The Voice Star Ryan Whyte Maloney Dead At 44

The following article includes mention of suicide.

Singer Ryan Whyte Maloney has tragically died at age 44. According to People, Maloney, who rose to fame as a contestant on Season 6 of "The Voice," died by suicide on January 28 in Las Vegas.

Although Maloney lost Season 6 of "The Voice" to Josh Kaufman, he's been fondly remembered for his awe-inspiring performance of "Lights," which attracted the approval of the entire celebrity judging panel. In the time since, Maloney, who'd already achieved moderate success as both a band member and soloist prior to joining "The Voice," worked steadily as an artist, delighting his fans with his raspy tone. 

Just one day before his death, Maloney posted an upbeat message promoting his performance at a bar. "Nine fine Irishmen for a private party tonight, and we will be rocking," he said in a video posted to his Instagram Stories (via People). The post came days after Maloney opened up about how getting eliminated from "The Voice" had affected his mental health — until they asked him back for the finale. "I was at home all depressed after the voice," he posted to Instagram on January 17. "I was trying to pick up the pieces of putting my life together and was getting used to waking up to 60,000 Facebook messages of people who said they knew me that was hilarious and I got a call from The Voice asking me to come back to do the finale and here it is best time of my life ever!"

Ryan Whyte Maloney has spoken candidly about living with a mental health condition. The late singer's journey was anything but easy — expelled from school at 16, he spent years drifting from state to state before returning to Michigan, where he relied on friends' couches and, at times, his car for shelter. In an interview with Northern Express, he reflected on the toll these hardships took on his mental health, sharing that his setbacks caused him to spiral into depression. "[I had to start] building myself back from zero," he said.

His appearance on "The Voice" was certainly a turning point in his career, but it didn't erase the demons he had long been dealing with. Even as his star rose, depression remained a constant presence. He often turned to social media to share his struggles, opening up about the reality of life as an artist living with the weight of depression and self-doubt. "For my entire life I have dealt with social anxiety and depression it has been at times crippling to my solo career and musical endeavors as tight wanting to be further in my career and then at the same time standing in my own way doubting my ability," he wrote in an Instagram post in 2019. "It's an interesting situation being the fearless singer and at the same time being like a 6 year old scared of being onstage and thinking what is everyone thinking in their heads and having 30 caption bubbles goin on at the same time."

Maloney's raw honesty about his struggles struck a chord with many of his fans, shedding light on the often-overlooked reality that success doesn't silence inner battles. We extend our heartfelt condolences to his family, friends, and all who were touched by his music and story.

If you or someone you know is struggling or in crisis, help is available. Call or text 988 or chat 988lifeline.org