Beverly McClellan of 'The Voice' Dies of Cancer at 49

Scroll To Top

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."

Be sure to follow Advocate on your favorite social platform

From our Sponsors

Most Popular

photo gallery queer women 2024 WNBA womens professional basketball league

Meet all 37 of the queer women in this season's WNBA

Here Are the 15 Most LGBTQ-Friendly Cities in the U.S.

Here Are the 15 Most LGBTQ-Friendly Cities in the U.S.

Just Which State Is the Gayest? These Are the States With the Most LGBTQ+ Peoplee

Which State Is the Queerest? These Are the States With the Most LGBTQ+ People

Capitol and also the Senate seal

These 27 Senate Hearing Room Gay Sex Jokes Are Truly Exquisite

Latest Stories

restroom signs

New Biden administration Title IX rule protects transgender students’ bathroom & pronoun use at school

Marjorie Taylor Greene arrogant speak to the hand motion crowded public street

Marjorie Taylor Greene has sunk so low even Fox News can't stand her anymore

lesbian avoided by straight women cis men

Single lesbians are avoided by straight women, but not straight men. Here's why.

US rep Ritchie Torres NY introduces new bill to address failures to federal governments mpox response after critical GAO report

The federal government failed on mpox. Ritchie Torres's new bill addresses that (exclusive)

True

Lonnie G Bunch III Secretary Smithsonian Institution Nina West performing washington dc drag queen

Smithsonian responds after report of ending long-held drag shows following Republican angst (exclusive)

LGBTQ celebrities activists TIME magazine Most Influential People of 2024 Colman Domingo Dominique Crenn Kelley Robinson Elliot Page

Meet the LGBTQ+ celebrities and activists TIME called the Most Influential People of 2024

Tracy E. Gilchrist

Tracy E. Gilchrist is the VP, Executive Producer of Entertainment for the Advocate Channel. 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.

Tracy E. Gilchrist is the VP, Executive Producer of Entertainment for the Advocate Channel. 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.