American Idol alum Caleb Lee Hutchinson is mourning the loss of his dog, Hershey, who he called his “best ole buddy.” The country singer took to social media on Friday (Feb. 23) to share the sad news with fans that his famous dog had passed away.
“Deeply Saddened” To Announce The Passing Of His Dog, Hershey
“Hey everybody, Today I am deeply saddened to announce the passing of our best ole buddy, the greatest walker, the greatest napper, and [the] greatest kiss giver of all time, Hershey,” he wrote, before revealing the reason why he wanted to post the news on his social media platforms.
“I thought I’d share the news with y’all because most of you are familiar with him,” Hutchinson wrote. He went on to explain that his dog, Hershey, was popular amongst his fan base and became quite the public figure as he “had fan pages made for him, was on national TV, got put on a T-shirt, heck even Ryan Seacrest said his name.”
Hershey Was Loved By His Fans And Even Appeared On American Idol
Hershey made an appearance on national television when Caleb Lee Hutchinson, who was 19 years old at the time, appeared on the sixteenth (16) season of American Idol in 2018. During his Disney week performance on American Idol, Hutchinson performed a cover of Toy Story’s “You’ve Got A Friend In Me,” which he dedicated to his dog, Hershey. At the time, he had a goal of winning Idol to be able to afford a house with a big yard to get his pooch a big yard to play in.
“I don’t want y’all to think it’s an act,” Hutchinson told Idol viewers at the time. “My dog seriously stood by me at all my low points and is my actual best friend. I love him more than most people.”
Hershey has also been seen throughout Caleb Lee Hutchinson’s social media since he got him 12 years ago, as the “Good At Being Bad” singer often shared photos with the pup and documented the fun times they shared together.
“He gave me 12 years of his life, every single day he loved myself and my family unconditionally,” Hutchinson continued, reflecting on the time he and his family cherished with Hershey. “Through all the weird phases of life in the past 12 years, he was so consistent, and we were truly best friends.”
Caleb Lee Hutchinson And His Family Are “Heartbroken”
Hutchinson later confessed that he and the rest of his family are absolutely “heartbroken” over the loss of Hershey, and showcased gratitude to his followers for loving his dog as much as he did.
“Having him made me a better person, and we are all heartbroken in the Hutchinson household today. I just wanted to thank y’all for loving him, he definitely loved you, and I want to thank God for the true privilege it was being his person,” Hutchinson continued.
He concluded the heart-wrenching post by writing, “I’ll love him forever and miss him every day. Thanks everyone. ❤️”
Hutchinson Recently Released His Debut Album, Southern Galactic
The sad news comes weeks after the release of Caleb Lee Hutchinson‘s debut album, Southern Galactic.
“Southern Galactic is my first full length record, and it’s just kind of all about the themes of this past year, but really I guess the past five years since I moved to Nashville, and all the great people I’ve got to meet and write songs with… Thematically, all the songs kind of range from good times, bad times and in-between times, so I’m really excited about it,” he explained to us of the project during an interview in October of 2023. “It’s probably the most personal thing I’ve ever put out, but it’s also the most fun thing I’ve put out, which feels good,” Hutchinson continued. “I got a lot of not fun music, which I’m a sucker for some sadness, but it’s good to, you know, be dipping into some better vibes type stuff.”
The 12-track project features the fan-favorite tunes “Silverado,” “Good At Being Bad,” “Things To Burn” and more.
Southern Galactic followed the release of Hutchinson’s 2021 release, Slot Machine Syndrome, and his six-track EP, Songs I’ll Never Play Again, which arrived in 2022.
Additionally, Caleb Lee Hutchinson is gearing up to hit the road for a few live shows. The fast-rising country star will deliver headlining sets in Tennessee, Pennsylvania and more this spring and summer. For a full list of his upcoming tour dates, visit his official website.
