Dylan Carter, a country singer who competed on Reba McEntire's team during season 24 of The Voice, has died at the age of 24. He was killed on Saturday in a car accident in Colleton County, South Carolina, according to a statement from city officials.
McEntire paid tribute to Carter, describing him as "a brilliant, kind and talented young man" who "brought a huge ray of sunshine" to the show. "Rest in peace, my dear friend," she wrote.
Carter rose to prominence during his emotional blind audition, performing Whitney Houston's "I Look To You" in honour of his mother, who had died the previous year. He earned a rare four-chair turn and chose McEntire, describing himself as a lifelong fan. He was eliminated in the battle rounds.
Alongside his music career, Carter co-founded The Local Voice, a non-profit organisation supporting women with breast cancer. The organisation described him as "the heart of what we do" and said he was a "proud Lowcountry native" who worked as a realtor and owned a campground.
He had been due to perform in Moncks Corner on Monday night. Mayor Thomas Hamilton Jr. said Carter's absence would be "deeply felt", adding: "He was much more to our family than an entertainer - he was our friend."
