We are sad to report that beloved British singer George Michael has passed away.

This holiday period is tinged with sadness as we say goodbye to George Michael, one half of the iconic duo Wham! who went on to have a massively successful solo career.

“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 says in a statement.

The singer was 53 when he died, and his manager has claimed the death was due to heart failure.

Michael was born in London on June 25, 1963, and his full name was Georgios Kyriacos Panayiotou. He formed Wham! in 1981 with Andrew Ridgeley, and the duo are behind such epic hits as “Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go” and “Last Christmas,” which is the third most played Christmas song on Spotify.

Wham! broke up in 1986, and Michael continued as a solo artist. His first album, Faith, sold more than 25 million copies, and won a Grammy award. Some of his more well-known songs include “Careless Whisper” and “Freedom! ’90.”

Over his career, George Michael suffered from depression and struggled with drug abuse. Michael’s song “Jesus to a Child” was a tribute to his boyfriend Anselma Feleppa, who died of an AIDS-related brain haemorrhage in 1993. Michael later entered into a long-term relationship with Kenny Goss, although the pair split in 2009.

Michael almost died of pneumonia in 2011, but luckily pulled through to be with us a few more years.

The singer is one of many beloved celebrities to have unexpectedly passed away in 2016. The year has also claimed David Bowie, Prince, Alan Rickman, Gene Wilder, Muhammad Ali, Anton Yelchin, and Ron Glass.

Rest in peace, George Michael.