Singer George Michael has died at his home at the age of 53.

The star, who launched his career with Wham! in the 1980s and had huge success as a solo performer, “passed away peacefully” on Christmas Day in Goring, Oxfordshire, his publicist said.

His manager, Michael Lippman, said he had died of heart failure.

George Michael, who was born Georgios Kyriacos Panayiotou in north London, sold more than 100 million albums throughout a career spanning almost four decades.

He first found fame with schoolfriend Andrew Ridgeley in duo Wham! – reaching number one in the UK singles charts on four occasions. One of the band’s most enduring songs “Last Christmas”, is currently number 16 in the UK singles chart.

Solo albums followed, including the multi-million selling “Faith” in 1987. The follow-up “Listen Without Prejudice Vol. 1 outsold Faith in the UK but led to Michael losing a court case with record label Sony over his frustration at how the album has been marketed.

George Michael never shied away from sharing his own personal struggles in his music including a number of references to his sexuality. For example,  “I Want Your Sex”, caused some controversy, particularly on US radio stations. Many refused to play it at all while others played a version substituting the word love for sex. In any event the single reached the top three on both sides of the Atlantic.

In November 1994, Michael released the single, “Jesus to a Child”, a tribute to his dead lover, Feleppa. It went straight to No 1 in the UK.

As a solo artist, Michael scored a further seven number one singles in the UK with songs including “Careless Whisper” and “Fastlove”, collaborated with the likes of Aretha Franklin and Elton John, and won three Brit Awards and two Grammys.

Let George Michael’s sudden unexpected death related to heart disease serve as a ‘wake up’ call to inspire you to learn more about your diabetes health.

Women with diabetes are at greater risk of heart disease than are men with diabetes. And did you know that many women may have a heart attack without chest pain? The most common heart attack symptoms in women are neck, jaw, shoulder, upper back or abdominal discomfort. These symptoms can be more subtle than the obvious crushing chest pain often associated with heart attacks. Women may describe chest pain as pressure or a tightness. This may be because women tend to have blockages not only in their main arteries but also in the smaller arteries that supply blood to the heart — a condition called small vessel heart disease or coronary microvascular disease.

Women’s symptoms may occur more often when women are resting, or even when they’re asleep. Mental stress also may trigger heart attack symptoms in women.

Women tend to show up in emergency rooms after heart damage has already occurred because their symptoms are not those usually associated with a heart attack, and because women may downplay their symptoms. If you experience these symptoms or think you’re having a heart attack, call for emergency medical help immediately. Don’t drive yourself to the emergency room unless you have no other options.

Let the music move you to live well with diabetes.

Our free monthly Diabetes Late Nite podcasts feature a mix of expert advice on living well with diabetes, games, prizes and music by today’s hottest stars courtesy of SONY Music.

TUNE IN: January’s Diabetes Late Nite podcast with music by Alicia Keys scheduled for Tuesday, January 10, 6 -7 PM, EST.  Alicia Key’s ‘no makeup’ mantra is inspiring us to talk about bare essentials in living well with diabetes including the  future of Affordable Health Care Act and food safety issues.  Alicia Keys stop wearing makeup as part of a journey towards empowerment for herself. Let us help empower you!