Julie Cowell, the mother of music mogul and "The X Factor" (UK) judge Simon Cowell, has passed away at the age of 89, it was announced on Sunday evening.
A spokesperson released a statement from the Cowell family that said: "Today our beloved mum Julie passed away. Anyone who had met her would know what a truly special and kind lady she was. We are heartbroken and will miss her terribly, but she is now at peace."
The family matriarch had died of a stroke and had recently spent most of her time at a hospital in London, according to the Daily Mirror.
The spokesperson also said that the family was requesting privacy.
"We would like to thank the media for kindly respecting Julie's privacy throughout and we politely request continued privacy for the entire family at this particularly difficult time," the statement read, according to People.
Julie was a former ballet dancer and socialite. She is the mother of four boys - Nicholas, Simon, Tony and Michael - as well as stepmother to John and June Cowell.
The news of Mrs Cowell's death comes the day before the first set of auditions for the new season of "The X Factor" were to begin.
The first day of auditions in Manchester with the new judging panel consisting of Cowell, Cheryl Fernandez-Versini and newly-appointed judges Rita Ora and Nick Grimshaw, was cancelled by ITV, the show's broadcaster, as a result of Julie's passing, according to the Daily Mail.
The former American Idol judge is known to be extremely close to both of his parents. In 2010, he had previously opened up to Piers Morgan about how devastated he was when he found out that his father, Eric Cowell, had died back in 1999.
