WASHINGTON — British singer George Michael has died at age 53, his publicist tells BBC News.

The Grammy Award winner launched his career in the 1980s as part of the pop duo Wham! before launching his own solo career.

Michael has had a series of health problems in recent years. In 2011, he spent several weeks in the hospital after falling ill with life-threatening pneumonia while on tour in Austria. He was hospitalized again in 2014.

His publicist said he “passed away peacefully at home,” the BBC reports.

Michael has sold more than 100 million records over the span of his career and was inducted into the 2017 Songwriters Hall of Fame. His hit songs include “Faith,” “Father Figure,” and “Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go.”

The Associated Press contributed to this report.