Ryan Whyte Maloney, who competed on The Voice in 2014, has died. He was 44 years old.
The Las Vegas Clark County Coroner confirmed to People on Tuesday (Jan. 28) that Maloney died by suicide, with the cause of death listed as a gunshot wound to the head.
The Traverse City, Michigan, native recorded his first album, Tomorrow’s Aother Day, for his band Indulge in 2005. He then began making music for his solo career, and spent most of 2010 to 2013 performing across the country with original songs like “Hillbilly,” “Michigan Moonlight” and “Living With No Directions” under his belt.
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He appeared on season 6 of The Voice and joined Blake Shelton‘s team. He ended up in the country star’s top five finalists and returned to perform during the live season finale. He continued his relationship with coach Shelton, and in 2024, he performed at the pre-opening party and on opening day of Shelton’s Ole Red bar in Nashville. He had an ongoing residency at Ole Red.
Maloney’s most recent Instagram post was shared the day before his death was confirmed. On Monday night (Jan. 27), he posted on his Instagram Stories a selfie-style video from what appears to be a bar.
If you or anyone you know is in crisis, call 988 or visit the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline’s website for free, confidential emotional support and resources 24/7.
