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Ten years after Christina Grimmie’s death, the shock surrounding the tragedy has not disappeared. In June 2016, the 22-year-old singer was building a remarkable career after rising from YouTube fame to national television, but a concert in Orlando ended in an act of violence that stunned her family, fans and the music world.
Grimmie was not simply known as a contestant on The Voice. She was one of the early musicians to build a huge audience through YouTube, turning bedroom covers into a professional career. By the time she appeared on The Voice in 2014, millions of people already knew her voice. She finished third on the sixth season, competing on Adam Levine’s team, and went on to tour and release more music.
Her death on June 10, 2016, therefore felt particularly cruel because it came at a moment when her career was still unfolding.
But what happened in the hours, days and months before she was killed?
A Young Star Who Built Her Career Online
Christina Grimmie’s story began long before the Orlando shooting.
Growing up in Marlton, New Jersey, she developed a passion for music at an early age. As a teenager, she began uploading singing videos to YouTube. What started as a simple way to share music eventually became the foundation of a professional career.
Her online audience grew rapidly. Her covers attracted millions of views, and her talent eventually caught the attention of people in the music industry. She released her Find Me EP in 2011 and later released With Love. Her career continued to expand as she performed at major events and toured with established artists.
Then came The Voice.
In 2014, Grimmie auditioned for the NBC singing competition and became one of the season’s standout performers. She ultimately finished third, gaining an even larger audience and greater exposure.
For many viewers, the show was their first introduction to her. For millions of her existing YouTube followers, however, Grimmie had already become someone they felt they knew.
That close relationship between internet performers and their audiences would later become an important part of the discussion surrounding her death.