Pegi Young died at age 66.

Singer Pegi Young , ex-wife of Neil Young , died at age 66 after a year-long battle with cancer.

The American star, who was married to the Canadian rock icon until 2014, died on New Year's Day. A statement on Facebook confirmed the event.

"It is with great sadness that we confirm that on January 1st, after a year-long battle with cancer, Pegi Young – mother, grandmother, sister, aunt, musician, activist, and co-founder of the Bridge School – passed away surrounded by friends and family in California. We ask that the family's privacy be respected," the post said.

Pegi left behind Ben and Amber , two children she had with Young.

She married Neil in 1978 and spent decades as a backing vocalist on tours before releasing five country albums. The most recent of these was Raw , in 2017.

In 1980, she and Young founded the Bridge School, a non-profit organization that assists children with physical and speech disabilities. Cerebral palsy is also a condition that the school has been able to support since Ben was born with it.

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