SAD: Singer Natalie Cole is dead

The daughter of  Nat King Cole’s passed away on Dec. 31, 2015, reportedly of congestive heart failure. Natalie had her fair share of ups and downs throughout her life, but she enjoyed major success over the course of her career because of her breathtaking voice

Natalie was the daughter of renowned singer Nat King Cole, Music had been in her life since day one, so it’s no surprise she got her start in the industry early on. Her first album, Inseparable, was released in 1975. The album became an overnight success, especially because of that one hit single we all know and love — “This Will Be!”

She later won Grammy Awards for Best Female R&B Vocal Performance and Best New Artist after the album was released. Natalie was also dubbed the “new Aretha Franklin.”

Natalie released her next album, Natalie, in 1976. Unpredictable was dropped in 1977, and “I’ve Got Love On My Mind” raced to the top of the charts. Over the course of her career, she released 23 studio albums. Her best-selling album was Unforgettable… With Love, which featured the amazing “Unforgettable” duet with her father. She won 6 Grammy Awards for the album. In addition to her music talent, Natalie also made TV appearances on shows like Touched by an Angel, Law & Order: SVU,Grey’s Anatomy, American Idol and more.

Life wasn’t always so easy for Natalie. She struggled with heroin, crack cocaine and alcohol addiction for many years. She wasarrested in 1975 for possession of heroin. Natalie finally went to rehab in 1983.

She was married three times. Natalie marriedMarvin Yancy in 1976. They have one son together, Robert Adam Yancy, who was born in 1977. After divorcing Marvin in 1980, she married Andre Fishcer in 1989. They divorced in 1995. She then married bishop Kenneth Dupree in 2001. They divorced in 2004.

Natalie announced in 2008 that she had been diagnosed with hepatitis C. She had to have a kidney transplant in May 2009. She had been ill recently, and was forced to cancel a New Year’s Eve concert. She reportedly died of congestive heart failure.