Natalie Cole passed away Thursday evening at the Cedar-Sinai Hospital in Los Angeles, her family said in a statement.

"Natalie fought a fierce, courageous battle, dying how she lived…with dignity, strength and honor. Our beloved mother and sister will be greatly missed and remain UNFORGETTABLE in our hearts forever," read the statement from her son Robert Yancy and sisters Timolin and Casey Cole.

Cole had long battled drug addiction and hepatitis C, forcing her to undergo a kidney transplant in May 2009.

Herself a singer, Natalie carried on her father's musical legacy through technology, sharing a virtual duet with him singing "Unforgettable" in 1991.

"Unforgettable" and the album it came from gained Cole three of her nine Grammy Awards.

Fans and celebrities posted their condolences on Twitter.

jlw/jil (AP, Reuters, AFP)