A cause of death has been determined for the late former singer Tyka Nelson, the only full sibling of late pop musician Prince Rogers Nelson.

According to TMZ, Tyka Nelson, 64, who died on November 4, passed away due to the primary cause of cardiac arrest, with congestive heart failure being the secondary cause. Released by the Minnesota Dept. of Health on Monday (November 18) was Nelson’s death certificate, while authorities say that the former singer’s heart was impacted after struggling with substance abuse.

The outlet went on to share that Nelson suffered a cardiac arrest approximately 45 minutes before her death and had nonischemic cardiomyopathy, a form of heart arrhythmia, for just over four months. A previous TMZ report detailed that Nelson called paramedics to her home in the Minneapolis/St. Paul area up to six times since September. Nelson has since been cremated and is survived by her two sons, President and Sir.

Nelson was Prince’s only full sibling, and the two shared parents, John L. Nelson, who died in 2001 at 85, and Mattie Shaw Nelson, who died in 2002. Prince died at his Paisley Park estate on April 21, 2016, at 57 years old, after an accidental fentanyl overdose. Nelson accepted the Top Soundtrack (Purple Rain) at the 2016 American Music Awards in dedication to her brother.

 Nelson–who retired from singing in June 2024–released four albums, including her 1988 debut Royal Blue, Yellow Moon, Red Sky in 1992, A Brand New Me in 2008, and 2011's Hustler.

When she spoke to the Minnesota Star Tribune in June to announce her retirement, Nelson revealed that she was in the beginning stages of writing a memoir about herself and her family.

Nelson also acknowledged being “grateful” for the “wisdom” of her deceased loved ones and feeling a connection to Prince fans as one of his last surviving siblings at the time.

“If I could I’d travel the whole world and meet people that loved him — I’m kind of the last link to him, for some people — it’s like giving back to him,” she told the Tribune. “As far as I’m concerned, he stayed because they loved his music.”