Pop legend Karel Gott has died

It was only in September that Karel Gott announced that he had been diagnosed with leukemia. Just a few weeks later, the pop legend succumbed to the serious illness. At the age of 80, the singer died on Tuesday evening surrounded by his family, as his spokeswoman told the Czech news agency CTK.

via Sabrina

10/02/2019, 11:58

In 2018, Karel Gott was still on stage at the O2 Arena in his home town of Prague.

Karel Gott arrives with his wife Ivana at the 23rd "Goldene Henne" media award ceremony at the Neue Messe in Leipzig on October 13, 2017.

As early as the 1960s, the Czech singer appeared in various television shows, including "Musik aus Studio B", a pop music program on NDR.

Karel Gott was diagnosed with lymphatic cancer a few years ago, but was able to beat the disease. Around three weeks ago, he announced on his Facebook profile that he was suffering from acute leukemia. He had been treated as an outpatient and was happy to be with his family.

Karel Gott was in show business for 60 years

Karel Gott was a fixture in German show business for almost 60 years. He sold over 50 million records and recorded more than 120 albums. Above all, the theme song "Maya the Bee", which he sang for the children's series of the same name, remains unforgettable for generations. But the Czech-born singer also sang his way into people's hearts with hit songs such as "Fang das Licht", "Einmal um die ganze Welt" and "Lady Carneval". In his home country, the trained tenor won the "Golden Nightingale" audience award 42 times. His nickname "The golden voice from Prague" is no coincidence.

Karel Gott in private

Karel Gott is survived by his wife and four daughters. In 2008, he married television presenter Ivana Machackova, 37 years his junior, in Las Vegas. Together with her, he had two daughters, Charlotte Ella and Nelly Sofie. He also has two grown-up daughters from previous relationships.