Rare lung disease claimed life of Natalie Cole, say family

Natalie Cole’s cause of death has been revealed as a rare lung disease that led to heart failure, according to media reports.

Her family said she was first diagnosed with the unnamed condition after receiving a kidney transplant in 2009. The Grammy-award winning singer died on New Years eve at the age of 65 in Los Angeles. She had previously cancelled a number of performances due to poor health.

Cole, daughter of legendary crooner Nat ‘King’ Cole, rose to fame in 1975 with the album ‘Inseparable.’ Her single ‘This Will Be’ had topped the charts and had led to her being awarded a Grammy for the best female R&B performance. Cole had also picked up another Grammy as best new artist.

A string of hits followed, but in the 1980’s Cole was afflicted with drug-addiction and related illnesses resulting in hepatitis and an eventual kidney transplant.