Former Fiancée of ‘American Idol’ Fan-Favorite Douglas Kiker Breaks Her Silence After His Passing

Five weeks after former “American Idol” fan-favorite Doug Kiker died at age 32, his ex-fiancée has broken her silence, calling his just-released cause of death “shocking.”

On April 17, 2025, TMZ reported that, according to the Medical Examiner’s report from the City and County of Denver, Kiker — who inspired many during season 18 with his positive attitude after a life of hardship — died on March 12 “from the combined toxic effects of fentanyl, methadone, and amphetamines, with recent cocaine use.” His death was ruled an accident, the outlet reported.

Valerie Cook Says Douglas Kiker ‘Never Reached Out’ After Their Split, Despite Sharing 2 Daughters

After Kiker’s cause of death was released publicly, Valerie Cook — his former fiancée and mother of his two daughters — told Us Weekly, “He has a long history of drug abuse. He had dabbled in a few different things, but all of this is kind of shocking.”

Kiker told the outlet that when she and Kiker broke up four years ago, she moved with their girls to Florida and he went to Denver. Cook has since moved back to Alabama, where they originally met, Us Weekly reported.

“I don’t know if he had a cell phone,” Cook told the outlet. “He never reached out, and he never tried to support (his children). Because of the history, I never reached out. I thought it was safer for the kids.”

Kiker hadn’t updated his Instagram since 2022, but his last posts included photos of him playing with his daughters at a playground that April.

Douglas Kiker’s Struggles With Substance Abuse May Have Kept Him From Succeeding in Music After ‘American Idol’

Kiker left judge Katy Perry in tears during his season 18 audition, which aired in early 2020. Before his moving rendition of Rascal Flatt’s “Bless the Broken Road,” he told her and fellow judges Luke Bryan and Lionel Richie that his only experience performing was “on the back of a garbage truck.”

Although Kiker didn’t make it past Hollywood Week on season 18, per Whiskey Riff, his presence on the show was unforgettable for the judges and viewers. He quickly became a fan-favorite, known as “The Singing Garbage Man,” and returned to Alabama a local hero, booking gigs and starring in an independent movie filmed there.

The judges even invited Kiker back to the season 18 finale to perform with Rascal Flatts because they thought he was so inspiring. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, he performed with the band virtually.

Unfortunately, Cook told Us Weekly, Kiker’s dependence on drugs got in the way of him taking advantage of his notoriety.

“He just wouldn’t stop doing (what) he was doing to pursue it further,” she said. “He had the means to do so and had people behind him supporting him. The drugs were just getting in the way.”

Kiker’s siblings set up a GoFundMe to help them cover funeral expenses. Fans and friends raised over $6,000, but the fundraiser is no longer accepting donations.