'I will do the show in his honour': Vanessa Hudgens' father dies from cancer... hours before she performs in Grease Live
Vanessa Hudgens' father has died from cancer, the actress has revealed.
The 27-year-old tweeted the sad news on Sunday morning, just hours before she was due to appear in the eagerly awaited Grease Live.
Yet she vowed to still perform as planned, in tribute to her father, a former firefighter.
Tribute: After revealing the death of her father Greg on Sunday, Vanessa Hudgens vowed to perform as planned in Grease Live later the same day; the two are pictured last summer
'I am so sad to say that last night my daddy, Greg passed away from stage 4 cancer,' she wrote on Sunday morning. 'Thank you to everyone who kept him in your prayers.'
'Tonight, I do the show in his honor.'
Vanessa is set to play Rizzo in the Fox network's reinterpretation of the hit musical.
The High School Musical star first revealed her father's battle with cancer last August, while accepting an award at the 2015 Industry Dance Awards.
Announcement: Vanessa revealed her sad news on her Twitter page
Hard-working: The High School Musical star dedicated her performance to her father
Close; the High School Musical star with her father back in 2007; the former firefighter also leaves wife Gina and daughter Stella
She said at the time: 'Last year, my boyfriend, Austin [Butler], lost his mom, Lori, to cancer, and my dad has just been recently diagnosed with stage four cancer.
'Let me tell you, I hate cancer. I hate cancer with every cell of my being.
'This award, it means a lot to me, but I dedicate it to my boyfriend’s mom, Lori, my dad, and to all the families out there who are struggling with this, because it really takes a strong person and a strong family to be able to help those out who are going through this.'
In mourning: Vanessa is pictured with sister Stella this week; she asked fans to pray for her father
As they were: Vanessa mentioned her father's health on Twitter, asking fans to pray for him (pictured in 2006)
Just last week Vanessa mentioned her father's health on Twitter, asking fans to pray for him.
'Hey guys. My dad isn't doing too well. Please say a prayer for him! It would mean a lot to me,' she wrote.
Along with Vanessa, Greg is survived by his younger daughter, Stella, and wife Gina.
Her High School Musical costar Ashley Tisdale, 30, expressed her condolences on Twitter on Sunday.
Prayers: Vanessa's High School Musical costar Ashely Tisdale expressed her condolences on Twitter
'I am devastated. Just thinking of my girl and praying for her strength today,' wrote Ashley.
On Sunday, Vanessa also posted a photo of herself and the other 'Pink Ladies' from the set.
'Tonight's the night!!!!!!' she wrote. 'You don't want to miss this.'
Sneak peek: Vanessa, who plays Rizzo, shared an image of the Pink Ladies on Sunday ahead of the live show on Sunday
Tribute: Vanessa will still take to the stage as part of the eagerly awaited Grease Live show
Grease Live producers also vowed to continue with filming as planned, despite forecasts for rain and possible thunder in Los Angeles, reports The Hollywood Reporter.
'We're going live rain or shine and we're excited to do so,' said producer Mark Platt, who added that show bosses had planned for the possibility of rain after reading about El Nino forecasts.
'That’s what makes live TV exciting, the unknown,' he said of the three-hour musical. 'So we're going for it.'
Fancy footwork: The actress dances with Sam Clark during Grease's dress rehearsals in Los Angeles on Friday
Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-3425422/I-honour-Vanessa-Hudgens-father-dies-cancer-hours-performs-Grease-Live.html#ixzz3yrrQhHw4
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