Crash kills country singer who sang about hoping to see her young daughter grow up
A country singer-songwriter who recently released a single about staying ‘around’ for her young daughter has died.
Kylie Rae Harris, 30, died following a three-car crash in Taos, New Mexico, Saving Country Music reported. A 16-year-old was also killed while a third driver was unharmed, according to the news outlet.
Taos County sheriff’s officials said speed and alcohol appear to be factors in the crash — and have referred to Maria Elena Cruz, the teenager killed in the crash, as “an innocent victim,” according to Taos News.
Police say Harris was driving southbound in a black Chevrolet Equinox and clipped the back of a Chevrolet Avalanche sending her car into the northbound lane where she hit Cruz, who was driving a white Jeep, head on, Taos News reported.
Cruz’s father is a deputy chief in the local fire department and responded to the scene, the newspaper reported.
Harris’ publicist confirmed her death in a statement to Billboard magazine.
“We are heartbroken to confirm that Kylie Rae Harris passed away in a car accident last night,” the statement says. “We have no further details to share, and ask for privacy for her family at this time. Everyone that knew Kylie knew how much she loved her family and, beyond that, how much she loved music. The best tribute to her unmatched enthusiasm for both is to spread as much love as you can today, and listen to music that fully inspires you.”
According to her website, Harris was scheduled to perform at a music festival in Taos on Thursday.
Harris, originally from Wylie, Texas, released the single “20 Years from Now” earlier this year, which includes the lyrics “God I hope I’m still around/ Twenty years from now.”
“It scared me thinking that it was totally possible I could be gone before my daughter reaches that point,” she said in an interview with Billboard from March. “I want to meet my kid’s kids. Getting to the age your parents were when you were a child brings a whole lot of perspective.”
She wrote the song when her daughter, Corbie, was 2 and a half years old after the pair had visited the girl’s father, Billboard reported. Corbie is now 6-years-old, the Tennessean reported.
The day of the accident, Harris posted a tweet about driving through New Mexico.
The same day, Harris posted a series of Instagram stories — videos that disappear after 24 hours — in which she recalled with tears in her eyes the years she spent going to Taos with her family.
“For those of you who don’t know, I spent the last 20 years of my life coming to Taos with my dad, my sister, my grand parents lived here, my uncle still lives here,” she said in the video. “But basically literally everyone that was here has passed away except for my uncle, including my dad.”
Friends and fans of the singer have turned to social media to express their grief.
“It’s been a tough morning. News of Kylie’s passing hit hard. The entire Texas music community hurts. Yet another reminder of 2 truths: we don’t know when our time is up, and we should love our people as much as we can while we can,” country star Jason Abbott wrote on Twitter.
“The music world lost a beautiful, kind, and incredibly talented woman last night....rest in peace Kylie Rae Harris!” singer Pat Green wrote.
“I’m at a complete loss for words. You will be so missed by all who you sweetly touched with your life. RIP Kylie.” country singer Randall King shared.
This story was originally published September 8, 2019 at 10:35 AM with the headline "Crash kills country singer who sang about hoping to see her young daughter grow up."