George Michael: June 25, 1963-December 25, 2016 (GIF via Sony)

George Michael has become the latest major pop icon to die unexpectedly in 2016, joining musicians Prince and David Bowie, among many other household names.

Michael reportedly died at home. His death was described as peaceful and not suspicious, in spite of his very young age. Reports indicated he died in his sleep of heart failure.

 

I am in deep shock. I have lost a beloved friend - the kindest, most generous soul and a brilliant artist. My heart goes out to his family, friends and all of his fans. @GeorgeMichael #RIP

A photo posted by Elton John (@eltonjohn) on Dec 25, 2016 at 3:24pm PST

In recent years, Michael had drug-abuse issues and other health crises, including a near-fatal bout of pneumonia, a tracheotomy, a coma and heart issues.

Michael burst onto the pop scene as the creative force behind the teeny-bopper phenomenon Wham!, scoring 10 Top 10 hits in their native UK, including the perennial Christmas classic “Last Christmas,” Ironically, Michael would die on the holiday.

Wham!'s success was similarly intense in the U.S., where they collected six Top 10 hits, including Careless Whisper, the #1 song of 1984.

After splitting from his musical partner Andrew Ridgeley, Michael went on to become a huge solo success, notching seven #1 hits including duets with his close personal friend and mentor Elton John and Aretha Franklin.

Michael's Faith and Listen Without Prejudice Vol. 1 albums are considered undisputed pop classics.

 

Farewell My Friend! 🙏🏻 Another Great Artist leaves us. 💔Can 2016 Fuck Off NOW?

A video posted by Madonna (@madonna) on Dec 25, 2016 at 5:09pm PST

Michael had a troubled history with his sexual orientation, coming out to privately as bisexual in the '80s, only to later become depressed when he realized he was actually gay. In 1998, an arrest for sexual contact with an undercover cop in a Beverly Hills restroom effectively outed him, and he did acknowledge being gay going forward. In 1993, he lost a partner to AIDS.