Actress Michelle Yeoh is paying tribute to the late Disney musician CoCo Lee, remembering her as a “vivid star” with a “beautiful voice.”
On Wednesday, Lee’s sister confirmed in a Facebook post that the “Mulan” singer had died on the age of 48 following a suicide attempt.
“I’m deeply saddened that now we have lost a vivid star,” Yeoh wrote in an Instagram post, sharing a carousel of photos taken of her and Lee throughout the years.
“Coco was the primary Chinese to perform on the Oscars, her song A love before time from Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon was nominated for Best Original Song.. we were so proud and at all times shall be,” the post continued. “You and your beautiful voice shall be missed. RIP my dear… Heartfelt condolences to Coco’s family and all who love you… 🙏🏻”
Lee was a Hong Kong-born singer-songwriter whose breakout role got here in 1998, when she sang the Mandarin version of the song “Reflection,” from Disney’s classic movie, “Mulan.”
She also voiced Mulan within the Chinese version of the film.
Her sisters penned an emotional Facebook post to the star Wednesday, explaining that she had attempted suicide at her home on Saturday, July 2.
Lee was then rushed to the hospital, where she was put in a coma and later passed away.
“CoCo had been affected by depression for a number of years but her condition deteriorated drastically over the previous few months,” the post stated.
“Although, CoCo sought skilled help and did her best to fight depression, sadly that demon inside her took the higher of her.”
Throughout her prolific profession, Lee was the primary person of Chinese descent to perform on the Academy Awards in 2001, per NPR, singing the song “A Love Before Time.”
The ballad was from a movie directed by Ang Lee called “Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon,” which won 4 Oscars across different categories that 12 months, including “Best Foreign Language Film.”
She recorded 18 studio albums, including “Just No Other Way” in 1999.
Lee was also the primary Chanel brand ambassador of Chinese descent for the Asia region.
“I’ve at all times said, I would like to do music until no one wants to listen to me sing anymore,” Lee said during an interview with CCTV posted to YouTube in 2013.
“I just love music, I feel like with music, there’s so way more I would like to specific, and so many differing kinds of music that I would like to specific through,” she said.
Over the past few years, she had grow to be a judge on different competition shows and reality TV programs, just like the 2015 version of Dancing with the Stars in China, per The Guardian.
She married Canadian businessman Bruce Rockowitz in 2011.
Lee is survived by Rockowitz in addition to two stepdaughters, her sisters and mother.