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Renowned for her role in Country Ever After, Criscilla Anderson has passed away at the age of 45.
The acclaimed hip hop dancer succumbed to colon cancer after a courageous seven-year struggle.
The news of Anderson’s passing was shared on Tuesday, through a heartfelt message she had prepared beforehand.
Her message began, “If you’re reading this, I’ve finally found peace in the arms of Jesus — embraced by love and tranquility.”
She continued, “Please don’t linger in the sorrow of this moment. I fought with all my strength and loved with all my heart. I’m not truly gone… I’ve found my way Home.”
Anderson is survived by the three children she shared with her estranged husband, country star Coffey Anderson, and her former stepdaughter.
The pair were married for 13 years before Coffey filed for divorce in 2022. It is unclear as to whether their divorce was finalized before her death.
Anderson addressed her children – Ethan, Savannah, Everleigh, and Emmarie – in her emotional statement in which she described them as her ‘whole heart.’
Criscilla Anderson, who was married to country star Coffey Anderson, has died at 45
The late hip hop dancer had been battling colon cancer for the last seven years
She wrote: ‘Ethan, you made me a mom. I’m still beside you, cheering you on. Savannah, my bonus girl — you were a gift God knew I needed.
‘Emmarie, my Jesus-loving dancer — keep dancing through every season. Everleigh, my bright spark — chase your dreams boldly and without fear.’
Anderson added that she is ‘watching over’ her children.
Coffey remembered his late wife in an emotional tribute shared on his Instagram, in which he said that his heart is ‘shattered.’
He penned: ‘Criscilla defined strength and fighter like no other person on the planet. Heaven gained a star today.
‘She said before she passed, “if you see a butterfly, that will be me. If you miss me, a butterfly will show up. Remember… I’ll be there with you.”
‘We miss you already. Our hearts are shattered. Our minds are jumbled. Our lives will never be the same. The house is quieter because you’re missing. The babies are resilient and strong as ever. We did good with them.’
Tributes have been flooding in for the late star from devastated friends and fans.
Anderson had been married to artist Coffey for 13 years before he filed for divorce in 2022
Coffey said in his emotional tribute that he and their children’s hearts are ‘shattered’
Anderson mothered children Ethan, 10, Savannah, eight, and Emmarie, five (pictured)
In 2019, she told Daily Mail that her colon cancer had spread and was ‘growing up her back’
Reality star Todd Chrisley said: ‘Heartbroken is an understatement, rest well my beautiful friend, you will be loved and thought of always.’
Actress Viola Davis wrote: ‘Just devastating. Really. I never stopped praying and will continue to pray for her family, her children and for her name to continue to be spoken. God’s got her.’
Actor Kevin Lawson added: ‘You fought hard, my friend. I’ll see you on the other side. I know you’re already up there choreographing something beautiful with the angels.’
In 2019, Anderson voiced her heartbreak to Daily Mail after learning that her cancer had spread and was ‘growing up her back.’
She said that news marked her ‘darkest ever day’ but voiced her determination to see her three children grow up.
‘I have three babies,’ Anderson said at the time.
‘I need to be healthy, I need to be cured. It broke me. My first thought was that I have three babies that need their mom. It was the darkest day of my life.’
Anderson was a professional dancer who worked with Britney Spears and Rihanna.