Dylan Carter, a former contestant on “The Voice” who earned a four-chair turn during the show’s 24th season, died after a single-vehicle crash in Colleton County, South Carolina. He was 23.
The South Carolina Highway Patrol said Carter was the only person in a Tesla sedan traveling on U.S. Route 21 in Colleton County on Saturday when the vehicle left the roadway, struck a curb, hit a utility pole and a fence, and overturned. Carter was taken to a hospital in Colleton County, where he later died of his injuries, South Carolina Highway Patrol Cpl. Nick Pye confirmed to NTD.
Carter, a Lowcountry native from Moncks Corner, became widely known after earning a four-chair turn during his 2023 blind audition on “The Voice” with a performance of Whitney Houston’s “I Look to You.” Coaches Reba McEntire, Gwen Stefani, John Legend, and Niall Horan all turned their chairs during the audition. Carter ultimately joined McEntire’s team and advanced to the battle rounds.
After news of his death, tributes poured in from musicians, local leaders, schools, and community organizations.
Rainer met Carter in June 2023 when they both auditioned for The Voice. She said she and Carter were part of a group of contestants who became very close during the competition. They continued to meet in a group she referred to as resembling siblings, and met several times in Nashville.
She said one of her favorite memories of Carter was his Shakira impression. “He knew every song. He was a human jukebox,” she said.
“The night that he passed away, the world got a little darker and a little less bright because Dylan Carter was 100% pure light,” Rainer said. “He was somebody that didn't have a bad or mean bone in his body. He wasn't capable of harm. He was literally the most kind, generous, humble soul that has ever walked this planet.”
Organizations across South Carolina also honored Carter’s legacy. Sunny Days RV Park & Campground described him as “the kindest, most honest soul you will ever meet,” and said that the park wouldn't be what it is today without him.
The Local Voice, a nonprofit Carter co-founded in 2024 to support women battling breast cancer and families in need, said Carter “believed every voice matters and lived that every day.”
Carter often spoke publicly about the influence of his mother, Julie Carter, who died in 2022. In a 2023 Facebook post marking the anniversary of her death, he wrote that she was his “number 1 supporter in music” and added, “Words can’t describe how much we miss you.”
Funeral services are scheduled for 11 a.m. Saturday, May 2, 2026, at Indian Field Campground.