Summer Blamed Toxic Air For Lung Cancer

Did Donna Summer get lung cancer from the Sept. 11 terrorists attacks? That’s apparently what the disco queen believed according to reports from TMZ. Friends of the singer, who passed away May 17, told the celeb news site that she was adamant that her illness was a result of the attack. A friend also noted that she used to spray a disinfectant in the air, while “Dance Fever” host Deny Terrio said Summer would hang silk sheets in her dressing room to protect herself from dust. Another reported source told the site that Donna, a “fervent practicing Christian,” believed Sept. 11 was an attack on her faith. While it’s also been reported that Summer was a smoker, a rep for the singer dismissed those claims via RumorFix.com: “Although she lost her battle to lung cancer at the age of 63, it was not related to smoking. Ms. Summer was a non-smoker.”

In addition to her theory on the cancer that ultimately took her life, details on Summer’s funeral have been released. Denying reports that a public memorial would be held for the singer, a rep released a statement saying; “Reports of a public memorial next week in Nashville are not accurate. The services being planned will be private to include only family and close friends. Thank you for continuing to respect the family’s privacy during their time of loss.”

Summer will reportedly be memorialized along with Whitney Houston at this Sunday’s Billboard music awards. –danielle canada