Marília Mendonça, one of Brazil‘s most popular singers and a
Latin Grammy winner, died Friday in an airplane crash on her way to a concert.
She was 26.

Mendonça’s press office confirmed her death in a statement,
and said four other passengers on the flight also perished. Their plane crashed
between Mendonça’s hometown Goiania and Caratinga, a small city in Minas Gerais
state located north of Rio de Janeiro.

Minas Gerais state’s civil police also confirmed Mendonça’s
death, without providing details about the cause of the accident, which
occurred shortly before arrival. Photographs and videos show the plane laying
just beneath a waterfall; Mendonça had posted a video this afternoon showing
her walking toward the plane, guitar case in hand.

The rising star performed country music in Brazil called
sertanejo. She was known for tackling feminist issues in her songs, such as
denouncing men who control their partners and calling for female empowerment.

On Friday evening, the news triggered an outpouring of sadness
on social media from all corners of Brazil, including fans, politicians,
musicians, and soccer players. Her Instagram account has 38 million followers.

“I refuse to believe, I just refuse,” Brazil
soccer star Neymar, who is a friend of Mendonça’s, said on Twitter after the
news broke. Brazil’s government also offered its condolences.

Her album “Em Todos os Cantos” album won her the
2019 Latin Grammy for best sertanejo album. She was nominated for the same
award this year for her album “Patroas”.

Mendonça leaves behind a son, who will turn 2 years old next
month.