Marilia
Mendonca,
one
of
Brazil's
most
popular
singers
and
a
Latin
Grammy
winner,
died
Friday
in
an
airplane
crash
on
her
way
to
a
concert.
She
was
26.
Mendonca's
press
office
confirmed
her
death
in
a
statement,
and
said
four
other
passengers
on
the
flight
also
perished.
Their
plane
crashed
between
Mendonca's
hometown
Goiania
and
Caratinga,
a
small
city
in
Minas
Gerais
state
located
north
of
Rio
de
Janeiro.
Minas
Gerais
state's
civil
police
also
confirmed
Mendonca's
death,
without
providing
details
about
the
cause
of
the
accident,
which
occurred
shortly
before
arrival.
Photographs
and
videos
show
the
plane
laying
just
beneath
a
waterfall;
Mendonca
had
posted
a
video
this
afternoon
showing
her
walking
toward
the
plane,
guitar
case
in
hand.
The
rising
star
performed
country
music,
in
Brazil
called
sertanejo.
She
was
known
for
tackling
feminist
issues
in
her
songs,
such
as
denouncing
men
who
control
their
partners,
and
calling
for
female
empowerment.
On
Friday
evening,
the
news
triggered
an
outpouring
of
sadness
on
social
media
from
all
corners
of
Brazil,
including
fans,
politicians,
musicians
and
soccer
players.
Her
Instagram
account
has
38
million
followers.
"I
refuse
to
believe,
I
just
refuse," Brazil
soccer
star
Neymar,
who
is
a
friend
of
Mendonca's,
said
on
Twitter
after
the
news
broke.
Brazil's
government
also
offered
its
condolences.
Brazilian
President
Jair
Bolsonaro
also
used
social
media
to
mourn
the
passing
"of
one
of
the
greatest
artists
of
her
generation."
"The
entire
country
receives
the
news
in
shock,"
he
said.
Her
album
'Em
Todos
os
Cantos'
won
her
the
2019
Latin
Grammy
for
best
sertanejo
album.
She
was
nominated
for
the
same
award
this
year
for
"Patroas".
Mendonca
was
also
famous
for
her
romantic
songs,
often
expressing
the
loss
of
loved
ones.
"You
always
make
me
cry,
you're
unique
and
eternal," said
fan
Michelle
Wisla
on
Twitter.
Mendonca
leaves
behind
a
son,
who
will
turn
2
years
old
next
month.