Marilia Mendonca, Brazilian singer and a Latin Grammy winner, died on Friday in an airplane crash on her way to a concert. She was 26.
Confirming her death in a statement, Mendonca's office said four other passengers on the flight also died. Their plane crashed between Mendonca's hometown Goiania and Caratinga, a small city in Minas Gerais state located north of Rio de Janeiro, the AP reported.
The cause of the crash is under investigation. But state-run power company Cemig said in a statement that the airplane collided with an electricity distribution line owned by the company before hitting the ground, Reuters said in a report.
The singer had posted a video earlier showing her walking toward the plane, guitar case in hand. The rising star performed country music in Brazil called sertanejo. She was known for tackling feminist issues in her songs.
The news triggered an outpouring of sadness on social media from all corners of Brazil, including fans, politicians, musicians and soccer players. Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro mourned the passing "of one of the greatest artists of her generation." "The entire country receives the news in shock," he said.
"I refuse to believe, I just refuse," Brazil soccer star Neymar said on Twitter after the news broke.
Her album 'Em Todos os Cantos' won her the 2019 Latin Grammy for best sertanejo album. She was nominated for the same award this year for "Patroas".
