Sertanejo singer Lucas dies of heart attack in Portugal

The stage was set for the Festas da Senhora da Saúde e da Soledade in Esposende, Portugal, where a scheduled Saturday night performance stood in stark contrast to the silence of a private apartment in the early hours of that same day. On Saturday, August 15, 2026, the sertanejo singer Lucas suffered a fatal heart attack during the madrugada, hours before he was meant to perform.

The death of Edivaldo da Silva Rodrigues, known professionally as Lucas, at age 48, marks the end of the original Lucas & Matheus duo. Having lost his brother and musical partner Matheus five years earlier, Lucas was the final remaining founder of a professional stronghold for Brazilian music in Europe that lasted more than three decades.

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The duo's trajectory began in 1993 when Lucas and his brother, Edílson da Silva Rodrigues (Matheus), migrated from Presidente Prudente, São Paulo, to Lisbon. According to Movimento Country, few artists of the genre have managed to maintain a consistent circuit far from the national market for so long. By targeting the Brazilian expatriate community, the brothers transformed Portugal into their definitive artistic base.

Their commercial peak was defined by high-volume sales and digital longevity. The duo released dozens of CDs and earned gold, platinum, and diamond record certifications. Their track Porque Homem Não Chora has surpassed 13 million views on streaming platforms, according to reports from Uai and OFuxico, alongside other known hits such as Paciência.

The original partnership collapsed in stages:

• December 2020: Matheus, age 57, traveled from Portugal to Presidente Prudente, where he developed Covid-19 symptoms. After being intubated on December 16, he died from complications of the disease, according to G1.
• 2021–2026: Refusing to end the project, Lucas transitioned the brand into Lucas & Matheus Júnior, performing alongside his nephew, the son of the deceased Matheus.
• August 15, 2026: Lucas died of a heart attack in his residence in Portugal.

The editora Espacial, which managed the musician's path in Portugal, confirmed the death. In a statement released via Tvi, the editora expressed sadness and regret, describing the singer as a marking voice and an artist dear to the public.

The logistics of his passing now involve a repatriation process. While some early reports mentioned the body being transported to Brazil, G1 reports that the body is awaiting release in Portugal for cremation. Once completed, the ashes will be sent to Presidente Prudente. The family has not yet defined the date for the arrival of the ashes or the nature of the tributes in their hometown.

The death leaves the future of the Lucas & Matheus brand in the hands of a successor who is not an original founder. Matheus Jr., who stepped in to keep the repertoire alive for a fan base that had followed the brothers since the 1990s, now inherits the decision of whether to continue the project or allow the name to retire.

No official position regarding the continuation of the musical project has been disclosed.

Career milestones and European influence

The professional foundation of the duo was established shortly after their arrival in Lisbon, with the release of their debut album, Palavras ao Vento, in 1994. This launch initiated a period of expansion that saw the brothers secure a loyal following among Portuguese residents and Brazilian expatriates across Europe. According to Tvi, the partnership lasted more than three decades, during which they became a constant presence at European events.

The scale of their success is reflected in their recording history:

• Album output: Dozens of CDs released over more than three decades.
• Certifications: Gold, platinum, and diamond records.
• Digital reach: Porque Homem Não Chora exceeds 13 million views.
• Core market: Brazilian communities in Portugal and other European nations.

This longevity allowed the duo to operate as a rare example of a sertanejo act maintaining a consistent professional circuit outside the Brazilian national market. Following the death of Lucas, show venues in the north of Portugal have announced tributes for the coming days, as reported by Movimento Country.

Post-mortem proceedings

The immediate aftermath of the heart attack involves coordinating legal and sanitary requirements between two countries. While the singer's family initially worked on procedures to transport the body to Brazil, the current plan focuses on a local funeral and cremation in Portugal. According to G1, the body must first be released by Portuguese authorities before these services can take place.

The next step is the transfer of the ashes to Presidente Prudente, though the family has not yet set a date for this arrival or determined how the hometown will honor the musician.

The loss represents the disappearance of both original members of a formation that G1 notes lasted for more than 35 years. The finality of this cycle leaves the family to coordinate the remaining legal releases in Europe before the singer can be returned to the city where the brothers first began their professional steps.