America’s Got Talent season 12 contestant Jay Jay Phillips has died from complications related to COVID-19.
A family member told TMZ that the rock musician was battling COVID at home Thanksgiving week. Family and friends were constantly checking up on his over the phone. Unfortunately, he took a turn for the worse the day before the holiday.
Jay Jay’s family urged him to go to the hospital, but he insisted that he just needed more sleep. That was the last time they heard from him, according to TMZ.
Jay Jay’s girlfriend and her mom — who is a nurse — went to check on him Thanksgiving Day and found him dead. The family member tells TMZ Jay Jay WAS NOT vaccinated, but was planning to get the jab at the time of he contracted COVID.
Jay Jay’s dad who lived with him, also contracted COVID and is currently hospitalized and fighting for his life on a ventilator.
Jay Jay first auditioned for America’s Got Talent on season 4 but didn’t get very far. He returned during season 12 in 2017 and got as far as the Judge Cuts, but got no farther. He tickled the judges with his throwback 80’s cover of Scorpions “Rock You Like a Hurricane,” complete with giant metal hair and keytar.
Guest judge Laverne Cox, Howie Mandel and even Simon Cowell were impressed. After Jay Jay’s performance, Simon threw some devil hands and mused that he’d be fun on the live shows. However, Heidi Klum felt that it “wasn’t a million dollar act.” In the end, the judges didn’t put him through.
Jay Jay was 25 at the time of his AGT season 12 performance, and died at only 30 years old. Rest in Peace. AND GET VACCINATED PEOPLE! I’m triple vaxxed myself.
