The British singer George Michael has died at the age of 53, his publicist says.
George Michael was 53. Photo: AFP
The star, who launched his career with Wham in the 1980s and later continued his success as a solo performer, is said to have "passed away peacefully at home".
Thames Valley Police said South Central Ambulance Service attended a property in Goring in Oxfordshire at 13:42 (GMT).
Police said they were treating the death as unexplained but there were no suspicious circumstances.
In a statement, the star's publicist said: "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."
His manager later said the cause of death was heart failure.
A post-mortem would be carried out.
Michael, who was born Georgios Kyriacos Panayiotou in north London, sold more than 100m albums throughout a career spanning almost four decades.
He only performed in New Zealand once, playing at Auckland's Western Springs Stadium on 4 March 1988 as part of his Faith world tour.
He first found fame with his schoolfriend Andrew Ridgeley in duo Wham! before going on to release solo albums, including the multi-million selling Faith and follow-up Listen Without Prejudice Vol. 1.
It outsold Faith in the UK but led to Michael losing a court case with record label Sony over his frustration over how the album has been marketed.
Earlier this month it was announced that producer and songwriter Naughty Boy was working with Michael on a new album.
In 2011, Michael postponed a series of concerts after being taken to hospital for treatment for pneumonia.
After treatment in a Vienna hospital, he made a tearful appearance outside his London home and said it had been "touch and go" whether he lived.
Doctors were said to have performed a tracheotomy to keep his airways open and he was unconscious for some of his spell in hospital.
George Michael performs at Wembley in 2007. Photo: AFP
- BBC
