Singer Preta Gil, daughter of musician and former Brazilian Minister of Culture Gilberto Gil, dies.

Singer Preta Gil , daughter of Brazilian music icon Gilberto Gil , has died at the age of 50 due to complications from colon cancer for which she was being treated at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in New York, where she had been hospitalized since last May.

The artist had undergone chemotherapy and radiation therapy, and according to several media reports, she had been receiving an experimental treatment since January 2023. But nothing could prevent the disease from spreading last year, affecting her lymph nodes, peritoneum, and ureter, which led to her moving to the United States. A few days ago, she attempted to travel to Brazil, but began to feel ill at the airport and had to be readmitted to the hospital, where she ultimately died.

"It is with sadness that we report the passing of Preta Maria Gadelha Gil Moreira in New York," her father wrote on the social media platform X. "We are currently in the process of arranging her repatriation to Brazil. We ask for the understanding of friends and media professionals during this difficult time for the family. We will share the corresponding information about the farewells as soon as possible."

Preta wanted to be an artist from a young age, but pressure from her father to succeed meant she founded a marketing company before entering the entertainment world. She began her recording career in 2003 with the album 'Prêt-à-porter', released while her father was Minister of Culture during Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva's first term . This was followed by 'Preta' (2005), 'Sou Como Sou' (2012), and 'Todas as Cores' (2017), which combined pop, axé, and Brazilian popular music.

She also hosted television programs, acted in several soap operas such as 'Cheias de Charme' (2012) or 'Pé na Cova' (2013), and in films such as 'Caminhos do Coraçã' (2007), 'Os Mutantes' (2008) and 'Ó Pai Ó (2008)'. She was also part of a carnival band known as 'Bloco da Preta'.

Beyond her artistic work, she was a staunch advocate for women's rights, racial equality, LGBTQ+ rights, and body positivity. She openly shared her journey with cancer, including using an ileostomy bag, helping to break taboos.

On the farewell tour, which will end next November before her retirement from the stage, Gilberto has even sung with Preta on occasion, before her illness worsened. She was the fourth of her eight children and the goddaughter of the legendary singer Gal Costa, who died in 2022. She had two siblings: María Gil and Pedro Gil, who died in 1990. She had "Drao" tattooed on her arm. It was the nickname of her mother, Sandra Gadelha, and the title of one of her father's songs, and, according to Preta, her favorite.

Preta was married twice throughout her life. Her first marriage was to Otávio Müller, a professional actor, although they eventually separated. She later married Rodrigo Godoy, a basketball player and personal trainer. The two began dating in 2013 and were married on May 12, 2015. She is survived by her son (from her first marriage) Francisco, 28, and her granddaughter Sol de María, 7.