Girls Aloud Singer Sarah Harding Dies of Breast Cancer at Age 39
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Singer Sarah Harding, who got her start in the girl group Girls Aloud, has sadly passed away of breast cancer at the age of 39. She and her groupmates were discovered on the U.K. talent show Popstars: The Rivals in 2002.
Harding shared her breast cancer diagnosis with fans last August, revealing that it had spread to other parts of her body. The singer’s mother shared news of her daughter’s death on her official Instagram account on Sunday.
Girls Aloud Singer Sarah Harding Dies of Cancer
“It’s with deep heartbreak that today I’m sharing the news that my beautiful daughter Sarah has sadly passed away,” Harding’s mother Marie wrote on Instagram. “Many of you will know of Sarah’s battle with cancer and that she fought so strongly from her diagnosis until her last day. She slipped away peacefully this morning.”
She went on to thank fans for their support, saying it gave her daughter “great strength and comfort to know she was loved.” The message ends, “I know she won’t want to be remembered for her fight against this terrible disease – she was a bright shining star and I hope that’s how she can be remembered instead.”
Earlier this year, Harding published a memoir called Hear Me Out, in which she shared details from her life and cancer battle. According to the book, Harding’s doctor told her last December that “the upcoming Christmas would probably be my last.” She added that she was “trying to live and enjoy every second of my life, however long it might be.”
All four of Harding’s Girls Aloud groupmates posted Instagram tributes to her after her death. Cheryl wrote that she was “at a loss for words,” while Nicola Roberts and Nadine Coyle both said they were “devastated.” Kimberley Walsh wrote, “My heart is broken.”
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How Did Girls Aloud Get Their Start?
Girls Aloud was formed on the ITV reality show Popstars: The Rivals in 2002. They were initially managed by X Factor judge Louis Walsh. The group was put up against the show’s boy band One True Voice to have a Christmas number one single, and they won the battle with the song “Sound of the Underground.”
The group released five studio albums between 2003 and 2008. They performed in six concert tours, including Ten: The Hits Tour in 2013, which marked a reunion for the group after a hiatus. They officially announced their disbandment after performing the tour’s final concert.
The five members of the group all went on to release solo music. In March of this year, Harding released the single “Wear It Like a Crown,” which she had recorded 10 years earlier. The song hit No. 1 on the iTunes chart the day of its release. She shared that she would donate profits to the Christie NHS Foundation, where she was receiving treatment.
