Natalie Cole died at 65

Natalie Cole, the R&B singer and daughter of jazz legend Nat King Cole, has died at the age of 65.

The artist, who struggled with health issues in recent years, died on Thursday evening at Cedar Sinai Hospital in Los Angeles, her family said.
American singer Nat King Cole (1919 - 1965) and his wife Maria

"Natalie fought a fierce, courageous battle, dying how she lived ... with dignity, strength and honor," read a statement from her son, Robert Yancy, and sisters, Timolin and Casey Cole.

"Our beloved Mother and sister will be greatly missed and remain UNFORGETTABLE in our hearts forever."

Natalie Cole followed her father into the music business with hits like This Will Be (An Everlasting Love) and This Will Be.

The Grammy Award winner topped the charts in 1991 with Unforgettable, a virtual duet with her late father, who died in 1965.

TMZ reports she died from congestive heart failure, though she had been suffering from Hepatitis C and complications following a kidney transplant.

In 2000, Cole released an autobiography, Angel on My Shoulder, which chronicled her drug addiction and abuse of heroin and crack cocaine.

More follows...