Natalie Cole gets kidney transplant

LOS ANGELES, May 20 (UPI) -- U.S. singer Natalie Cole, who has been undergoing dialysis three times a week since September, has had a kidney transplant, her publicist said.

The Grammy Award-winning recording artist and daughter of the late performer Nat King Cole was diagnosed with hepatitis C in February 2008. She has previously said she believes she contracted the illness during her battle against cocaine and heroin addiction.

Her representative issued a statement to CNN Wednesday, saying the 59-year-old singer underwent kidney transplant surgery Tuesday and was "resting comfortably" at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles.

"Ms. Cole's physicians have advised her to postpone her summer tour dates as she recuperates for the next three to four months," the statement said.