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Vanessa Hudgens Reveals Dad Died of Cancer, Says She’s Still Performing in ‘Grease: Live’

Vanessa Hudgens
Vanessa Hudgens arrives at the People's Choice Awards 2016 on Jan. 6 in L.A.Allen Berezovsky/Getty Images

Our condolences. Vanessa Hudgens shared some heartbreaking news with fans on Sunday, January 31: her beloved father, Greg, lost his battle with cancer the night before.

“I am so sad to say that last night my daddy, Greg passed away from stage 4 cancer,” she tweeted. “Thank you to everyone who kept him in your prayers.”

Related: PHOTOS: Celebrity Deaths in 2016 — Stars We’ve Lost

Vanessa Hudgens
Vanessa Hudgens and Stella Hudgens pose with their family at Vanessa’s birthday party on Dec. 14, 2013, in Hollywood. Jason Merritt/WireImage

The 27-year-old actress, who was set to costar in Fox’s Grease: Live (alongside Julianne Hough and Aaron Tveit) added that she still intended to perform as planned on Sunday night.

“Tonight, I do the show in his honor,” she wrote.

Related: PHOTOS: Stars Gone Too Soon

Fans immediately tweeted an outpouring of support for the former Disney actress.


Hudgens revealed her father’s ongoing battle with cancer last August during her acceptance speech at the Industry Dance Awards for her Breakthrough Performer award.

“Last year, my boyfriend, Austin [Butler], lost his mom, Lori, to cancer, and my dad has just been recently diagnosed with stage 4 cancer,” she told the audience at the time. “Let me tell you, I hate cancer. I hate cancer with every cell of my being.”

Hudgens dedicated the award to Butler’s mom, to her father and to all families dealing with the pain and uncertainty of cancer.

Related: PHOTOS: Stars Who Beat Cancer

“This award, it means a lot to me, but I dedicate it to my boyfriend’s mom, Lori, my dad and to all the families out there who are struggling with this because it really takes a strong person and a strong family to be able to help those out who are going through this,” she said.

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