American poet Maya Angelou has died.
The legendary activist and author passed away in Winston-Salem North Carolina while recovering from a mystery illness.
On Monday she updated her Facebook page with the news she had been hospitalised by an "unexpected medical emergency."
Maya Angelou has died at the age of 86
She wrote of her regret at having to cancel her visit to the Major League Baseball Civil Rights Game ceremony in Houston, adding she had been "so proud" to have been selected as its honoree.
The three-time Grammy award winner added: "However, my doctors told me it would be unadvisable for me to travel at that time. My thanks to Robin Roberts for speaking up for me and thank you for all your prayers. I am each day better."
Among Angelou's most acclaimed works is the 1969 autobiographical work I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings.
On Friday Angelou sent her last tweet, which read: "Listen to yourself and in that quietude you might hear the voice of God."
7 Inspiring Quotes From Maya Angelou
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Maya Angelou passes away
Norman Mailer Center's Fifth Annual Benefit Gala sponsored by Van Cleef & Arpels - Inside(01 of22)
NEW YORK, NY - OCTOBER 17: Maya Angelou attends the Norman Mailer Center's Fifth Annual Benefit Gala sponsored by Van Cleef & Arpels at the New York Public Library on October 17, 2013 in New York City. (Photo by Michael Loccisano/Getty Images for The Norman Mailer Center) (credit:Getty Images)
Norman Mailer Center's Fifth Annual Benefit Gala sponsored by Van Cleef & Arpels - Inside(02 of22)
NEW YORK, NY - OCTOBER 17: Maya Angelou and Robert Loomis appear onstage at the Norman Mailer Center's Fifth Annual Benefit Gala sponsored by Van Cleef & Arpels at the New York Public Library on October 17, 2013 in New York City. (Photo by Michael Loccisano/Getty Images for The Norman Mailer Center) (credit:Getty Images)
Norman Mailer Center's Fifth Annual Benefit Gala Sponsored by Van Cleef & Arpels - Arrivals(03 of22)
NEW YORK, NY - OCTOBER 17: (L-R) Joyce Carol Oates, Gay Talese, Lawrence Schiller and Dr. Maya Angelou attend the Norman Mailer Center's Fifth Annual Benefit Gala sponsored by Van Cleef & Arpels on October 17, 2013 in New York City. (Photo by Brad Barket/Getty Images for The Norman Mailer Center) (credit:Getty Images)
Norman Mailer Center's Fifth Annual Benefit Gala Sponsored by Van Cleef & Arpels - Arrivals(04 of22)
NEW YORK, NY - OCTOBER 17: Lawrence Schiller and Dr. Maya Angelou attend the Norman Mailer Center's fifth annual benefit gala at the New York Public Library on October 17, 2013 in New York City. (Photo by Brad Barket/Getty Images for The Norman Mailer Center) (credit:Getty Images)
BET Honors 2012 - Show(05 of22)
WASHINGTON, DC - JANUARY 14: Michelle Obama and Maya Angelou speak during the BET Honors 2012 at the Warner Theatre on January 14, 2012 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Kris Connor/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Surprise Oprah! A Farewell Spectacular(06 of22)
CHICAGO, IL - MAY 17: Maya Angelou and Oprah attend Surprise Oprah! A Farewell Spectacular at the United Center on May 17, 2011 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Daniel Boczarski/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
The 2011 Common Ground Foundation Gala Fundraiser(07 of22)
CHICAGO, IL - APRIL 16: Dr. Maya Angelou attends the 2011 Common Ground Foundation gala fundraiser at the Intercontinental Hotel on April 16, 2011 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Timothy Hiatt/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
AARP Magazine's 2011 Inspire Awards(08 of22)
WASHINGTON, DC - DECEMBER 09: Maya Angelou speaks during the AARP Magazine's 2011 Inspire Awards at Ronald Reagan Building on December 9, 2010 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Kris Connor/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Dr. Maya Angelou Honored By The Michael Jackson Tribute Portrait(09 of22)
WINSTON-SALEM, NC - JUNE 21: NE 21: NE 21: NE 21: NE 21: Dr. Maya Angelou (left) and artist, David Ilan (right) speak at the Special Recognition Event in support of The Michael Jackson Tribute Portrait at the home of Dr. Maya Angelou on June 21, 2010 in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. (Photo by Ken Charnock/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Glamour Magazine Honors The 2009 Women of the Year - Inside(10 of22)
