Donyelle Jones, of So You Think You Can Dance fame, has died after battling cancer for several years. Her family confirmed the tragic news on her social media account, where fans and peers have offered their condolences.
Donyelle Jones passes away at 46 amid cancer diagnosis
On December 2, 2025, Donyelle Jones, who was also known as Donyelle Denise Wilson, passed away at the age of 46 after battling breast cancer for nearly a decade.
A family member posted the news about the dancer’s passing on her official Instagram account. The post stated, “Today at 8:34 am, Donyelle Denise Wilson, transitioned. A wife. A daughter. A sister. A friend. And a warrior who kicked cancer’s a– every single day she was here.
Her spirit never dimmed. Her heart never hardened. And even in the storm, she never lost her smile.”
Jones was diagnosed with stage 3C breast cancer in 2016, which later advanced to stage 4 metastatic cancer. As a result, she underwent a double mastectomy and chemotherapy, as reported by Dancers Against Cancer.
Throughout her journey against cancer, Jones consistently updated her health condition on Instagram for her followers. In May of this year, she shared that her cancer had evolved into Stage 4. And a week before her death, she had shared that she was in hospice care.
In the video, she also said that her liver has shut down, adding that she had done “everything possible” to “extend her time.” She acknowledged and thanked for the thousands of wishes and prayers she received over the years.
Donyelle Jones gained popularity with So You Think You Can Dance Season 2, which aired in 2006. Known for her hip-hop and jazz fusion, her performance earned her third place on the show. Apart from the show, she has appeared in two films: Be Cool in 2005 and Spirited in 2022.
Originally reported by Harsha Panduranga on Comingsoon.
