Born on August 8, 1974, in Rio de Janeiro, Preta Gil is a Brazilian singer-songwriter and actress. Daughter of the legendary musician Gilberto Gil, she embarked on her musical journey in the early 2000s, fusing elements of samba, funk, and pop on her 2003 studio debut Prêt-à-Porter. The album featured the single "Sinais de Fogo," which rose to the top of the charts in both Brazil and Portugal. She followed this success with 2005's Preta, which spawned the singles "Muito Perigoso" and "Eu e Você, Você e Eu." Not limited to singing, she also showcased her versatile talents by venturing into acting, making notable appearances in Brazilian films and television series such as Agora É Que São Elas and Caminhos do Coração. Noite Preta Ao Vivo, her first live LP, arrived in 2010 and featured duets with Lulu Santos, Ivete Sangalo, Carolina Dieckmann, and Ana Carolina. In 2012, Preta Gil returned with her fourth studio outing, Sou Como Sou, and became a coach on the reality singing competition The Voice Brasil. She would continue to record and perform over the following years, celebrating her tenth anniversary in the music industry with the 2014 live album Bloco da Preta and exploring electronic sounds on 2017's Todas as Cores, which included guest spots by Pabllo Vittar, Marília Mendonça e Gal Costa. The single "Elas por Elas (Coisas da Vida)," recorded in collaboration with Duda Beat and Ivete Sangalo, arrived in 2023. An outspoken cancer survivor since 2023, she detailed her battle—including surgeries, chemotherapy, and experimental treatments—in her 2024 autobiography Preta Gil: Os Primeiros 50, using her platform to raise awareness of health issues and personal identity. As the disease progressed, she continued creative work, releasing the soundtrack album Câncer Com Ascendente em Virgem in early 2025 and remaining active in social causes and public appearances. Her final live performance in April 2025 came alongside her father Gilberto Gil during his Tempo Rei tour in Brazil, a moving moment that underscored her legacy in music and activism. After surgery and treatments through 2024, she relocated to the U.S. for experimental care but passed away on July 20, 2025, in New York at age 50. Her death prompted a wave of tributes across Brazil, led by her father Gilberto Gil and fans honoring her legacy in music, activism, and television.