NEW YORK - NOVEMBER 09: Honoree/Dr. Maya Angelou speaks onstage at the The 2009 Women of the Year hosted by Glamour Magazine at Carnegie Hall on November 9, 2009 in New York City. (Photo by Larry Busacca/Getty Images for Glamour Magazine) (credit:Getty Images)
2009 Great Sports Legends Dinner to Cure Paralysis - Inside(11 of22)
NEW YORK - OCTOBER 06: Honoree Dr. Maya Angelou attends The 24th Annual Great Sports Legends Dinner benefiting The Buoniconti Fund to Cure Paralysis (national fundraising arm of The Miami Project to Cure Paralysis) at The Waldorf=Astoria on October 6, 2009 in New York, New York. (Photo by Stephen Lovekin/Getty Images for The Miami Project) (credit:Getty Images)
Memorial Celebration For Odetta(12 of22)
NEW YORK - FEBRUARY 24: Writer Maya Angelou attends the memorial celebration for Odetta at Riverside Church on February 24, 2009 in New York City. (Photo by Astrid Stawiarz/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
President Bush Attends National Christmas Tree Lighting(13 of22)
WASHINGTON - DECEMBER 1: Poet Maya Angelou reads her poem 'Amazing Peace' during the 2005 Christmas Pageant of Peace and National Christmas Tree lighting ceremony December 1, 2005 on the Ellipse in Washington, DC. (Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Women In Film and Hallmark Channel Honor Dr. Maya Angelou - Inside(14 of22)
LOS ANGELES - NOVEMBER 9: Dr Maya Angelou speaks at The Women In Film and Hallmark Channel Reception honoring Dr. Maya Angelou, November 15, 2005 at The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences , Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Katy Winn/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Women In Film and Hallmark Channel Honor Dr. Maya Angelou - Inside(15 of22)
LOS ANGELES - NOVEMBER 9: Dr.Maya Angelou attends The Women In Film and Hallmark Channel Reception honoring Dr. Maya Angelou, November 15, 2005 at The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Katy Winn/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Museum Of Tolerance Unveils Exhibition(16 of22)
LOS ANGELES - FEBRUARY 10: (L-R) Dr. Maya Angelou and actor Billy Crystal share a moment after signing an exhibit entitled 'Finding Our Families, Finding Ourselves' at the Museum of Tolerance on February 10, 2003 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Frederick M. Brown/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
2002 Uncommon Height Gala(17 of22)
402674 07: Author Maya Angelou (R) and Dorothy Irene Heigh (C) pose for a group photograph during the 2002 Uncommon Height Gala March 20, 2002 in Washington, DC. The National Council of Negro Women celebrates womens history month by honoring outstanding African American women and highlighting the achivements of Dr. Height. (Photo by Manny Ceneta/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Maya Angelou(18 of22)
FILE - In this May 20, 2010 file photo, poet Maya Angelou smiles as she greets guests at a garden party at her home in Winston-Salem, N.C. Angelou, who first met Nelson Mandela in the early 1960s, praised him as a great man worthy of comparison to another icon she knew, the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. Our planet has lost a friend, Angelou said Friday, Dec. 6, 2013, during a telephone interview with The Associated Press. (AP Photo/Nell Redmond, file) (credit:AP)
Maya Angelou(19 of22)
FILE - This Nov. 21, 2008 file photo shows author Maya Angelou in Washington. Officials at Texas Woman's University have canceled a Wednesday, Feb. 22, 2012 appearance by Angelou, citing illness. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert, File) (credit:AP)
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In this Sunday, May 13, 2012 photo, Maya Angelou, laughs during her presentation, at Mount Zion Baptist Church in Winston-Salem, N.C. About 400 people attended the service, which was part of the church's celebration of its 123rd anniversary. (AP Photo/Winston-Salem Journal, Andrew Dye) (credit:AP)
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Montana State University president Waded Cruzado presents Maya Angelou with the MSU Presidential Medal for Global and Visionary Leadership Tuesday Sept. 13, 2011. (AP Photo/Montana State University - Kelly Gorham) (credit:AP)
Maya Angelou(22 of22)
Maya Angelou is helped to her seat on stage during a ceremony in the East Room of the White House in Washington, Tuesday, Feb. 15, 2011, where President Barack Obama presented her with a 2010 Presidential Medal of Freedom. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster) (credit:AP)