"That's My Baby" singer, Lari White, has passed away after a tough battle with advanced peritoneal cancer. She was 52 years old.
The country singer-songwriter was diagnosed with the rare form of cancer last September and, to pay for her treatment, her family launched a GoFundMe campaign that has already met its $100,000 goal. According to reports, White also just entered a hospice facility last weekend.
Lari White's Career
White started a career in the music industry after winning a competition called You Can Be a Star, a talent search that aired on The Nashville Network, in 1988. She released her debut album Lead Me Not through RCA in 1993.
However, her sophomore album Wishes, which came out in 1994, is what launched her to country superstardom. It sold about 500,000 copies and released three hit singles that reached the Top 10 of music charts. Her fourth album Don't Fence Me In was not as big of a success which caused her record label to drop her.
White then founded her own company called Skinny White Girl. Under the new record label, she released two more albums. Green Eyed Soul debuted in 2004 and her most recent work Old Friends, New Loves that was released just last year.
Over the course of her career, the country singer received three Grammy Awards.
Aside from music, White also pursued her passion for acting. She made an appearance in Tom Hanks' 2000 movie Cast Away.
She also had a small role in Country Strong, a movie about a rising country singer-songwriter. It starred Gwyneth Paltrow, Leighton Meester, and Garrett Hedlund. Her next acting gig was the cabaret production of My First Affair in 2007.
She was also a music producer who helped helm Billy Dean's Let Them Be Little and Toby Keith's White Trash With Money, which sold a million copies in 2006.
Cancer Diagnosis
In November, the artist revealed her prognosis to her fans. A letter she wrote on ArtistWorks' Blog recounted that after persistent stomach upsets, she finally went to see her doctor and took a series of tests. It was revealed that she has advanced peritoneal cancer.
"Since then a series of complications including pain management, pneumonia and a bowel obstruction requiring emergency surgery has kept me in and out of the hospital fighting for my life," she shared. "This is, of course, my focus for the foreseeable future."
Earlier this month, she was admitted to a care hospice. Her mother revealed on Caring Bridge that the singer's situation was not good but she was with family and friends.
"Last night Lari was admitted to a wonderful Hospice facility in Nashville, where she has all the Care she needs to make her comfortable and quiet for this part of the Journey, and where she is completely surrounded by loving family," she wrote. "Thank you, God, for Lari."
White is survived by her husband, Chuck Cannon, and their three children.
