Legendary disco diva Donna Summer has died

Legendary disco diva Donna Summer has died, a spokesman confirmed to TheWrap. The "Hot Stuff" and "Last Dance" singer was 63. No cause of death was given, but TMZ reports Summer had been battling cancer. In a statement, Summer's family praise the singer's religious faith. "While we grieve her passing, we are at peace celebrating her extraordinary life and her continued legacy," the statement reads. "Words truly can't express how much we appreciate your prayers and love for our family at this sensitive time." Summer's soaring mezzo-soprano voice and catchy lyrics provided the soundtrack to the 1970s, making it nearly impossible to think of many of that decade's cultural touchstones, be they bellbottoms or disco balls, without calling to mind her hit singles. Among the hits that helped cement Summer's legacy were "She Works Hard for the Money," "Bad Girls," and "Dim All the Lights." She would earn 5 Grammy awards and 17 nominations over the course of her career. Though Summer and disco were nearly interchangeable, she proved herself to be a musical chameleon; one who survived the end of the Studio 54 era and continued to produce chart-topping songs into the 1980s and beyond. Among the genres that Summer branched into were new wave, with her 1980 album "The Wanderer"; swing on her poorly selling 1991 album "Mistaken Identity"; and gospel with her 1994 holiday album "Christmas Spirit." The singer is survived by her husband - singer and producer Bruce Sudano; their daughters, Brooklyn and Amanda; and Summer's daughter, Mimi, from a previous marriage. »