The Voice coach Debra Byrd dies aged 72 with Jennifer Hudson leading tributes

nme.com:

American Idol, The Voice, Canadian Idol, Military Idol and Majors and Minors, and personally coached the likes of Jennifer Hudson, Kelly Clarkson, Barry Manilow and Bob Dylan.She died in Los Angeles on Tuesday (March 5), with no cause of death given.Reacting to the news, Hudson – who rose to fame as a finalist in the 2004 season of American Idol – wrote: “Heartbroken over the passing of Debra Byrd, the vocal coach on American Idol.

She encouraged and supported us from the very beginning!”“I am so grateful for everything she taught us. She will be dearly missed, but her legacy lives on through the music of countless artists she influenced during her lifetime.

Rest in peace, Debra.”Heartbroken over the passing of Debra Byrd, the vocal coach on American Idol. She encouraged and supported us from the very beginning !

I am so grateful for everything she taught us. She will be dearly missed, but her legacy lives on through the music of countless artists she… pic.twitter.com/81no23VzfF— Jennifer Hudson (@IAMJHUD) March 7, 2024Byrd was a member of the band Lady Flash in the 1970s, who were the featured backing group for Barry Manilow, and had a hit in their own right with ‘Street Singin’, penned by the frontman, in 1976.“This is one of the saddest days of my life,” the singer wrote in a social media post. “I just can’t wrap my mind around the fact that Debra is no longer with me.