Johnny Hallyday, also known as the ‘French Elvis’ has sadly passed away. The singer sold over 110m albums and although he was not well known outside of French territories, Hallyday was an icon in French rock n roll, having a career that stretched out over 50 years.

Laeticia Hallyday, the superstar’s wife said in a statement “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.” Johnny had been suffering from lung cancer.

The French presidency also released a statement that read “There is something of Johnny in all of us.”

On a tous en nous quelque chose de Johnny. https://t.co/1z35AuH4bJ

— Emmanuel Macron (@EmmanuelMacron) December 6, 2017

Hallyday is survived by his wife and two daughters.