Brazilian singer Preta Gil dies during cancer treatment in the US after battling a cancer relapse in 2024. Photos/X.
Preta Gil, the Brazilian singer, songwriter, and businesswoman, died on Sunday while undergoing cancer treatment in the United States, according to various reports.
Preta Gil was first diagnosed with cancer in January 2023. She went into remission later the same year. However, in August 2024, the cancercame back fand was found in several of her body. According to Quem, the revival of the cancer affected two lymph nodes, the peritoneum, where a metastasis was identified, and a nodule in the ureter.
Preta Gil was the fourth child of famous Brazilian singer-songwriter and politician Gilberto Gil. Gilberto served as Brazil’s Minister of Culture from 2003 to 2008. She was the fourth of his eight children.
She was also the goddaughter of Brazilian singer Gal Costa and referred to composer Caetano Emanuel Viana Teles Veloso as “uncle.” As per reports, Preta grew up surrounded by the children of other famous Brazilian musicians.
Preta had the word “Drao” tattooed on her arm, which was her mother Sandra Gadelha’s nickname. “Drao” is also the title of one of her father’s songs, which Preta often described as her favorite.
Although Preta wanted to become an artist from an early age, she struggled with comparisons to her famous family. At the begginig Preta did not choose music or cinmea. She however, launched a successful marketing company.
Talking about Preta’s personal life, she married actor Otavio Muller, and they had a son together, Francisco.
She had a unique reason to enter the music indudtry. According to her recurring dreams about her brother Pedro, who died in a car accident in 1990, forced her to pursue music. And then finally at the age of 28, she launched her music career.
Her debut album was Prêt-à-Porter which was followed by Preta in 2005, Sou Como Sou in 2012, and Todas as Cores in 2017.
Preta then made entry to Brazilian television, acting in soap operas like Cheias de Charme (2012) and Pé na Cova (2013), Caminhos do Coração (2007), Os Mutantes (2008), and Ó Pai Ó (2008).
Preta Gil leaves behind her son Francisco, now 28, and her granddaughter, Sol de Maria, aged 7.
Beyond music, Preta, throughout her life, was known for her activism. She fought against racism and advocated for the rights of women and the LGBTQ community while also promoting messages of self-acceptance and love.
Zubair Amin is a Senior Journalist at NewsX with over seven years of experience in reporting and editorial work. He has written for leading national and international publications, including Foreign Policy Magazine, Al Jazeera, The Economic Times, The Indian Express, The Wire, Article 14, Mongabay, News9, among others. His primary focus is on international affairs, with a strong interest in US politics and policy. He also writes on West Asia, Indian polity, and constitutional issues. Zubair tweets at zubaiyr.amin
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