Funeral of Marília Mendonça
Brazilian music star Marília Mendonça dies at 26 in a plane crash
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November 07, 2021Thousands of people have invaded the hometown of Brazilian country music star Marília Mendonça, paying an emotional tribute to the beloved singer who died in a plane crash at the age of 26.
Mendonça, a Latin Grammy-winning Brazilian music superstar "sertanejo", died with four other people last Friday when a small plane taking her to a concert crashed in the southeastern state of Minas Gerais. Her body was transported Saturday to the central city of Goiania, her home, where a large crowd of distraught fans lined up to pass her white-lined coffin before being entombed.
Known for her high-pitched voice and heartbreaking songs, Mendonça has managed to break through a country music scene long dominated by men and machismo. He was a prominent figure in a thriving subgenre known as "feminejo", or sertanejo music.
Many mourners outside the stadium where the wake was held could barely find the words to describe their feelings. Fans began lining up at dawn outside the 15,000-seat arena, where large flower arrangements arrived in a steady stream.
Authorities said the plane hit an electrical tower a few kilometers from Caratinga airport, but it is unclear whether this caused the crash.
Nicknamed the "Queen of Suffering", Mendonça was known for ballads about broken hearts and rejected lovers, and the need to "overcome" - the title of one of her most famous songs.
It had 22 million subscribers on YouTube, 39 million followers on Instagram, and more than eight million monthly Spotify listeners.
"He was among the greatest of his generation," Brazilian President Bolsonaro wrote on Twitter, saying the country is "in shock".