Dylan Carter, the 24-year-old singer who earned a rare four-chair turn on season 24 of NBC's "The Voice," died Saturday after a single-vehicle crash in Colleton County, South Carolina. The South Carolina Highway Patrol confirmed the details to Fox News Digital on Monday.
Corporal Nick Pye of the South Carolina Highway Patrol told Fox News Digital that Carter was the sole occupant of the vehicle when it ran off the road, struck a utility pole and a fence, and overturned. He was transported to a local hospital, where he later died from his injuries. The Highway Patrol is investigating the accident.
Carter's death sent a wave of grief through his hometown of Moncks Corner, South Carolina, and across the music and television communities that had watched him rise. The town canceled its scheduled "Music on Main" event, where Carter had been set to perform Monday night.
Carter competed on "The Voice" in 2023, performing Whitney Houston's 2009 song "I Look to You" during his blind audition. All four coaches, Reba McEntire, Gwen Stefani, John Legend, and Niall Horan, turned their chairs. McEntire and Stefani were brought to tears by his performance.
The moment carried personal weight. Carter told the coaches his mother had recently passed away and that the song held deep meaning for both of them.
"When I saw y'all turn around, I saw my mom. She passed back in October and she wanted me to sing it at her funeral. So I did it. I tried but I couldn't make it through it."
He chose McEntire as his coach and advanced to the battle rounds before being eliminated. But the audition, and the story behind it, left a mark on viewers and on McEntire herself.
The loss of young people in the entertainment world always stings, whether it's a singer from a small South Carolina town or a reality TV deckhand lost at sea. Carter's story stood out because of how plainly he wore his heart.
"So this was the best second chance. I just made her so proud. This was her dream before it was mine."
Moncks Corner Mayor Thomas Hamilton Jr. posted a tribute on Facebook on Sunday, the day after the crash. His words reflected a community that knew Carter not just as a performer but as a neighbor.
"Our family is heartbroken to hear about the passing of Dylan Carter in a car accident. As a gifted singer, he frequently entertained our community with his performances at Town events."
Hamilton continued, describing Carter's character beyond the stage.
"His kindness and charm earned him immense respect, and his absence will be deeply felt. To the loved ones and acquaintances of Dylan, we offer our sincerest condolences during this difficult period."
The mayor added that the entire town government shared in the loss. "The Town of Moncks Corner, its Council, and entire staff extend their deepest sympathies," Hamilton wrote. "He was much more to our family than an entertainer he was our friend and we are deeply saddened."
The entertainment industry has seen plenty of upheaval lately, from broadcast layoffs reshaping sports media to shifting fortunes for on-air talent. But Carter's story is simpler and sadder: a young man building something real, gone far too soon.
McEntire, the country music icon who had coached Carter on "The Voice," honored him in a Facebook post on Monday. Her words were brief and direct.
"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."
That McEntire called him a friend, not just a contestant, says something about the impression Carter left during his time on the show. A four-chair turn gets attention. Earning genuine affection from a coach like McEntire takes something else.
Carter's life extended well beyond the stage. In 2024, he co-founded a nonprofit called The Local Voice, which supports women fighting breast cancer and families in need. He also owned Sunny Days RV & Campground and worked as a realtor, a young man building multiple ventures in his community.
The Local Voice posted its own tribute on Facebook on Monday, describing the loss in deeply personal terms.
"Dylan was the heart of what we do. 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."
The nonprofit noted Carter's roots. "A proud Lowcountry native, Dylan also owned Sunny Days RV & Campground and worked as a realtor, always helping others find a place to belong," the post read.
In a media culture that too often celebrates celebrity for celebrity's sake, Carter stood out for channeling his platform into service. He didn't just sing about caring for people. He built organizations to do it.
The Local Voice's statement closed with a line that captured the depth of the community's grief: "We are heartbroken, but find comfort knowing he is in heaven with his mother. We are so grateful for Dylan, for the love he gave this community, and for the impact he leaves behind. We will carry his light forward and continue this mission in his honor."
The nonprofit asked the public to keep Carter's family in their prayers "in the coming weeks as they navigate this tremendous loss."
The South Carolina Highway Patrol's investigation into the crash remains open. No details about the cause of the accident have been released beyond the basic description Corporal Pye provided, that the vehicle left the road, hit a utility pole and fence, and overturned. The specific road within Colleton County and the name of the hospital where Carter died have not been publicly identified.
Local TV station Count on 2 News also reported that Carter passed away in a single-vehicle car accident in Colleton County on Saturday.
The television world moves fast, and its attention span can be short. But in Moncks Corner, the loss of Dylan Carter will linger. He wasn't just a contestant who had a moment on national television. He was a hometown kid who came back and poured himself into the people around him, through music, through charity, through small-town events that don't make the national news.
Twenty-four years old. A nonprofit founder, a business owner, a singer who moved four coaches to turn their chairs and one to tears. The kind of young man any community would be proud to claim, and devastated to lose.
