Miley Cyrus remembers 'The Voice' star Janice Freeman: 'The best singer that show has ever had'
Miley Cyrus is mourning the loss of Janice Freeman, a fan-favorite contestant who shined on Season 13 of The Voice. Freeman, who was a member of Team Miley, died Saturday from an extreme case of pneumonia and a blood clot that traveled to her heart. She was only 33.
“I miss you so much it hurts. Everywhere ….. but so did you. So often,” Cyrus began in an emotional tribute on Instagram. “So much pain and no one would ever notice because of the smile and joy you constantly radiated.”
When Freeman auditioned for the NBC show in 2017 her story was one that captivated and inspired America. She had survived cervical cancer, meningitis and lupus, and personal tragedy. The singer’s previous partner and the father of her child died from cancer when her daughter, Hannah, was only 4 years old.
“I am trying my best today to celebrate your existence but I can’t help but just deeply mourn over your absence. All those texts I would receive, just of you telling me that your praying for ME. How you were so selfless I’ll never understand. The way you found the good in everything,” Cyrus wrote. “You are now a rainbow. Something beautiful that comes after something so gloomy.”
Cyrus, 26, revealed she was wanting to create her own label just to sign Freeman, who was working on music of her own.
“You were the only artist EVER, that I tried so hard to ‘sign,’ was going to create a label just so YOU could be on it. No one has heard them and I hope to share at an appropriate time, but the records you were creating with @brandicarlile (where it all began, the story ) and my dear writer friend @ilsey were so magically beautiful JUST LIKE YOU,” she continued. “Today we lost a legend. Do you hear me. Everyone got it so wrong on our season together of The Voice because no matter what has been recorded or remembered YOU won my angel.”
Freeman placed 11th on the competition and her elimination is still considered to be one of the most shocking in the show’s history.
“You are not only the best singer that show has ever had the honor of having on that stage but the best f***ing singer in the world,” Cyrus declared. “What makes me sick is we always wait till the best are gone to recognize them and truly tell them what their art meant to us. The hope their voice gave us …. the emotions they pulled from us. Janice you’re my star! I will never give up on you. Ever. I am no longer your coach, I never was ….. YOU constantly taught me.”
Cyrus concluded, “You’ve been my coach on how to love, on how to persevere, on how to fight for what I want and never let even my own body get in the way. Anything is possible if it’s being done with faith. You are my world. I will never forget you or stop loving in you. I am forever yours, Miley.”
Jennifer Hudson also honored Freeman and that “voice of hers.”
A post shared by Jennifer Hudson (@iamjhud) on Mar 3, 2019 at 2:51am PST
Freeman is survived by Hannah, now 12, and her husband Dion, whom she wed in 2015.
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