Who was Madison Taylor? 'American Idol' star Drake Taylor's sister, 19, drowns in Tennessee lake
'American Idol' singer Drake McCain Taylor stated that his sister's dead body had been discovered in a Tennessee lake in a tragic Facebook post made on Tuesday, May 31. "My beautiful baby sister! Bubba misses you so much my heart can’t take it. Y’all please just pray for our family right now and respect our privacy. GOD BLESS!" Taylor posted this while uploading an article confirming that Madison Taylor, his 19-year-old sister, drowned at Watts Bar Lake shortly after midnight May 30 and early Tuesday.
Taylor, who competed in the popular singing competition in 2021 and came close to breaking into the top 24, expressed his sorrow in a second Instagram post devoted to his young sister, whom he described as an "inspiration" with the "best heart there ever was."
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"My beautiful baby sister… I have no words. Absolutely no words," Taylor wrote. "I just want to hug you and kiss your precious face! I don't know why GOD took you yet but I know you are in a better place smiling down on us. You inspired me and so many other people, and overall had the best heart there ever was."
In another post he shared to Facebook, he wrote: "Oh my precious baby sister! My only sibling that I could get to sing with me," he says. "We worked on this song for days and she was so excited yet so nervous to perform it, but as always my twin killed it! I miss and love you so much sissy and would trade places with you in a heartbeat." The video accompanying the post had Madison singing Beyoncé's "I Was Here."
The 19-year-old apparently perished after entering the water from a boat late Monday night, May 30, intending to go for a swim but failed to surface, according to the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency. The TWRA and other local crews began searching for Madison in 40 to 50 feet of water at around 6:30 pm on Monday, May 30. Her body was discovered after midnight and transported to the Rhea County Medical Examiner's office.
"We will never forget you, the memories, or that beautiful contagious smile. I love you so much, forever and always Bean. Until we meet again my precious baby sis," wrote the American Idol participant. As of Thursday, May 2, morning, a GoFundMe put up to assist the family with burial costs had earned $18,750 of its $19,000 target.