Noel Gallagher Dedicates 'Half The World Away' To Late Friend Caroline Aherne

Noel Gallagher
Noel Gallagher performs at the 2016 Byron Bay Bluesfest, Australia, March 27. Gallagher dedicated "Half the World Away" to late comedian Caroline Aherne during a performance in Nashville on Saturday. Mark Metcalfe/Getty

Former Oasis star Noel Gallagher has paid tribute to actress and comedian Caroline Aherne, who died at the age of 52 after a battle with cancer on Saturday.

Taking to social media before a concert at the Ryman Auditorium in Nashville, Tennessee, Gallagher captioned a picture of his friend with the words, "I shall sing for you."

Pausing the set at his gig with backing band the High Flying Birds, Gallagher told the 2,400-strong crowd: "I want to dedicate the next song to a friend of mine who died this afternoon.

"Her name was Caroline and she was a very, very, very funny woman. She used this next song on a very, very, very, very brilliant sitcom in England called The Royle Family."

Then, he looked up, pointed to the sky and kicked off a performance of "Half the World Away," which was The Royal Family 's theme song.

Aherne died at her home in Greater Manchester, England, on Saturday. She had been diagnosed with lung cancer in 2014 and told family and friends it was terminal in May this year.

The award-winning comedian was famed for her roles in The Royle Family, The Mrs Merton Show and The Fast Show.

A statement issued by her publicist Neil Reading said: "Caroline Aherne has sadly passed away, after a brave battle with cancer. The BAFTA award-winning writer and comedy actor died earlier today at her home in Timperley, Greater Manchester. She was 52."

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