Dylan Carter, Lowcountry musician and ‘The Voice’ alum, dead at 24

CHARLESTON, S.C. (WCBD) – Dylan Carter, a Lowcountry musician and former “The Voice” contestant, has died at age 24, according to people close to the singer. Carter was involved in a single-vehicle crash Saturday night on a rural Colleton County road. The South Carolina Highway Patrol is investigating the accident. News about Carter’s death began to spread on social media Sunday afternoon, including a Facebook post from Moncks Corner Mayor Thomas Hamilton, who called Carter a “gifted singer," adding that his "kindness and charm earned him immense respect." Carter was scheduled to perform Monday night at the Town of Moncks Corner’s “Music on Main” event. The town announced that the event has been canceled. The Local Voice, a nonprofit based in Santee, South Carolina, that provides care to women fighting breast cancer, also announced the news in a Facebook post. "With heavy hearts, we share the passing of Dylan Carter, co-founder of The Local Voice, talented musician, and someone who meant so much to our community." “Dylan was the heart of what we do,” the post continued. “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.” A St. George native, Carter was a contestant on Season 24 of NBC’s reality competition show The Voice. He earned a four-chair turn during his blind audition and later joined country music icon Reba McEntire’s team. In a previous interview with News 2, Carter said he had auditioned for The Voice twice before making it to the show’s blind audition round. For that performance, he sang “I Look to You” by Whitney Houston, a song he said was a tribute to his mother, who had died the year before. Carter said he had attempted to sing the song during his mother’s funeral but was overcome with emotion and unable to finish it; however, he noted that he felt her presence while on stage during the audition. “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,” Carter said in the interview. “I felt on top of the world. It was crazy.” Reba McEntire reacted to the news in a social media post, saying, "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." After his appearance on The Voice, Carter continued performing throughout the Lowcountry. He also took part in benefit events, including “The Local Voice” fundraiser, a local singing competition. Outside of music, Carter worked as a realtor and was a part-owner of an RV park and campground near Lake Marion in the Santee community.