The South Carolina singer and former “The Voice” contestant was 24.
COLLETON COUNTY, S.C. — Dylan Carter, a South Carolina singer who competed on “The Voice,” died from blunt force injuries after a single-car crash Saturday night in Colleton County, officials and reports said.
Carter, 24, was the only person in the vehicle when a 2026 Tesla sedan left the roadway, struck several objects and overturned, according to crash details released after the wreck. His death was ruled accidental. The confirmation brought new clarity to a sudden loss that had already shaken his hometown music community, where Carter was known for local performances, charity work and a national television appearance that began with a tribute to his late mother.
The crash happened just before 11:30 p.m. Saturday on Highway 21 near Fireman Lane, according to the South Carolina Highway Patrol account of the wreck. The vehicle was traveling south when it went off the right side of the road, hit a curb, a utility pole and a fence, then overturned. Carter was taken to a hospital, where he later died. Officials said he was wearing a seat belt. The Colleton County coroner later confirmed that Carter died from blunt force injuries. The crash remained under review by state troopers, and officials did not immediately release any finding on what caused the car to leave the road.
Carter’s death was first announced publicly through people and groups close to him, including The Local Voice, a nonprofit he co-founded. The group said he was “the heart” of its work and described him as a musician who believed every voice mattered. The Town of Moncks Corner also mourned Carter, who had been scheduled to perform at a local “Music on Main” event. Mayor Thomas Hamilton Jr. said Carter’s death was a major loss for the community. Carter often performed around the Lowcountry, and his family described him as a person whose humor, charm and kindness drew people in. The family said he was more than a singer to those who knew him.
Carter reached a national audience in 2023 during season 24 of NBC’s “The Voice.” He auditioned with Whitney Houston’s “I Look to You,” a song tied to his mother, Julie Carter, who died in 2022. The performance brought chair turns from all four coaches: Reba McEntire, John Legend, Gwen Stefani and Niall Horan. Carter chose McEntire as his coach and later said her presence felt comforting because of the loss of his mother. He did not win the season, but his blind audition became the moment most closely tied to his public image. His run on the show helped introduce him beyond South Carolina while keeping his story rooted in family, grief and faith.
McEntire paid tribute to Carter after news of his death, remembering him as a bright and kind young performer. Carter’s appearance on her team placed him among a group of young singers hoping to turn national exposure into a wider music career. After the show, he continued performing at local events rather than leaving behind the community where he had built his name. Carter also worked outside music. Reports said he was a real estate agent and co-owned an RV park and campground in South Carolina. Those roles made him familiar to people who knew him not only as a singer, but also as a local businessperson and neighbor.
The fatal crash added to a difficult family story that Carter had shared publicly during his television audition. His mother’s death had shaped his song choice on “The Voice,” and he told the coaches that the Houston ballad was connected to her funeral. That background became part of the emotional force of his performance. In tributes after his death, family members and friends returned to that same theme, saying Carter’s music helped carry both pain and joy. A final social media post showed him smiling while performing in South Carolina, an image that spread after his death as fans and neighbors looked back on his last public moments.
No criminal charges had been announced in connection with the crash as of the latest reports. State troopers were expected to continue reviewing the wreck, including the vehicle’s path, the roadway and any other evidence from the scene. Officials had not released a full crash report or toxicology findings. Carter’s death was classified as accidental by the coroner, but the investigation into the circumstances of the wreck had not been publicly closed. Funeral or memorial details were not immediately included in the first reports, though tributes from local groups, fans and former “The Voice” viewers continued to spread online.
Carter’s death left a public record split between two places: a national stage where he sang for millions and a South Carolina community where he kept performing after the cameras left. The next official update is expected to come from crash investigators or local authorities as they complete their review.
Author note: Last updated April 28, 2026.