George Michael, the popular British pop singer, is no more. This news was announced by his publicist on Sunday.
"British pop singer George Michael, who rose to fame with the band Wham! and sold more than 100 million albums in his career, has died aged 53", his publicist said.
"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 publicist said in a statement.
"The family would ask that their privacy is respected at this difficult and emotional time."
Thames Valley Police said "the ambulance service had attended a property in Goring in Oxfordshire, where the singer lived, at 1342 GMT on Sunday and a 53-year-old man was confirmed dead at the scene."
"At this stage, the death is being treated as unexplained but not suspicious. A postmortem will be undertaken in due course," the police said.
Another popular singer Elton John had published a picture of himself with Michael on his Instagram account.
"I am in deep shock. I have lost a beloved friend - the kindest, most generous soul and a brilliant artist," the British star wrote.
In 2017, the singer was about to release his documentary. This was his first documentary after the late singer was linked with series of bizarre incidents related to drugs.
Previously this month, an announcement was made that popular producer and songwriter Naughty Boy, is working with George Michael for a new album. The real name of the producer is Shahid Khan.
Michael became popular after the 1980s hits "Last Christmas", "Freedom", "Careless Whisper" and "Wake Me Up Before You Go Go".Tributes flowed in from outside the music world too.
"2016 - loss of another talented soul. All our love and sympathy to George Michael's family," the band Duran Duran, which were 1980s contemporaries of Wham!, said on their official Twitter account.
Former BBC Radio One disc jockey Tony Blackburn said: "Unbelievable, George Michael has died at the age of 53. RIP. This dreadful year goes on and on. So sad, a real talent".
Canadian musician Bryan Adams tweeted: "I can't believe it. Such an incredible singer and a lovely human being, far too young to leave us."
"Star Trek" actor George Takei wrote: "Rest with the glittering stars, George Michael. You've found your Freedom, your Faith. It was your Last Christmas, and we shall miss you."
US singer La Toya Jackson wrote on Twitter: "You have given the world an amazing gift! What a talent! What a loss!".
Football presenter and former England captain Gary Lineker tweeted: "No, not George Michael as well. Another musical great leaves us this year. 2016 can just sod off."
Michael was born in the year 1963 in North London. His real name is Georgios Kyriacos Panayiotou. His father was a Greek Cypriot and mother was an English mother.
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