Doug Kiker, the man who turned trash collection into a stepping stone for stardom, has sadly sung his last note at the age of 32.
If you need a reminder (because let’s be honest, 2020 was a blur for all of us), Doug was the guy who walked onto the American Idol stage in season 18, fresh from his garbage truck, and made Katy Perry cry—in a good way! His rendition of Bless the Broken Road by Rascal Flatts melted hearts and proved that sometimes, talent comes from the most unexpected places… like a sanitation route.
Doug’s passing was confirmed by his ex-fiancée, Valerie Cook, who told TMZ that she “hates that her kids lost their father.” And while the official cause of death hasn’t been revealed yet, we do know that he left this world on Monday, March 10.
His sister, Angela Evans, took to Facebook with a heartfelt post, writing, “It is with a heavy heart that we have to announce the passing of my brother Douglas Kiker. He was sooo loved and will be missed by so many! You’re singing with the angels now, Bubba. Please pray for our family as we go through this very difficult time.”
Doug’s family has launched a GoFundMe to cover funeral expenses, because unfortunately, even in the afterlife, bills keep rolling in. They wrote, “We are now left with the difficult task of bringing him home and covering funeral expenses. Any contribution, no matter the amount, will go directly to the funeral costs and allow us to navigate this difficult time without the added financial burden. We greatly appreciate each and every one of y’all.”
Rest in peace, Doug. The streets might be a little cleaner without you on your route, but the heavens just got themselves one heck of a singer. 💔