American Idol star Nikki McKibbin has died. She was 42. McKibbin placed third on the first season of American Idol.
Her husband Craig Sadler shared on social media that she had suffered a brain aneurysm earlier in the week and was kept on life support because she was an organ donor:
Many of you already know something is wrong. The love of my life Nikki Sadler suffered an aneurysm on Wednesday. She would already be gone, but she’s an organ donor and has been kept on life support to make that possible. That shouldn’t be a surprise to us. Even at the end she is still giving. She was so loved that I know thousands of you will be grieving with us. There are only a few hours left for me to hold her hand and kiss her forehead. The current COVID situation won’t allow the huge service that she deserves, but I would like to offer you the opportunity to honor her. She will be taken to the OR at 3:00 am Central time to give her final gift that will save the lives of strangers. You probably know she practically worshiped Stevie Nicks. Before they begin, they will play Landslide for her one last time. If you are able, you can pause at 3:00 wherever you are and listen to it with her. She will know that you’re sharing her farewell. She loved so many of you and I know you loved her too.
This is so upsetting!
Nikki McKibbin played a role in the first and most important controversial moment in American Idol history when she got more votes than Tamyra Gray who was considered a front-runner in the semi-finals. That was the start of the American Idol “shockers” which would be replicated almost every season.
McKibbin returned to the show in 2014 when her 15-year-old son Tristan Langley auditioned.
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