Jay Jay Phillips, a performer with “America’s Got Talent” and a graduate of Grandview High School, where he made the student council, has died at the age of 30.
Phillips died Sept. 14 in New York. His family announced the sudden death, blaming it on a congenital heart defect.
Phillips was excited about booking another live tour in October and opened up to Fox59 about how he’s dealt with the loss of a loved one to the disease.
He said after his nephew died of congestive heart failure, he wanted to quit the road tour he was doing with his band, Hard Home.
His sister, Chrissy Johnson, told Fox59 he was able to book a new contract with Ticketmaster that allowed him to work with a backup act, David Garibaldi & his Quexanthiens.
“Everything is turning around, and I was just like ‘time for all my beautiful boys to come back together,’ and he’s back with his friends and family and things,” said Johnson.
Phillips said his dreams to perform are still alive.
“It’s more about the experience,” he said. “Like the audience, being in the moment, not trying to hold a crowd in.”
Phillips is also a graduate of Indiana State University with a Bachelor’s degree in art and music.