He had wowed the judges and viewers on "American Idol" season 18.
Now, two sisters of Doug Kiker confirmed in Facebook posts that he has died at age 32. No cause of death has been released.
Kiker had been tagged with the moniker “Singing Garbage Man.” He worked as a garbage man in his home of Mobile.
Kiker was selected for Hollywood Week on "American Idol" in 2020. He sang a cover of Rascal Flatts' “Bless the Broken Road” for show judges Lionel Richie of Tuskegee, Luke Bryan and Katy Perry.
Katy Perry reacted, “That was not garbage. It was greatness.” The judges then awarded him a golden ticket to the Hollywood stage. That was as far as he advanced, but he was brought back for an encore in which he was backed up by Rascal Flatts, a thrilling tribute to Kiker.
After his "American Idol" performance, he sang at entertainment spots in Mobile.
His ex-fiancé and the mother of their two children, Valerie Cook, said he died March 10.
Jim ‘Zig’ Zeigler writes about Alabama’s people, places, events, groups and prominent deaths. He is a former Alabama Public Service Commissioner and State Auditor. You can reach him for comments at [email protected].
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