Aaliyah died aged 22 in a plane crash on August 25, 2001, and was best-known for her hits such as Try Again.

Samantha, 32, posted a message on her MySpace page paying tribute to the star.

She said: “It has been eight years since the world lost Aaliyah and still it feels like yesterday that my sister called me to tell me what she hoped was just a sick rumour.

“I didn’t know Aaliyah well, but we shared a best friend so I was lucky to have spent some time with her – enough time to know what an amazing person she truly was.

“People always seem to glorify those who have passed, but in her case no one is/was exaggerating. She was as humble as she was talented and sweet and funny and loved.

“I could go on and on, but I will let her music speak for itself.”