The Voice alum Ryan Whyte Maloney dies at 44

Ryan Whyte Maloney, a former contestant on The Voice, has died at the age of 44.

The Clark County Coroner in Las Vegas confirmed that Maloney died by suicide on January 28, with the cause of death listed as a gunshot wound to the head.

Born in 1981 in Traverse City, Michigan, Maloney was a multi-instrumentalist who played guitar, violin, cello, and drums from a young age. He gained early recognition as the frontman of the prog-rock band Indulge, which released the album Tomorrow's Another Day in 2005. After a decade of touring, he transitioned to a solo career, recording his debut album Where I’ve Been with producer Sean O'Dwyer. Between 2010 and 2013, his original country songs, including “Hillbilly” and “Michigan Moonlight,” received airplay in multiple states.

Maloney rose to national fame in 2014 when he auditioned for The Voice with a performance of Journey’s “Lights,” earning a four-chair turn. He joined Blake Shelton’s team and advanced through two Battle rounds, becoming one of Shelton’s top five finalists. During the competition, he recorded covers of Tina Turner’s “What’s Love Got to Do with It,” Rascal Flatts’ “Easy,” and Shinedown’s “Second Chance.” He later returned to perform in the season finale.

In the years following The Voice, Maloney worked as a songwriter, studio musician, and producer. He continued releasing music, including singles such as “Don’t Put Me in a Box” and “Love with Nowhere to Go.” In 2024, he held a residency at Ole Red, Blake Shelton’s venue.

Throughout his career, Maloney performed alongside major artists, including Tim McGraw, Morgan Wallen, Rascal Flatts, Shakira, Usher, and Ed Sheeran.