Dylan Carter, a Season 24 contestant on NBC’s The Voice, was killed in a car accident in South Carolina late Saturday night. He was 24 years old.
The crash occurred at approximately 11:42 PM on Lowcountry Highway near Smakes in Colleton County. Law enforcement confirmed it was a single-car accident.
During his blind audition, Carter performed Whitney Houston’s “I Look to You,” earning a four-chair turn from judges Reba McEntire, Niall Horan, John Legend, and Gwen Stefani.
The song carried deep personal meaning — Carter later revealed he had attempted to sing it at his mother’s funeral the year before but was too overcome with grief to finish.
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All four judges were visibly moved to tears throughout the performance. Horan summed up the moment simply: “You only get four chairs when it really moves the room.”
Carter grew up in St. George, South Carolina, and discovered his passion for music at just ten years old. He built his following performing at local farmers markets, churches, weddings, and community events across the Lowcountry.
Mayor Hamilton was also forced to cancel a Music on Main event scheduled for Monday, which Carter had been set to headline.
Moncks Corner Mayor Thomas Hamilton Jr. said, “He was much more to our family than an entertainer — he was our friend, and we are deeply saddened.”
Carter went on to join Team Reba and advanced to Episode 12 before being eliminated. An official investigation into the accident remains ongoing.
