19-Year-Old Woman Drowns In Watts Bar Lake Monday Evening; Sister Of American Idol Contestant

  • Tuesday, May 31, 2022

Madison Taylor, 19, of Rhea County, drowned Monday evening in Watts Bar Lake. 

American Idol contestant Drake McClain Taylor said on his Facebook page that the victim is his sister. He asked for prayers and privacy for the family. He is from Spring City.

Rescuers had been searching the waters since receiving a call around 6:30 p.m. 

Ms. Taylor entered the water from a boat to swim and did not resurface. 

TWRA officers, along with the Rhea County Sheriff’s Office, Rhea County Rescue, Meigs County Rescue, Bradley County Dive Team and Hamilton County Dive Team searched in 40 to 50 feet of water above the dam. 

Ms. Taylor’s body was located using the TWRA Remote Operated Vehicle after the Hamilton County Sheriff’s Underwater Recovery Team located a point of interest on the lake bottom with a towfish sonar. 

Ms. Taylor’s body was transported to the Rhea County Medical Examiner’s Office.


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