Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni expressed her sorrow on X, calling Vanoni’s voice “unmistakable” and saying Italy has lost a “unique artist” whose cultural legacy is irreplaceable. According to La Stampa, Vanoni died of cardiac arrest at her home in Milan.
Over her seven-decade career, Vanoni recorded more than 100 albums and sold over 55 million copies, earning the title “The Lady of Italian Song.” Born in Milan in 1937, she first pursued theater and even performed on Broadway in 1964 before fully embracing music. Her refined, expressive style made her a sought-after collaborator across genres, working with artists such as Gil Evans, Herbie Hancock, and George Benson.
Her artistic and romantic partnership with singer-songwriter Gino Paoli produced the 1961 hit “Senza Fine,” which propelled her to international fame. Vanoni was also a strong presence at Italy’s top music festivals, competing eight times at Sanremo and placing second in 1968 with “Casa Bianca.”
A gifted songwriter as well as performer, she twice won the Tenco Award – the only Italian singer to do so, and the only woman to win it twice. In her later years, she remained a popular TV guest, known for her unpredictability, rich storytelling, and disregard for political correctness.
