George Michael has passed away at the age of 53. The singer's publicist issued a statement which read, "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 family would ask that their privacy be respected at this difficult and emotional time," the statement continued. "There will be no further comment at this stage."
Police are currently treating the death as unexplained, but say there were no suspicious circumstances. "A post-mortem will be undertaken in due course. There will be no further updates from Thames Valley Police until the post-mortem has taken place."
George Michael garnered early success in his musical career as a member of Wham!, generating hit songs like "Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go" and "Careless Whisper."
He then moved on to a highly successful solo career, which produced numerous hits and six studio albums. The BBC reported that Michael was working on a new album with producer and songwriter Naughty Boy earlier this month.
Tributes from the musical community have been hitting social media as news of Michael's sudden passing has begun to spread. Elton John has posted a photo of himself and Michael on Instagram with a message that reads, "I am in deep shock. I have lost a beloved friend - the kindest, most generous soul and a brilliant artist. My heart goes out to his family and all of his fans."
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