Mandisa, a Christian singer and former *American Idol*

contestant, passed away at her Nashville home at age 47.

Her death was confirmed on Friday morning, though the cause has not yet been made public.

In her 2022 memoir, *Out of the Dark: My Journey Through the Shadows to Find God’s Joy*,

Mandisa shared her struggles with mental health.

She wrote about battling depression and anxiety after the loss of a close friend to cancer,

describing this period as her “deep dark” phase.

In a 2017 interview with *People*,

Mandisa revealed how deeply her friend’s death affected her, leading her to withdraw and turn to food for comfort.

“When she died, it shook me to my core,” she said

. “I fell into a deep hole of sadness.

I went back to my old ways, which are food.”

Mandisa’s openness about her mental health journey has touched many,

and her music and message will continue to inspire her fans.