America's Got Talent contestant Emily Gold dies by suicide weeks after earning standing ovation

Emily Gold, a 17-year-old contestant on America’s Got Talent and member of the Los Osos High School dance team, tragically died by suicide on Friday, September 13. The San Bernardino Coroner's Office confirmed that Gold was found deceased at 11:52 p.m. in Rancho Cucamonga. California Highway Patrol Public Information Officer Rodrigo Jimenez stated, “Officers responded to a pedestrian down in lanes. Upon arrival, they located a female, 17 years old, who had been struck by at least one vehicle in the carpool lane on eastbound 210.” Gold was pronounced dead at the scene.

Gold had recently appeared on America’s Got Talent, where she and her high school dance team wowed both the judges and the nation with their energetic performance. Despite being eliminated in the quarterfinals, judge Simon Cowell gave the team a standing ovation, calling their performance "absolutely brilliant." Cowell added, “What I loved about this was the energy. It reminded me of seeing the High School Musical movie and thinking every kid should go to a school like that.”

Gold had spoken to PEOPLE in August about her experience on the show, expressing the challenges of balancing her schoolwork with performing. “It's definitely tough to balance it all, but we make it happen,” she said. Gold also emphasized her dedication to perfecting her performances, focusing on corrections from her coaches right up until they took the stage.