Singer-songwriter Lesley Gore, best known for her hit anthems "It's My Party" and "You Don't Own Me," died of lung cancer at age 68.
Gore passed away at Manhattan's New York-Presbyterian Hospital, according to Lois Sasson, Gore's 33-year partner.
Gore rose to prominence at age 16 with her chart-topping anthem "It's My Party," which detailed the angst-filled story of a girl at her birthday party who discovers that her boyfriend is seeing someone else. The song topped the pop and R&B charts in 1963.
The song was followed up by a sequel, "Judy's Turn to Cry," which was also released in 1963 and continued the story of the birthday girl, this time about how she wins her boyfriend back.
Gore's other major hit, "You Don't Own Me," also released in 1963, proved to be an influential feminist anthem and was used in a number of current pop culture phenomena, including the second season of American Horror Story and the film Hairspray.
"She was a wonderful human being -- caring, giving, a great feminist, great woman, great human being, great humanitarian," Sasson told The Associated Press. Gore was a noted activist for feminism and LGBT rights.
In 2012, during the presidential election season, "You Don't Own Me" was repurposed as a public service announcement advocating for greater female representation in government and the advancement of women's reproductive rights. A number of celebrities appeared in the video, including Girls' Lena Dunham, Portlandia's Carrie Brownstein and Gore herself.
She is survived by Sasson, as well as her mother, Ronny, and a brother.
"You Don't Own Me" PSA from You Don't Own Me on Vimeo.