Roxette star dead aged 61: It Must Have Been Love singer Marie Fredriksson passes away following a long illness

Roxette singer Marie Fredriksson has sadly died aged 61. 

Swedish pop star Marie Fredriksson, whose most iconic hits included It Must Have Been Love and Listen To Your Heart, had been battling a long illness, The Daily Mail reports.

The star, who formed pop duo Roxette with Per Gessie in 1986, passed away on Monday and had retired from touring three years before on doctors orders. 

The Swedish Daily Express reported: 'Marie Fredriksson is most mourned by her husband Mikael Bolyos and their two children, [26-year-old daughter Inez Josefin and son Oscar, 23].

'It is with great sadness that we have to announce that one of our biggest and most beloved artists is gone.

'Marie Fredriksson died on the morning of December 9 in the suites of her previous illness,' the family wrote in a statement.'