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Last night at Manhattan’s New York-Presbyterian Weill Cornell hospital, legendary singer, dancer and actress Lena Horne passed away at the age of 92. Horne, who helped pave the way into the entertainment business for all races, had been in failing health in recent months.

Although she won four Grammy Awards and countless other awards throughout her long career, Horne told People magazine back in 2005 that she wasn’t really ever let in.

“They believed that audiences weren’t ready. They didn’t know what to do with me. So they did nothing.”

In 1937 Lena married Louis Jordan Jones and they had two children together, daughter Gail and a son, Edwin, who passed away at age 30 from kidney disease. Lena and Louis were together for three years before separating. They made their divorce final in 1944.

In 1947 Horne married for a second time, this time to musical conductor Lennie Hayton. The union lasted until the early 60’s. They never divorced and Lennie passed away in 1971. In 1980 she sat for an interview with Ebony magazine and related that she only married Lennie to advance her career and “cross the color-line” in the business.

Horne appeared on television and the big screen, released 32 albums and had two hit singles “Stormy Weather” and “Love Me or Leave Me”.

More photos of Lena below and a video of Lena performing “Stormy Weather” back in 1943:

Photos: WENN