Disco legend Donna Summer died Thursday at age 63

Disco legend Donna Summer died Thursday at age 63, reportedly after a battle with cancer.
"Early this morning, we lost Donna Summer Sudano, a woman of many gifts, the greatest being her faith," the singer's family said in a statement. "While we grieve her passing, we are at peace celebrating her extraordinary life and her continued legacy. Words truly can't express how much we appreciate your prayers and love for our family at this sensitive time."
TMZ was the first to report the singer's death, and the site reports that she was recording an album at the time of her death.
The Grammy-winning singer, nicknamed the Queen of Disco, had numerous hits in both the 1970s and 1980s, including "Last Dance," "She Works Hard for the Money" and "Bad Girls."

Slideshow: Donna Summer: 1948-2012

Michael Ochs Archives / Getty Images

Launch slideshow

Her duet with Barbra Streisand, "No More Tears (Enough Is Enough)" was one of four Summer songs that topped the Billboard Top 100 charts.

"I was shocked to hear about Donna," Streisand said in a statement. "She was so vital the last time I saw her a few months ago. I loved doing the duet with her. She had an amazing voice and was so talented."

Summer was the first female artist to chart with back-to-back multi-platinum double albums.

She appeared in the 1978 film, "Thank God It's Friday," which won the best original song Oscar for "Last Dance." Summer also appeared twice on the 1990s hit TV show "Family Matters," playing Steve Urkel's Aunt Oona from Altoona. In 2011, she was a guest judge on music reality show "Platinum Hit," and she performed with the female finalists on the 2008 "American Idol" finale.

Summer won five Grammy Awards and six American Music Awards, and charted three multi-platinum albums.

In 2009, she sang at the Nobel Peace Prize Concert honoring President Barack Obama in Oslo, Norway.

In a statement released by the White House, Obama said: "Her voice was unforgettable, and the music industry has lost a legend far too soon. Our thoughts and prayers go out to Donna's family and her dedicated fans."

Musician Questlove of The Roots tweeted, "I know that the whole 'disco sucks' stuff left a bad taste in the mouths of some. But Summer's work was really a credible legacy."

Wrote Mario Lopez, "R.I.P Donna Summer ... I remember roller skating to hits like 'Last Dance' 'Hot Stuff' & 'Bad Girls.' Synonymous with the 70's."

Summer was also a formally trained painter. In 2010, she told Atlantic City Weekly that she sold her first painting for $38,000 and thought, "I may want to stop singing now." Summer estimated she had sold close to a million dollars worth of art.

She is survived by her husband, musician Bruce Sudano, three daughters, and four grandchildren.

Memorial Donna Summer Dead

Donna Summer performing in October of last year.
Photo: Getty

Donna Summer. She was disco's biggest star. From the orgiastic "Love to Love You Baby," to the bittersweet "Last Dance" and "On The Radio," she could claim some of the most enduring hits of the era. Sadly, TMZ is reporting that the 63-year-old Summer died today, quietly, in Florida, after a battle with lung cancer.

If confirmed, it's a huge loss. The singer had an ardent gay male fan base in her disco heyday, but the gay community's adoration for her was shaken when rumors spread in the 80's that the born-again singer had made comments that implied AIDS was God's punishment for homosexual sin. The singer vehemently denied she had ever said anything of the sort, but her many appearances on Christian television shows in the late eighties helped (perhaps unfairly) to foster the impression that she had forsaken her gay fans.

Whatever the truth of that, Summer gave a lot to her fans, both gay and straight. Her gorgeous voice will be missed. Share your favorite Donna Summer songs and memories in the comments.

The Queen of Disco Donna Summer Photo

I know what I’m listening to all weekend! Donna Summer – the Queen of Disco — died this morning after a battle with cancer

Summer was in Florida at the time of her death. She was 63-years-old. The Rihanna of her time, Summer was a 5-time Grammy winner who shot to superstardom in the ’70s with iconic hits like “Last Dance,” “Hot Stuff” and “Bad Girls.”

She continued her dominance in the ’80s with “She Works Hard for the Money” and “This Time I Know It’s for Real.” Summer and her producer Giorgio Moroder defined the dance music era of the ’70s and influenced acts like Duran Duran and David Bowie to enter the genre.

Summer married Brooklyn Dreams singer Bruce Sudano back in 1980. They had two daughters together.

My favorite Donna Summer medley is definitely ‘She Works Hard For The Money’…I’ve always wanted to do a video like this!!

Donna Summer was convinced -- inhaling toxic air after 9/11 gave her the lung cancer that eventually killed her ... TMZ has learned.

Sources close to the singer tell TMZ what we were hearing this morning -- that Donna was in New York City during 9/11, living at an apartment near Ground Zero.

Donna became almost paranoid about breathing the air, which was heavy with a rancid odor.

In the months and years following 9/11, Donna's feelings intensified. One source tells us when he was around Donna, she would constantly spray some sort of disinfectant in the air. Deney Terrio, the host of "Dance Fever," tells us ... when he was around Donna post 9/11, she would hang silk sheets in her dressing room to prevent dust from coming in.

And one source says ... Donna, who was a fervent practicing Christian, believed 9/11 was an attack on Christianity and in some metaphysical way Christians like her were targets. She somehow felt that her illness was a byproduct of the attack.

And, we're told, after Donna was diagnosed with lung cancer, several people told her that cigarette smoke may have been the culprit -- she was a smoker, and she also frequented clubs where people smoked. But Donna simply didn't buy it.