Singer Natalie Cole has passed away at the age of 65.

Just hours into the New Year and the first celebrity death to report.

Sadly Natalie Cole, who followed in her father Nat King Cole footsteps and became an award-winning singer, has passed away due to congestive heart failure.

Cole's publicist confirmed the news that Cole had died Thursday night.

Cole had been suffering from health issues for a while and had cancelled a string of performances over the last three months as she battled with a recurrence of hepatitis C linked to her earlier drug abuse.


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