Gaining stardom thanks to her time on American Idol, Lauren Alaina didn’t let finishing in second place define her. Competing during the 10th season of the show, the runner-up used the competition as a launching pad, releasing her debut album, Wildflower, in October 2011. Since that moment, she recorded two more albums. Her last, Sitting Pretty on Top of the World, hit shelves in 2021. While thrilled about her success in country music, the singer recently shared the heartbreaking news that her cousin, Holly, passed away at 41.
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For fans of Alaina, they will surely remember Holly as she accompanied the singer when she auditioned for American Idol. Always close to each other, the singer shared a video of them throughout the years on Instagram. She wrote, “If you followed my American Idol journey then you know Holly. Wherever Holly went I was always close behind. She is the sister I never had and my favorite person on this planet.”
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Lauren Alaina Asked Holly To “Give My Daddy A Hug For Me”
While mourning the loss of Holly, Alaina still took a moment to thank fans for their support through the troubling time. “Thank you so much for all the love and prayers. It truly means the world. Please keep my aunt & uncle in your continued prayers.”
Finding love with Cam Arnold, the newlyweds welcomed their first daughter just last month. Although new parents, the singer couldn’t help but sympathize with Holly’s mother. Not fully grasping the pain of losing a child, Alaina explained, “As a new mother, I cannot even fathom the pain of losing a child. I love you forever, Holly.”
Fans of American Idol wasted no time remembering Holly. Even though she didn’t compete, her support for her cousin left a lasting impression. “Thank you for sharing so much of Holly with us over all these years, She was so loved by all of us fans – it is & was always so obvious that you made her so proud. Love you so much.”
Sadly, the last few years have been tough for Alaina. Although climbing the ranks of country music, she lost her father back in July 2024. Missing her father and cousin, she found peace knowing they were together, concluding, “Give my daddy a hug for me.”
(Photo by Jason Kempin/Getty Images)
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