Ahmed Kamel – Egypt Daily News
Lebanese music icon Fairouz has topped social media trends across the Arab world following the announcement of the death of her youngest son, Hali Assi, who passed away on Thursday, January 8, at the age of 68.
Hali, the son of Fairouz and the late composer Assi Rahbani, died after a long struggle with illness. He had lived since birth with severe intellectual and physical disabilities, and medical expectations regarding his lifespan were reportedly limited from an early age. Despite this, Fairouz remained steadfast in her devotion, dedicating her life to caring for him away from the public eye in a deeply personal and largely unseen chapter of her life.
Over the decades, Fairouz was known to firmly protect her son’s privacy, consistently refusing to allow him to appear in public or to discuss details of his condition in interviews. Her decision was widely regarded as an expression of maternal protection and dignity, reinforcing the artist’s long-standing preference for privacy despite her immense public stature.
News of Hali’s passing prompted an outpouring of condolences and prayers from fans, artists, and public figures across the Arab world. Many expressed admiration for Fairouz’s quiet resilience and offered prayers for mercy for her son and patience and strength for the legendary singer.
The loss has resonated particularly deeply given the personal hardships Fairouz has endured in recent years. Fans recalled that she had not fully recovered from the grief of losing another son, composer and musician Ziad Rahbani, who passed away in 2025, according to widely circulated reports. The successive losses have amplified public sympathy for the reclusive artist, who has long been regarded as a unifying cultural symbol across generations and borders.
Though Fairouz has remained largely absent from public life for years, moments such as this draw renewed attention to the human story behind the voice that shaped much of modern Arab music. As tributes continue to circulate online, many fans have reflected not only on her artistic legacy, but also on her life as a mother marked by patience, sacrifice, and quiet endurance.
