Beverly McClellan of The Voice Dies of Cancer at 49

The blues-rocker contestant who was out as a lesbian from the beginning of the hit show's first season died Tuesday.

Tracy E. Gilchrist

Tracy E. Gilchrist is the VP of Editorial and Special Projects at equalpride. A media veteran, she writes about the intersections of LGBTQ+ equality and pop culture. Previously, she was the editor-in-chief of The Advocate and the first feminism editor for the 55-year-old brand. In 2017, she launched the company's first podcast, The Advocates. She is an experienced broadcast interviewer, panel moderator, and public speaker who has delivered her talk, "Pandora's Box to Pose: Game-changing Visibility in Film and TV," at universities throughout the country.

Read Full Bio

Tracy E. Gilchrist

October 31 2018 12:01 PM EST

October 31 2018 12:59 PM EST

Sorry to interrupt...
But we wanted to take a moment to thank you for reading. Your support makes original LGBTQ+ reporting possible. Help us hold Trump accountable.

One-time Monthly

$19.67 $50 Other

$5 $19.67 $50

Rock and blues belter Beverly McClellan, an out lesbian who wowed audiences as part of team Christina Aguilera on The Voice's first season, died of cancer Tuesday, according to The Blast.

The 49-year-old was surrounded by family, friends, and her wife, Monique Vasquez, when she died after being diagnosed in March with endometrial cancer that had spread to her colon, bladder, and intestines, according to a GoFundMe page set up for her at the time.

One of four finalists on the hit singing competition's inaugural season, McClellan inspired coaches Aguilera and Adam Levine to turn their chairs during the blind audition with her incendiary rendition of "Piece of My Heart."

McClellan was out and proud throughout the course of The Voice's 2011 season, as was co-contestant Vicci Martinez (Orange Is the New Black).

While Javier Colon won the season, McClellan amassed a devoted fan base by singing classics like "The Thrill Is Gone" and Melissa Etheridge's lesbian anthem "I'm the Only One."