Sunday Wreck Injures Local Singers

Rylkeigh Madison (courtesy Ryleigh Madison Music)
Ryleigh Madison (courtesy Ryleigh Madison Music)

Two well-known local musicians were injured in a collision Sunday at Midway and Union Valley Roads.

Ryleigh Madison Bunch and Dustin Chapman were on their way to band rehearsal when the wreck occurred, according Ryleigh’s mother Kayla Bunch.

“Thankfully everyone involved is okay but they’re banged up and Ryleigh suffered a serious concussion,” Bunch said in a Facebook post.

Ryleigh Madison and Dustin Chapman at Thursday's concert in Whiteville. (Jeff Reichert)
Ryleigh Madison and Dustin Chapman at a concert in downtown Whiteville. (Jeff Reichert)

The uncle-niece singing duo, both of whom appeared on American Idol, were scheduled to perform at Local on the Water in North Myrtle Beach this week. That show was postponed while Ryleigh recovers.

“We are sad that this happened,” Bunch wrote, “but we are thankful that everyone will make a full recovery.”

The pair’s band, known as Kindred, is getting national recognition for their song and video, “Family Thing,” which came out earlier this year.

Ryleigh charmed audiences across America earlier this year when she urged American Idol judge Katy Perry to “come on over, girl!” Perry said she had “caught the country” from Ryleigh. Products bearing the “Catch the Country” sprang up almost overnight.

Chapman was a semi-finalist in Season 20 of American Idol. The former East Columbus teacher is now pursuing a full-time career in music.

About Jefferson Weaver 1928 Articles
Jefferson Weaver is the Managing Editor of Columbus County News and he can be reached at (910) 914-6056, (910) 632-4965, or by email at [email protected].