R.I.P. Debra Byrd: Former ‘American Idol’ Vocal Coach Dead At 72

Acclaimed vocal coach Debra Byrd has died. She was 72.

Byrd died in Los Angeles on Tuesday (March 5), per Deadline. Her cause of death has yet to be revealed. According to the outlet, among Byrd’s coaching credits were American Idol, The Voice, Canadian Idol, Military Idol, Majors and Minors, and the 2014 Academy Awards.

With respect to Idol, she served as a coach for ten seasons, per Rolling Stone.

Jennifer Hudson, who launched to stardom after finishing seventh on Idol in 2004, posted a touching tribute to Byrd on X (the platform formerly known as Twitter), in which she remembered how the coach “encouraged and supported us from the very beginning.”

Her post even featured a clip of Byrd coaching Hudson, urging her to “get rid of the gospel jaw” and to practice in the mirror by “physically hold[ing her] jaw.”

Other Idol alumni Byrd mentored include Kelly Clarkson, Clay Aiken, Fantasia Barrino, Adam Lambert and Kris Allen.

Former Idol producer Ron DeShay also mourned the loss of Byrd, praising her as “the best human-being, the best road dog, and the best at bringing out the absolute best of any singer.”

Byrd was born in Cleveland, Ohio on July 19, 1951, per TV Insider. She studied at Kent State University, the Karamu and Dobama Theaters, and eventually became a member of Barry Manilow‘s back-up group, Lady Flash. She also worked on Barry Manilow on Broadway. Manilow wrote that Tuesday was “one of the saddest days of [his] life” after Byrd passed.

Another impressive feat of Byrd’s was working with Bob Dylan on his Hard to Handle: Bob Dylan in Concert tour in Australia, which also featured Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, per Deadline. She worked with Dylan and Petty once again, as well as Stevie Nicks, on “Band of the Hand.”

Byrd also starred as Da Singer in Bring In ‘Da Noise, Bring In ‘Da Funk, and worked on The Human Comedy, Haarlem Nocturne and Ain’t Misbehavin, per Deadline.