I was saddened to hear about the recent death of Donna Summer.

Miss Summer lived in Nashville during a time when I was under contract as a songwriter. An engineer/producer/musician who used one of our studios as his home turf, worked with Summer and became her musical director for a time. She was a beautiful woman and very charming the few times our paths crossed. Here’s what Dolly Parton had to say about her passing via the Channel 5 WSMV website:

“I can’t believe we’ve lost another wonderful singer. Donna, like Whitney, had one of the greatest voices ever. I loved her records. She was the disco queen, and will remain so. I knew her and found her to be one of the most likable and fun people ever. She will be missed and remembered.” - Dolly Parton

With all of this background, I was intrigued to stumble across this site that claims that Summer felt her lung cancer was caused by 9/11. My feelings about Miss Summer are above. I offer these speculations only for their irresistibly zany conspiracy mania:

Donna Summer’s family statement about her death didn’t mention cause of death. The Associated Press cited her publicist as saying it was cancer. Several reports note that Summer battled breast cancer years ago. And TMZ reports that lung cancer is what ultimately killed her.

Summer was a smoker and, as a singer, spent years in clubs where smoking was allowed, TMZ reports. But that’s not what she thought did it.

The disco queen felt that inhaling toxic air after 9/11 gave her lung cancer.

Sources close to the singer tell TMZ that Summer was in New York City during 9/11, living at an apartment near Ground Zero. The site says she “became almost paranoid about breathing the air, which was heavy with a rancid odor.”

Read more after leaping from this radio controlled airliner…

About Joe Nolan

Joe Nolan is a critic, columnist, singer/songwriter and sometime NPR contributor. He can be heard every week on SittingNow's CCN podcast. Joe thinks coffee is a sacrament. Joe thinks surreal is the new black.

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