Ryan Whyte Maloney, who competed on Blake Shelton’s team in Season 6 of The Voice, has died at the age of 44. He died by suicide, the Clark County Coroner confirmed to People magazine.
Whyte Maloney first rose to fame with his audition in Season 6 of The Voice, which aired on NBC in 2014. He sang Journey’s “Lights,” accompanied by his own guitar playing, and all four coaches — Adam Levine, Blake Shelton, Shakira and Usher — turned their chairs, hoping to get him on their team. Whyte Maloney chose Team Blake, and he won his first Battle round with a rendition of Tina Turner’s “What’s Love Got to Do With It.”
He triumphed in the second round of Battles, too, with a cover of Rascal Flatts’ “Easy.” Whyte Maloney was eliminated in the Season 6 Playoffs before making it to the live shows, but he did return for the season finale to perform alongside other contestants (including future country superstar Morgan Wallen) in a version of Kenny Chesney’s “Summertime.” In the years that followed, he continued to perform and record music, including a regular gig at Shelton’s Las Vegas bar and live music venue Ole Red.
If you or someone you know is struggling or in crisis, help is available. Call or text 988 or chat 988lifeline.org. Text MHA to 741741 to connect with a trained Crisis Counselor from Crisis Text Line.
Press PLAY below to watch video of Whyte Maloney’s initial audition on The Voice:
How terrible. RIP
It’s really sad reading another death by suicide. I hope the article adds the suicide hotline into. Call 988, even if it prevents one suicide that makes it worth it.
Sadly, this is the sixth contestant from the Voice who has died. I don’t know why the number is so high – the ages and situations are all different – but it’s clearly very sad. RIP to all…