has a deadly disease that requires chronic treatment [and] are not, everyday, involved in that treatment, their life is in danger today," Dr. Drew Pinsky told ET. Show history: Spence was the runner-up of Season 19 to Chayce Beckham. However, the producers did not oblige. All About Sharrieff Shah, Simon Cowell Was Once Offered His Own Talk Show But He Backed Out: 'Literally Couldn't Do' It, Monterey Park Mass Shooting: Remembering the Victims, Willie Nelson's 8 Children: Everything to Know, Camila Cabello Reveals She Originally Auditioned for 'The Voice' Before Finding Fame on 'X Factor', Simon Cowell Details His First Encounter with Kelly Clarkson on 'American' 'Idol' : 'Stay Away from Me', Pa. Man Accused of Setting Ex's House on Fire 1 Day After Breakup, Killing Her Sister Who Used Wheelchair, 911 Call About Ga. When I heard from [Idol creator] Nigel [Lythgoe], Wait til you see this next girl! When you visit this site, it may store or retrieve information on your browser, mostly in the form of cookies. But she had limited success with her record sales. that's who im the most concerned 4.". Peoplemagazine would later confirm Lynche died from "acute chronic alcoholism. The Dark Side of Reality TV: 27 Tragic Deaths 2023 Gold Derby Media, LLC. Paula Abdul's life - chronic pain, death outside home, American Idol 'American Idol' Contestants Who Have Tragically Died Over the Years