Singer George Michael Dead of Heart Failure at 53

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Updated Monday, Dec. 26, 2016, at 9:15 a.m. ET: George Michael died of heart failure and passed away peacefully in his sleep, according to his longtime manager.

“I’m devastated,” Michael Lippman said Sunday, according to the Hollywood Reporter. He said that he received a call Christmas morning notifying him that Michael had been found “in bed, lying peacefully.” The exact time of death is not clear at this time, but there was “no foul play whatsoever,” said Lippman.

The death by heart failure was unexpected, he added. Funeral plans will be announced shortly.

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Earlier:

Singer George Michael, who rose in the ’80s with the group Wham!, has died at the age of 53. According to the BBC, Michael died peacefully at his London home.

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“It is with great sadness that we can confirm our beloved son, brother and friend George passed away peacefully at home over the Christmas period. The family would ask that their privacy be respected at this difficult and emotional time. There will be no further comment at this stage,” Michael’s publicist stated.

Michael’s cause of death was not disclosed, but he was recently treated for pneumonia.

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Stars took to Twitter to remember the singer.

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Michael, who was born Georgios Kyriacos Panayiotou, sold more than 100 million albums worldwide. His most recent album, Symphonica, was released in 2014.

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