Singer Jimmy Buffett dies at 76
Jimmy Buffett of Jimmy Buffett and the Coral Reefer Band performs during the 2022 New Orleans & Jazz festival at Fair Grounds Race Course on May 08, 2022 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Tim Mosenfelder/WireImage) (Getty Images)
Jimmy Buffett has died at 76, according to whoever is running the legendary singer's public social media pages and official website.
The "Margaritaville" singer's verified social media pages issued a statement saying Buffett died Friday, September 1.
Below is a statement released in the Mississippi native's social media pages:
"Jimmy passed away peacefully on the night of September 1st surrounded by his family, friends, music and dogs. He lived his life like a song till the very last breath and will be missed beyond measure by so many," the post read.
Buffett rescheduled concerts in May, acknowledging he had been hospitalized for an unspecified illness. Officials did not say how Buffett died.
Buffett built an empire based largely on Caribbean-flavored pop that celebrated the Florida Keys, sunshine and nightlife. His name became synonymous with a laid-back subtropical party vibe, and his fans were known as Parrotheads.
He became a pop star in 1977, when "Margaritaville" cracked the Top 10. The song has provided a soundtrack to countless happy hours in the decades since.
The singer was chairman of Margaritaville Holdings based in Palm Beach, Florida. He had a restaurant and a casino in Vegas, a casino in Mississippi and a hotel in Pensacola Beach, Florida, but the exact scope of his empire was a secret.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.