'The Voice' Alum Dylan Carter's Sudden Passing at 24 Leaves Reba McEntire and Fans Heartbroken

A 24-year-old singer who once made four coaches spin their chairs and later moved them to tears is gone, and the community he called home is still struggling to make sense of it.

Dylan Carter had worn many hats by the time he was 24. The South Carolina native was a "The Voice" alum, a nonprofit co-founder, a realtor, and a beloved fixture of his local music scene.

When news of his death broke on social media Sunday afternoon, the grief came fast and from every direction. The tributes that followed painted a picture of someone whose impact ran far deeper than a single television appearance.

A Star Born From Heartbreak

Dylan was not just another face in the crowd when he stepped onto the big stage for Season 24. A native of St. George, he had actually auditioned for NBC's "The Voice" three times before finally getting his big break.

His persistence paid off in a massive way when he performed a soul-stirring rendition of "I Look to You" by Whitney Houston. The performance was a deeply personal tribute to his mother, who had passed away only a year earlier.

"My mom, she, anytime that song came on the radio, or she would play it, she would stop everything and say, 'Dylan this is the song I want you to sing at my funeral,' and that day came a little too soon," Carter shared in a 2023 interview.

He had tried to sing it at her funeral but was too emotional to finish it. On the national stage, he finally powered through, earning a rare four-chair turn from the superstar coaches.

The Coach Who Changed Him

When it came time to choose a team, Carter didn't hesitate. Reba McEntire had shared something personal about her own mother during the audition — and that sealed it.

"Reba had that last thing to say to me about her mom, and it just hit me, I had to go with Reba," he said. The mentorship that followed left a lasting mark.

Under McEntire's guidance, Carter said he learned to control his nerves, shape his voice, and connect with audiences on a deeper level.

"I learned so much from her; she's taught me how to control my nerves, how to control my voice, and how to touch people's hearts," he said, "and I'm never going to stop doing it because of her and because of my mom."

Walking off stage after his four-chair turn, Carter described feeling something he hadn't felt since losing his mother:

"I felt my mom with me. I heard her, but then walking off that stage and after hearing and seeing them all turn, I just, my confidence grew. I felt on top of the world. It was crazy."

More Than Just a Singer

After "The Voice," Carter returned home and kept performing across the Lowcountry — but music was only one part of who he was. He was also a licensed realtor and a part-owner of an RV park and campground near Lake Marion in the Santee community.

He co-founded The Local Voice, a Santee-based nonprofit that supports women fighting breast cancer through a local singing competition. The organization's tribute said everything about the kind of man he was.

"Dylan was the heart of what we do," the post read. "He believed every voice matters and lived that every day. Through his music, his kindness, and his smile, he brought people together and made everyone feel seen."

Reba McEntire's Heartfelt Tribute

When McEntire learned of Carter's passing, she posted his cover of "I Look to You" — the very song that had introduced him to the world — alongside a tribute that said it all:

"We will miss Dylan so much. He was a brilliant, kind and talented young man who brought a huge ray of sunshine to The Voice. Rest in peace, my dear friend."

Moncks Corner Mayor Thomas Hamilton was equally gutted. "Our family is heartbroken to hear about the passing of Dylan Carter," he wrote on Monday. "He was much more to our family than an entertainer — he was our friend and we are deeply saddened."

What Happened Saturday Night?

Carter died following a single-vehicle crash on a rural Colleton County road late Saturday night. The South Carolina Highway Patrol is investigating the accident. He was 24 years old.

On Instagram, his profile — @dylancarter843 — now stands as a quiet archive of a young man who had only just begun.

Carter's story was one of persistence, shaped by personal loss and fueled by determination. From audition setbacks to a four-chair turn, he built his path step by step.

He once described singing as a way to stay connected to his mother — a thread that ran through his performances and resonated with audiences.

That authenticity became his signature.

Now, as fans revisit his performances and messages continue to surface online, his legacy is being defined not just by talent, but by the way he made people feel.

A singer who once said he wanted to "touch people's hearts" has, in many ways, done exactly that — leaving behind a story that ended far too soon.