Emily Gold, the teen dynamo who had everyone cheering during her stint on America’s Got Talent, tragically passed away at just 17. Now, if there was ever a reason to feel like someone kicked you in the gut, this is it. Emily, who had been dazzling viewers on Season 19 before being ousted in the quarterfinals (which, let’s be honest, AGT, we need a recount), left an impact so big it could probably be seen from space.
Her family broke the sad news on Instagram on September 15, saying, “Our hearts have a hole the size of the universe right now.” And let’s face it, that’s a pretty solid description of how we all feel. It’s like that time you accidentally dropped your phone face-down on the pavement, but, you know, way worse.
Emily’s parents, Brandy and Steve, and her brother, Alex, penned a message to the world that managed to make even the toughest reach for the tissues. “Dear friends,” they began, probably as everyone collectively gasped and leaned in, “we lost our beautiful Emily.” Honestly, the outpouring of love since then has been so massive, it might just be enough to glue back together the shattered pieces of the universe-sized hole.
Alex, doing his best to make all of us sob into our cereal, chimed in with, “I love you, sis. I’m going to do it all for you. I’ll always look for you in the sky.” And right there, the skies of the entire world became prime real estate for Emily sightings, because who wouldn’t be looking up after that?
The family’s post, which has been flooded with over 3,000 likes and 300+ comments, has been a rallying cry of love, support, and probably more heart emojis than Instagram can handle. While the family is holding off on the details for a service, they’ve promised to announce arrangements once they’ve figured everything out. Probably giving themselves a little time to process that hole-in-the-universe situation.
In a sad and shocking revelation, the San Bernardino Coroner’s Office confirmed that Emily’s death was a suicide. This news comes not long after Simon Cowell himself, professional dream-crusher, showered Emily with praise in August, calling her performance with her Los Osos High School Varsity Dance team “absolutely brilliant.” You know you’ve made it when Simon’s got nice things to say, right?
Back in May, Emily had shared her excitement about the AGT audition on social media, gushing, “WE AUDITIONED!!!!!!” Because of course she had to use all caps – that’s how much energy and passion she had. Emily went on to thank her mentors and teammates for helping create what she called “the most beautiful family.” Her dance team, obviously devastated, posted a tribute to their beloved captain, saying, “Our sweet sweet Emily—we love you endlessly and miss you more than words can ever express.”
Emily, you’ve left a mark that won’t fade. The sky might just be a little brighter with you up there, even though we’d much prefer you down here, dazzling us all.