OffBeat.com recently reported on Leigh “L’il Queenie” Harris, a star of New Orleans rock in the 1970s and ’80s, seeking financial support in an effort to come back to town as she fights late-stage breast cancer. Sadly, she has been unable to return and is currently in hospice care in North Carolina.

As reported by NOLA.com, Harris has made the decision to discontinue treating her metastasized cancer with chemotherapy and is currently at home in Rural Hill, NC with her husband, Rick Ledbetter.

The 64-year-old frontwoman of L’il Queenie and The Percolators was diagnosed in 2016. That year, a handful of New Orleans musicians rallied for a benefit concert in her honor, called “Gawd Save The Queen.” There, Debbie Davis, Susan Cowsill, Vicki Peterson, Darcy Malone and others rocked the stage in support of a true New Orleans rockstar.

In 1999, Keith Pandolfi profiled L’il Queenie for OffBeat:

Queenie became well-known throughout New Orleans after the formation of her  band the Percolators, which was co-founded by Queenie and John Magnie of the subdudes. The band won the affection of many locals with songs like “My Darlin’ New Orleans,” Gumbo Heaven” and “Telephone.” Queenie (the name was bestowed upon her by an ex-boyfriend who called her “Li’l Queenie” during heated arguments), also made it to the silver screen with her appearance in the John Sayles’ film, Passion Fish.

After spending several years as more of a funk-laced R&B musician than a “beautiful singer” Queenie has experienced her own royal awakening. As far as future projects are concerned, Queenie is still up for a pure straightforward jazz record and, she is very serious about this one, a CD of Queenie singing all of her most beloved show tunes. Long live the Queenie.