Legendary Mexican singer Paquita la del Barrio died from a heart attack, it has been revealed.

The beloved performer, real name Francisca Viveros Barradas, died Monday at the age of 77 at her home in Xalapa, in the Mexican state of Veracruz, according to a statement on her Instagram account.

‘It’s something we did not expect,’ her manager Francisco Torres said on Mexican TV. ‘She suffered a lethal heart attack while sleeping. She was ready to get back on stage.’

Paquita’s team announced her death on Monday, shocking those who followed the singer for over four decades.

‘With deep pain and sadness, we confirm the sensitive death of our ‘Paquita la del Barrio’ in her home in Veracruz, being a unique and unrepeatable artist,’ the statement said in Spanish… Rest in peace, your music and legacy will forever live in our hearts.

‘At this time of great pain, we respectfully ask all media outlets and the public to give us space and understanding so that his family can grieve in privacy and peace.’