LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Country-pop singer Nicolette Larson,
best known for her hit version of Neil Young's "Lotta Love"
in the 1970s, has died at age 45, her publicist said Wednesday.

Publicist Michael Jensen said Larson died Tuesday at UCLA
Medical Center in Los Angeles from an abnormal accumulation of
fluid in the brain.

Larson originally was admitted to St. Joseph's Hospital in Burbank
this week with massive liver failure and was then transferred
to UCLA Medical Center, where she died, Jensen said.

An earlier report from a member of Larson's staff that she had
been admitted to the hospital with a brain seizure was incorrect,
he said.

"We were truly devastated when we heard the news that our
friend Nicolette Larson was admitted into the hospital," said
Graham Nash of Crosby, Stills & Nash.

He added, "The doctors did everything in their power to save
her, but sadly they could not."

The Montana-born Larson released six albums and won several
awards, including being named best new vocalist by the Academy
of  Country Music in 1984.

Since 1994, Larson divided her time between a grueling concert
schedule, appearing with Jimmy Buffet, The Beach Boys and
Willie Nelson, and acting. She played a nightclub singer in the
movie "Twins," starring Arnold Schwarzenegger and Danny
DeVito.

She began her career when she moved to California at age 21,
and shortly afterward landed a job with Hoyt Axton's band. She
soon appeared with Commander Cody and his Lost Planet Airmen
and became a top backup singer for such solo artists as
Emmylou Harris, Linda Ronstadt and Michael McDonald.

Within five years, Larson was at the top of the pop charts with
"Lotta Love," the Neil Young classic. That song propelled
Larson's career and her subsequent hits included "Rumba Girl,"
"Fool Me Again" and "I Only Want to Be With You."

Larson lived in Los Angeles with her husband, drummer Russell Kunkel,
and 7-year-old daughter Elsie May.

Reuters/Variety ^REUTERS@