Preta Maria Gadelha Gil Moreira, also known as Preta Gil, was an extremely talented Brazilian singer and actress. She was the daughter of Gilberto Gil. Born with a unique name and a mesmerising voice, the artist was only 50 years old when she passed away after a tough battle with cancer.
Meet Preta Gil’s family
Preta Gil was the daughter of Gilberto Gil, an influential figure in the Brazilian music industry, a multi-instrumentalist, and a political figure. Preta had two siblings: a sister, Maria Gil, and a brother, Pedro Gil, who passed away in 1990. Her mother, Sandra, was an outspoken person who believed that her two daughters had married crazy men. Petra Gil got married twice in her lifetime. Her first marriage was to Otavio Muller. He was an actor by profession.
They got married in 1994; however, their marital bliss was short-lived, and they parted ways soon after getting a divorce in 1995. Preta and Otavio share a son, Francisco, who was born in 1995. Almost a decade later, Preta Gil gave marriage another go with Rodrigo Godoy. A professional basketball player and personal trainer. The two started dating in 2013 and got married on May 12, 2015. However, even their marriage ended in a divorce in 2023, the same year Preta was diagnosed with cancer.
Preta Gil’s father, Gilberto Gil, once fought to name her ‘Preta’
Gilberto Gil named his daughter with utmost creativity. However, he faced several challenges in giving her the unique name. According to reports, Gilberto was unable to register the name ‘Preta’ for his daughter because it means ‘black’ in Portuguese. Gilberto was adamant to name his daughter ‘Petra’ after his mother. However, once he was denied to register the name. He protested and stated:
“Why not? There’s Branca (white), Clara (clear) and Rosa (rose) . . . why can’t Preta (black) be a name?”
Preta Gil’s cancer treatment journey
Preta Gil was diagnosed with cancer in 2023. She spent two-and-a-half years seeking treatments, which included surgery to remove the tumour, followed by chemotherapy and radiotherapy. Amid the treatment, she was challenged with cancer recurrence and other personal struggles. The Brazilian star also faced an extended hospital stay in 2025, where she was admitted for 55 days before being discharged. According to Mix Vale, it was in May 2025 that Preta opted to explore her options in the US.
The report stated that Preta Gil had tried to find treatments for the disease at well-known centres like Memorial Sloan Kettering and the Virginia Cancer Institute. The singer used to share updates of her treatment journey on social media and quickly formed a community that now mourns her loss. Preta Gil passed away on Sunday, July 20, 2025. The singer fought a long and tough battle with cancer for over 2 years. She was at her United States residence when she passed away. The 50-year-old was seeking experimental treatment for her cancer.
Petra was undoubtedly an amazing soul and possessed an impeccable voice. What are your thoughts on her family? Let us know.
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