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How did Skilyr Hicks die? Former 'America's Got Talent' contestant found dead at 23

'She will live on through her music,' mourns mother after young singer was found lifeless at friend's home, after battling mental health issues
UPDATED DEC 8, 2021
Musician Skilyr Hicks (@skilyrhicks/Instagram)
Musician Skilyr Hicks (@skilyrhicks/Instagram)

Former 'America's Got Talent' (AGT) contestant Skilyr Hicks was found dead at 23 in Liberty, South Carolina on December 6, 2021. According to reports, the young musician was found lifeless at the home of a friend. Hicks' mother Jodi confirmed the death of her daughter, noting "she will live on through her music," in a brief statement. Hicks appeared on season 8 of 'AGT' in 2013 when she was just 14 years old. 

Hicks' tragic death comes at a difficult time for the AGT family, which has already lost some of its most prominent names this year. In early December, another AGT contestant - Jay Jay Philips - died from Covid-19 after refusing to get vaccinated. Days earlier, singer Thomas Wells died as a result of a gruesome accident at a tire manufacturing site in Oklahoma. Before his death, Wells appeared on numerous shows including AGT and 'X-Factor'. Luckily, Jonathan Goodwin survived his near-death experience on the show, after he was slammed between two cars when rehearsing for a stunt. 

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Before her death, Hicks was both famous and notorious, having been arrested multiple times despite a promising musical career that saw the release of a few original songs. In fact, for her AGT audition, she even sang an original composition titled 'Brand New Day', that saw her go on to the Vegas round of the 2013 season. 



 

How did Skilyr Hicks die?

Right now, there's not a lot we know about Hicks' death. TMZ, which broke the story, noted that Hicks' body was "found lifeless in the home of a friend" in Liberty. Even Jodi is unsure what the cause of her death is, noting that she didn't know the person Hicks was with at the time. However, it may have something to do with Hicks' history of mental health woes. According to Jodi, Hicks battled both depression and substance abuse, which often led her into legal trouble.

In 2018, she was arrested for underage drinking in Findlay, Ohio. Hicks was 20 at the time when she bought and consumed alcohol, leading to a misdemeanor charge. A year before, Hicks was charged with domestic violence for injuring her older sister and assaulting other members of her family after coming home intoxicated. It's unclear if alcohol was involved in her death, but certainly, there was something unusual. Hicks was also reported missing in May 2021 from Greer in South Carolina. On May 5, she left her residence in an unknown vehicle and was found days later. 

Hicks taught herself to play the guitar and sing at the age of just seven and quickly became a local sensation. She peaked in 2013 with an appearance on AGT but was eliminated just before the live round in New York City. Since then, she's returned to singing for in and around South Carolina, barring the occasional run-in with the law. 

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