Sabah, one of the Arab world's most iconic figures, passed away at the age of 87 in Lebanon today.
Clauda Aqel, the deceased's niece, confirmed the sad news, but told her aunt's fans "not to cry as Sabah is now up there with God."
"She (Sabah) says goodbye and asks you not to be sad or cry. She told me to tell you to put dabkeh on and dance. She wants this to be a happy day not a sad one. She said that she wants you to always be happy, with her being there and without her being there, just as she always made you happy.
"She told me to tell you that she loves you very much, and to always remember her and love her," Clauda wrote on her official Facebook page.
Meanwhile, local daily newspaper An-Nahar tweeted, “Goodbye dear Shahroura. Goodbye rock of Lebanon."
MP Walid Jumblatt also commented on Sabah’s death.
“Sad news today. The legendary singer Sabah died. With her passing away, an entire beautiful past of Lebanon passes away,” Jumblatt tweeted. “She was a great singer of a Lebanon that my generation knew that will never come back.”
Sabah was born on November 10, 1927. Known locally as “Sabbouha," the renowned singer was born in Bdadoun, a town in Aley.
She began her career in Lebanon, only to shortly become a legend with over 50 albums, 83 Lebanese and Egyptian movies as well as over 27 stage plays.
Sabah, born Jeanette Feghali, was the first Arab singer to perform at Olympia in Paris, Carnegie Hall in New York, Piccadilly Theatre in London and the Sydney Opera House in Australia, according to Lebanon's Daily Star.
She was truly one of the most influential artists in the Middle East, ranking in the same calibre as the likes of Fairuz and Um Kulthum.
Despite her old age, Sabah's young spirit and love for life kept her looking young and happy. She was an inspiration to both youngsters and the elderly, as she never failed to keep her glam on and stay active in the recording studio and on stage.
Perhaps what some would say Sabah was more famous for was the many men in her life. The romantic singer was married nine times. She spent five years with her first husband Najeeb Shammas, and 17 years with her last husband Fadi Lubnan.
In 2011, Sabah's real life was turned into a TV series titled “Shahroura,” starring Lebanese singer Carole Samaha.
The Arab world lost a legend today, but her memory will live on forever.
