Hurst was diagnosed in 2013 with breast cancer as she was preparing to tour with Timberlake & Jay-Z.
"I believe one of my first thoughts was, Am I Going to Die?" In 2015, she spoke to ABC13's Samica Knight. "I had four months' of chemotherapy, followed by my surgery in which I had a mastopexy."
Watch Knight's 2015 Hurst report in the video player.
Her cancer grew by two-fold during treatment. It seemed that the treatment was not working. Two years later, however, she was in complete remission.
Family members say Nicole Hurst was born Aug. 21, 1982. She began singing at age five. She went to The High School for the Performing and Visual Arts and continued her studies at Berklee College of Music.
Hurst performed at major events such as the Super Bowl Halftime Show, the Academy Awards, and the Grammys. Janet Jackson, Bruno Mars and Alicia Keys were also among her collaborators.
According to her family, her travels took her places large and small, including The White House and NBC's Saturday Night Live.
"We shared such a special bond. Knight stated Friday that it was a quiet relationship. We'd have deep discussions. The cancer was never discussed. It was just how she liked it."
Knight recalled her storyHurst last conversationThey said that they could tell one another how they felt, and they agreed to do so.
She was weak but we had a quick conversation that ended in the same way it has for the past 8 years. She replied, "I love you, girl." Knight recalled that she really does. "I was fighting back tears and said, "I love you too girl."
Nicole Hurst was 38.
