Popular Brazilian singer Marilia Mendonca dies in plane crash

Officials said Marilia Mendonca, one of Brazil's most well-known contemporary singers, died in a plane crash at the age of 26.

According to the BBC, her uncle, producer, and two crew members died in the crash in a rural region of Minas Gerais state's south-eastern region.

To identify the reason of the crash, an inquiry has been initiated.

Mendonca, who won a Latin Grammy in 2019, is known for focusing on women's experiences with unsuccessful relationships.

Mendonca, a leading figure in Brazilian country music known as sertanejo, began her career as a teenager and rose to national prominence in 2016 with a single about infidelity.

She was renowned as the "Queen of Suffering" in the country.

She did a series of internet shows last year when events were cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

With 3.3 million peak viewers on YouTube, one of them set the record for the most-watched live stream in the world.

She was the most streamed musician in Brazil on Spotify in 2020.

Mendonca, who had a two-year-old kid, was scheduled to play at a performance in Caratinga, 12 kilometres from the crash site, on Friday evening. She posted a video on social media hours before the disaster in which she was getting ready to board the private plane.

Following the news of the accident, the singer's team first stated that she was well. The wrecked plane was later shown on television near a waterfall in a mountainous location.

"I refuse to believe, I refuse," Brazilian footballer Neymar stated on Twitter after her death was confirmed.

Singer Anitta said: "I can't believe it. I want to believe that there is still hope."