LONDON, ENGLAND - OCTOBER 26: Tyka Nelson, Prince's sister and Alfred Jackson, Prince's half brother attend the private view of the "My Name is Prince" exhibition at The O2 Arena on October 26, 2017 in London, England. (Photo by Jo Hale/Getty Images)
Tyka Nelson, the sister of the iconic singer Prince, died at North Memorial Health Hospital in Robbinsdale, Minnesota, surrounded by family.
Her son confirmed her death. The cause is currently unknown, but a close friend stated that she had been suffering from heart problems. Nelson reportedly called EMTs six times for heart-related issues since September.
In June, she announced her retirement from singing. A final tribute concert to pay homage to her career was canceled due to health complications.
While Nelson never fully emerged from her brother’s shadow in the music industry, she succeeded independently. Between 1988 and 2011, she released four studio albums and made two appearances on the Billboard Hot 100 with her singles. Her track “Marc Anthony’s Tune” peaked at No. 33, and another R&B single, “L.O.V.E.,” reached No. 52. Her music often conveyed a cheerful and loving tone.
Like her brother Prince, Nelson was immensely talented. Despite her achievements, she considered herself more of a wordsmith than a singer. “I’m a writer. I just happen to be able to sing. I enjoy singing,” she shared in an interview with The Minnesota Star-Tribune in June.
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Nelson spent much of the last eight years working to protect Prince’s musical legacy. In 2016, she gave her brother an emotional tribute while accepting his AMA award for best soundtrack.
Six months after his death, she opened Paisley Park as a museum, showcasing 7,000 artifacts. “Opening Paisley Park is something that Prince always wanted to do and was actively working on,” she stated in a remark following the opening.
Tyka Nelson is survived by her two sons, President and Prince, and three half-siblings.
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