Brazilian Singer Marilia Mendonca Dies In Private Jet Crash Justs Before Her Concert

Marilia Mendonca, 26, the icon of Brazilian country music style sertanejo, died in a plane crash Friday in a rural area in the southeastern state of Minas Gerais. Four other people, including her uncle, producer, and two crew members, were also announced dead.

Mendonca, known as the "Queen of Suffering," has been giving online performances since the pandemic. On the day of her death, she was supposed to perform in the City of Caratinga, 12 kilometers from where the plane crashed. The plane was found near a waterfall in the mountain area.

According to a statement released by the Minas Gerais Electric Company (CEMIG), the plane hit a cable on an electric tower owned by the power firm.

The Minas Gerais police chief Ivan Lopes Sales mentioned at a news conference Friday that it was still too early to determine the reason for the plane crash. Still, he said that according to the investigation, the dispersed debris field suggested the aircraft had "hit something before the plane fell."

According to the Latina Grammy winner's PR firm, she was labeled as "the most listened to artist in Brazil" during 2019 and 2020 on Spotify. She had almost 41 million followers on Instagram and 22 million followers on YouTube.

The death of the young singer left the whole country in grief and sorrow. Brazilian football player Neymar, also her friend, posted on Twitter: "I refuse to believe, I refuse." Also, Brazilian singer Anitta said: "I can't believe it. I want to believe that there is still hope."

Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro said that the "entire country" was in "shock" while Rio de Janeiro Governor Claudio Castro believed her loss as a "tragic accident."

"Young and talented, Marília was the protagonist of a new chapter of Brazilian country music and inspiration for several singers in the segment. The country is shocked and mourns this loss that came too early," Castro mentioned in a news statement.

The singer tweeted a video of hours before the incident showing her preparation before going on board. Mendonca was widely known for gaining popularity, especially in the countryside by singing about women empowerment. She followed the sertanejo type of music that originated in the rural areas in the 1920s.