Simon Cowell has spoken out over the tragic death of America’s Got Talent star Nolan Neal.
The contestant, who also appeared on The Voice in 2016, died aged 41 in July following a struggle with addiction.
As America’s Got Talent returns with live shows this month, judge Simon, 62, addressed Nolan’s sad passing. He told People : "I was thinking about this the other day. People (who) passed too soon.
"Every time it happens, because you've gotten to know them, it's horrible," adding: "At that moment, it's like, 'what can I say?
"The unfortunate thing is it's happened too many times and every time it happens, it's hard.”
It was confirmed by the local medical examiner’s office to TMZ that Nolan died on 18 July, after he was reportedly discovered in his Nashville apartment last month.
The late performer joined Maroon 5 frontmanAdam Levine’s team on The Voice, and collaborated with Howie Mandel, Heidi Klum, Sofía Vergara and more on AGT's 15th season, making it to the show's quarterfinal stage.
Nolan leaves behind his two children, a son and a daughter, Caylin Cate, who created a GoFundMe page to raise money for her father’s funeral.
The singer’s cousin Dylan Seals described Nolan as "open and honest" when it came to his addiction battle.
Mr Seals told People : “He was a loving father and son. A light to all who knew him. My heart goes out to his two children and his mother Cathy."
AGT was hit with another tragedy earlier this year when contestant Nightbirde passed away after a cancer battle, at age 31.
Simon signalled his sadness towards losing the late star, whose real name was Jane Marczewski, also as he said: "After the last three years, it's been tough. And then, you think everything's okay and then something hits you like a story like that and it's hard."
"But all I can say is, what I've learnt from this, is that you just take every day as it is and you try and stay positive, you try and stay healthy.
"But all I can say is, what I've learned from this, is that you just take every day as it is and you try and stay positive, you try and stay healthy.”
The TV judge added: "That's it. I mean, I was talking about this to someone earlier on, you're never prepared for these days."
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- America's Got Talent star dead – Nolan Neal dies aged 41 at his home in Nashville
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- Simon Cowell pays tribute to 'extraordinary' America’s Got Talent star Nightbirde
- America's Got Talent star Jane Marczewski dies aged 31 after cancer battle
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