American Idol contestant Nikki McKibbin dies

Nikki McKibbin, a contestant on American Idol, has died (Lucy Nicholson/AP)

Nikki McKibbin, a singer from Texas best known for her third place finish in the first season of American Idol, has died aged 42.

McKibbin’s husband, Craig Sadler, confirmed her death in a Facebook post, saying she had died after suffering a brain aneurysm on Wednesday and was taken off life support early on Sunday.