Westlife star Nicky Byrne is grieving the loss of his father who died suddenly.
Sources close to the family said they were "absolutely devastated" by the unexpected death of Nicky Byrne Snr earlier on Tuesday.
The boy band star was known to be very close to his father and had thrown him a huge party to celebrate his 60th birthday at a hotel in north Dublin last December.
In a statement on Tuesday night the Byrnes said: "The family would like to confirm the sad news of the very sudden loss of a husband, dad and granddad today."
They described Nicky Snr as "a wonderful man who will be sadly missed by everyone whose life he touched".
A friend of the family said they were shocked by the sudden death.
"He was fit and well up until today - there was no illness or anything," said the friend.
The Byrne family appealed for people to respect their privacy as they try to come to terms with their loss.
Nicky snr was himself a part-time singer on Dublin's cabaret and karaoke scene.
He was left stunned during his birthday celebrations last year when his millionaire son bought him a Harley Davidson motorbike.
The death is the third tragedy to hit 31-year-old Nicky in recent weeks. Only last month, the father-of-two returned to his native Dublin to pay his final respects to his friend, Boyzone's Stephen Gately, after he died suddenly in Majorca.
And on Monday, another friend and fellow Dubliner, Beverley O'Sullivan, a former star with Irish pop group Fifth Avenue, died in a car crash in India.
Westlife bandmates Mark Feehily, Shane Filan and Kian Egan were said to be making arrangements to be with Nicky to help him through his loss.
Nicky is married to Georgina Ahern, daughter of the former Irish Taoiseach Bertie Ahern.
They have twin sons, Rocco and Jay.
© Press Association