The Voice Brasil singer Karina Zeviani has died at the age of 51 following a two-year illness, municipal authorities confirmed on Friday.
Zeviani passed away on Thursday, October 1, at the Beneficencia Portuguesa hospital in the city of Sao Jose do Rio Preto. Her death was confirmed to CNN Brasil by officials from the municipal government of Jaboticabal, the singer's hometown in the interior of Sao Paulo state.
The artist had been diagnosed with cancer two years earlier and had remained in continuous treatment. Beneficencia Portuguesa, where she spent her final hours, is one of the premier regional medical centers serving northwestern Sao Paulo, located approximately 440 kilometers from the state capital.
Cancer diagnosis and treatment battle
Zeviani had been candid with the public about her health struggles, sharing a detailed medical update on September 20 through her official Instagram account. In that message, she explained that she had started a new round of medical therapy in late February and initially achieved a remission rate exceeding 90 percent after several sessions of chemotherapy.
Subsequent diagnostic assessments, however, showed that the illness had spread. Medical scans revealed new cancerous lesions on her bones and liver, forcing her doctors to alter their approach.
In response to the new findings, her medical team placed her on an oral chemotherapy pill regimen for one month. That treatment unfortunately failed to halt the progression of the disease, prompting specialists to schedule her for intravenous chemotherapy sessions starting in late September.
The update in September followed an earlier appeal for help in April, when Zeviani established an online crowdfunding campaign to assist with her escalating healthcare expenses. Her condition had worsened significantly since January, creating substantial financial and physical burdens.
In a video published during the fundraising effort, Zeviani described having survived a severe systemic crisis that brought her extremely close to death. The episode left her severely weakened, unable to stand up from a chair without personal assistance.
She emphasized at the time that she had transitioned to a new chemotherapy protocol and was recuperating. She expressed profound gratitude for remaining alive, telling her followers that she felt ready to control the disease and considered herself a fighter.
Tributes from Brazilian entertainment figures
The announcement of Zeviani's death generated widespread grief across Brazil's artistic community, with friends and colleagues sharing memories on social media. Fashion model Luciana Curtis wrote that her beloved friend had found peace after her struggle, adding that she would be deeply missed and that she was left heartbroken by the loss.
Actress and presenter Luana Piovani posted a video farewell paying tribute to their long friendship. Piovani said she loved Zeviani unconditionally, describing the singer as a sister and a skylark whose presence had profoundly enriched her life.
Piovani also sent prayers and support to Zeviani's surviving family, specifically naming Aunt Dorva, Uncle Natal, Toni, and Mari. She asked that comfort be granted to those enduring the pain of bereavement.
Actor, director, and television presenter Michel Melamed also mourned Zeviani publicly, comparing death in a poetic reflection to a winged tortoise that suddenly lands upon one's face.
Early life and musical journey
Zeviani was born in Jaboticabal, an interior municipality in Sao Paulo state known as an agricultural and university center. Her musical journey began in early childhood through a local fanfare marching band conducted by her father, which introduced her to performance and rhythm.
Her artistic sensibilities were further shaped by traditional Brazilian popular music, known across the country as MPB, as well as the songs played for her by her grandfather. Those early domestic influences formed the foundation of her vocal style.
As a teenager, Zeviani entered the fashion world as a photographic model. Her modeling career took her overseas to live and work in Europe, including an extended stay in Germany, where an impromptu performance at a karaoke lounge led her to rediscover her passion for singing.
That realization led her to pivot away from fashion and return to a career in music. In 2020, Zeviani reached a nationwide audience when she competed on the ninth season of The Voice Brasil, the reality talent competition broadcast across the country on TV Globo.
