French rock ‘n’ roll icon Johnny Hallyday has died from lung cancer aged 74.
France’s President Emmanuel Macron's office announced his death in a statement early on Wednesday, saying "he brought a part of America into our national pantheon".
Mr Macron's office said the president spoke with Mr Hallyday's family after the news.
The rocker, whose concerts packed out sports stadiums, had long suffered from lung cancer as well as repeated health scares more recently.
His glitzy stage aura was influenced by stars such as Elvis Presley and his musical inspiration came from the likes of Chuck Berry and Buddy Holly.
Despite being the country’s top rock star, his stardom largely ended at the French-speaking world.
Mr Macron said "we all have something of Johnny Hallyday in us".
In a statement, his wife Laeticia said: "Johnny Hallyday has left us.
"I write these words without believing them. But yet, it's true. My man is no longer with us.
"He left us tonight as he lived his whole life, with courage and dignity.”
In a French-language tweet, Celine Dion said: “He was a giant of show business… a true legend! I have a thought for his family, his loved ones and his millions of fans who love him. He will be missed, but never forgotten.”
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