London24NEWS

The Voice star Ryan Whyte Maloney died by suicide at 44 after stunning argument with fiancée

  • If you or someone you know is in crisis, call or text 988 or chat 988lifeline.org 

The Voice star Ryan Whyte Maloney died by suicide aged just 44 after an argument with his fiancee about her jacket.

Whyte Maloney, who appeared on the show in 2014, passed away on Tuesday, January 28, the Clark County Coroner in Las Vegas confirmed to People.

Per a police report obtained by TMZ, a drunk Maloney began arguing with his partner in their car after leaving the New York-New York Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas in the early hours of Tuesday morning.

The fiancee said they were driving home when she began asking the star if he had her jacket.

Police say Whyte Maloney got annoyed and called her a ‘b***h’ before taking a handgun out of the glove department and getting out of the car. 

The fiancee says she heard a gunshot and then rolled down a window to call for Whyte Maloney, but he had already ran off.

The Voice star Ryan Whyte Maloney died by suicide aged just 44 after an argument with his fiancee about her jacket

The Voice star Ryan Whyte Maloney died by suicide aged just 44 after an argument with his fiancee about her jacket 

She says she then heard a second shot as she ran after him, and saw his body collapse to the ground with a bullet wound in the head.

The fiancee called 911, with Whyte Maloney pronounced dead at the scene at 2.50am.

The reports says the incident was caught on surveillance footage from The MGM and New York-New York casinos – the latter of which the singer posted his final video from, hours before his death.

He said: ‘Nine fine Irishmen for a private party tonight, and we will be rocking.’

Police say the singer had previously had suicidal thoughts and had past self harm scars.

Whyte Maloney rose to fame after performing Lights by the rock band Journey as his audition song and received a four-chair turn.

He was part of US singer-songwriter Blake Shelton‘s team and made it to the top five finalists after two rounds. 

Whyte Maloney recorded four hit singles while on the show, including Lights, Tina Turner’s What’s Love Got To Do With It, Easy by Rascal Flatts and Natasha Bedingfield, and Second Chance by Shinedown.

Whyte Maloney, who appeared on the show in 2014, died by suicide on Tuesday, January 28, the Clark County Coroner in Las Vegas confirmed to People  - he is pictured in his final video hours before his death

Whyte Maloney, who appeared on the show in 2014, died by suicide on Tuesday, January 28, the Clark County Coroner in Las Vegas confirmed to People  – he is pictured in his final video hours before his death 

He returned to perform at the finale. 

The singer maintained a close bond with Shelton and regularly performed at his venue Ole Red with his own residency. He joined Shelton for performances in April 2024.

Whyte Maloney performed with artists including Tim McGraw, Morgan Wallen, Rascal Flatts, Coldplay and OneRepublic. 

On January 16, Whyte Maloney shared a video on Instagram thanking his fans for their birthday messages. He wrote: ‘I’m overflowing with gratitude for the lovely birthday wishes and affection I received today. 

‘Your kindness truly warms my heart. Thank you a million times over!’

He was raised in Traverse City Michigan and began playing the guitar, violin, cello and drums at the age of nine. He recorded his first album in 2005 and a second titled Where I’ve Been.

Whyte Maloney rose to fame when he performed Lights by Journey and received a four-chair turn - picking mentor Blake Shelton (pictured)

Whyte Maloney rose to fame when he performed Lights by Journey and received a four-chair turn – picking mentor Blake Shelton (pictured)

He is pictured second left with Shelton and fellow contestants on The Voice in 2014

He is pictured second left with Shelton and fellow contestants on The Voice in 2014

He performed in clubs and honky-tonk bars between 2010 and 2013 and took to the stage at national festivals.

The star released songs Hillbilly, Michigan Moonlight and Living With No Directions on country radio.

He lived by the motto: ‘Only Those Who See The Invisible, Accomplish The Impossible’.

If you or someone you know is in crisis, call or text 988 or chat 988lifeline.org