*Here’s an UPdate to our report on the death of Grammy winning singer Natalie Cole.
When the Electronic Urban Report/EUR first reported the death of Cole, the cause wasn’t known. Now we know.
Cole’s family said the singer’s cause of death was idiopathic pulmonary arterial hypertension, which led to heart failure.
Her family said in a statement to The Associated Press on Thursday (01-07-16) that after Cole received a kidney transplant in 2009, she was diagnosed with pulmonary arterial hypertension, a rare lung disease that causes shortness of breath, dizziness and sometimes chest pain. Because Cole’s case was idiopathic, the exact cause is unknown.
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The statement read: “(Cole) responded well to pulmonary arterial hypertension-specific agents over many years, during which she performed many concerts world-wide, but eventually succumbed to intractable right heart failure, an outcome that unfortunately commonly occurs in this progressive disorder.”
“I love you all” were Natalie’s last words to her younger twin sisters – Casey and Timolin Cole – who were by her side in her last days and reveal “we’re suffering but she’s at peace,” reports the Daily Mail.
The singer and songwriter, best known for her performances of songs such as “Inseparable,” “Pink Cadillac” and “Unforgettable,” was the daughter of the singers Nat King Cole and Maria Hawkins Cole. She was recently struggling with health issues, which resulted in her canceling some tours, according to TMZ, which was first to report the news of her death.
Cole struggled with drug addiction in the 1980s and learned in 2008 that she had hepatitis C.
“I was a heroin addict, sharing needles with the crowd I was with,” she told People magazine in 2008. “At the time, I was having fun. I didn’t know. Then, 25 years later after a routine blood test, my doctor tells me, ‘You have hepatitis C.’ My life crumbled before my eyes. I never had symptoms. I didn’t know anything about it. Would I still have a career? Was I going to die? How long did I have? I was devastated. I had to let it sink in for six weeks while they ran more tests.”
On December 31 Cole died at the age of 65 at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles, California
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The singer ended up receiving chemotherapy and taking an antiviral drug called Ribavirin. However, she also had issues with kidney failure. In 2009, she received a kidney transplant from an organ donor, a deceased fan.
Cole’s health issues hadn’t made headlines in recent years, but SFGate reported in October that she had canceled all her November and December tour dates after a medical procedure required an “extended hospital stay.”
Here’s a smattering of messages and thoughts from various celebs about Natalie Cole:
@ArsenioHall bless
— antonnewcombe (@antonnewcombe) January 1, 2016
@itstonybennett The Music World has lost a Golden Voice… So sorry for YOUR loss… AND Ours. #RIPNatalieCole pic.twitter.com/EcabY4VsXI — ♫♪ iShowTunes ♪♫ (@iShowTunes) January 1, 2016
I am so sad to hear about Natalie Cole’s passing. I feel she has always been apart of my life in… https://t.co/bbmQGfkGwe
— Jordin Sparks (@JordinSparks) January 1, 2016
What a shock to hear of this dear sister Natalie’s passing.?One thing I KNOW, She’s w/ GOD in heaven! #❤️always pic.twitter.com/jEd8pduBrA — Pebbles (@pebbles2day) January 1, 2016
Noo! Just heard the news that #NatalieCole just past away!! She was a beautiful lady with an amazing voice! #RIP #Unforgettable
— Vivica A. Fox (@MsVivicaFox) January 1, 2016
My heart is full today Natalie Cole died today… Rest in Peace my friend? — Beverly Johnson (@BeverlyJohnson1) January 1, 2016
Natalie Cole is survived by her son, Robert Yancey, from her first marriage to music producer Marvin Yancey.
My Prayers To Your Family Sorry For You Loss To Be Absent From This World is To Be in The Present Of The LORD!! R.I.P Sweet Angel
Natlie you were a lady of class. I enjoyed your performance in a concert back n day and you look so lovely. I always thought you were a classy woman. You always dressed like a lady. Girl I love how u song Inseperable. Girl you can blow and that song you blew out. My condolence to your family. The unforgetable song is a CLASSIC and I always love how they put you and your dad together. No one can remake that song but you! SUPERCLASSY! May God wrap his arms around your family members and give them strength while they go through this ordeal. You sing like a song bird. I played your songs today and they made me smile and cry.
RIP
She always struck me as a down to earth and classy person. Alot of people criticized her when she told the truth about people denying Whitney Houston’s drug addiction. Sadly, Natalie’s words were vindicated when Whitney died with drugs in her system. Natalie, you did good, trying to educate the world about the horrors of drug addiction. RIP and thank you for the great music.
Natalie you were a song bird thank you the redention o f your father RIP Edna Auburn Alabama
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