Criscilla Anderson, the former hip-hop dancer and choreographer who starred in Netflix’s 2020 reality series “Country Ever After,” died on Dec. 2, 2025, following a seven-year battle with colon cancer. She was 45.
Anderson’s death was announced through a posthumous message posted to her Instagram account by her longtime friend and photographer, Lindsey Villatoro. The heartfelt statement allowed Anderson to share her final words directly with family, friends and supporters who had followed her cancer journey over the years.
“If you’re reading this, I’ve finally slipped into the arms of Jesus — peacefully and surrounded by love,” Anderson wrote. “Please don’t stay in the darkness of this moment. I fought hard and I loved deeply. I am not gone… I’m Home.”
In the emotional post, Anderson addressed her four children directly, including her three biological children with ex-husband Coffey Anderson — son Ethan, 14, and daughters Emmarie, 12, and Everleigh, 9 — as well as her stepdaughter Savannah, 17, from Coffey’s previous relationship. She referred to Savannah as her “bonus girl” and shared individual messages for each child, encouraging them to pursue their passions and remember her presence in their lives.
Anderson’s message to her children emphasized her continued spiritual connection with them. She wrote that when a moment feels warm, familiar or too beautiful to be a coincidence, it would be her still mothering them. The devoted mother concluded her words to them by reassuring them she would be watching over them always.
Villatoro, who posted the announcement on Anderson’s behalf, expressed her own grief while honoring her friend’s memory. She wrote that being by Anderson’s side until the very end was the greatest honor of her life, having promised to walk the journey with her whenever she couldn’t stand on her own two feet.
Coffey Anderson, a country musician known for songs including “Mr. Red White and Blue” and “Better Today,” also shared a tribute to his ex-wife on Instagram the same day. The couple married in 2009 but were undergoing divorce proceedings at the time of her death, having filed for divorce in 2022.
“Criscilla defined strength and fighter like no other person on the planet,” Coffey wrote in his post. “Heaven gained a star today.” He acknowledged the profound loss their family was experiencing, noting that their hearts were shattered and their lives would never be the same. Despite the end of their marriage, Coffey expressed pride in how they raised their children together, writing that the babies were resilient and strong, adding: “We did good with them.”
Anderson’s cancer journey began in 2018 when she received a diagnosis of stage four colon cancer. At that time, doctors gave her an initial prognosis of two years to live. She underwent treatment and was in remission in 2021, but the cancer returned in late 2022. The disease eventually metastasized to other areas of her body, including her brain, which was discovered after she suffered a stroke in November 2025.
On Nov. 15, 2025, Anderson shared a health update about the stroke and the cancer’s spread. Even facing these devastating developments, she remained determined to fight, exploring clinical trials for treatment and planning to move forward with radiation and possibly chemotherapy.
Before her reality television career, Anderson established herself as an accomplished performer in the entertainment industry. She worked as a hip-hop dancer, performing alongside major artists including Britney Spears, Rihanna and Snoop Dogg. She also served as a choreographer for the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders and appeared in Netflix’s docuseries about the iconic squad. The Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders organization posted condolences following news of her death.
Anderson and Coffey starred together in “Country Ever After,” which aired for one season in 2020. The show provided viewers an intimate look at their family life, career aspirations and Anderson’s battle with cancer, all while documenting how their Christian faith helped them navigate the challenges they faced.
In her posthumous message, Anderson also expressed gratitude for the circle of women who supported her throughout her illness, thanking them for holding her when she couldn’t stand. She acknowledged her family for loving her unconditionally and thanked Lindsey specifically for capturing her life beautifully through photography year after year.
In his tribute, Coffey mentioned the two babies he and Criscilla lost over the years, expressing comfort that she could finally meet them. He painted a picture of her freedom from suffering, imagining her dancing on the beach in heaven without pain, medical equipment, neuropathy, chemotherapy or radiation, able to enjoy dessert without worrying about calories.
Anderson closed her final message with words of comfort and hope for those she left behind, asking them to be gentle with each other and hold her children close. She reminded everyone that heaven isn’t as far away as it feels, offering reassurance that her love and spirit would remain with them always.