Rush’s wife Kathryn Rogers announced the devastating news on his radio show.

She said: “It is with profound sadness I must share with you directly that our beloved Rush, my wonderful husband, passed away this morning due to complications from lung cancer.

“As so many of you know, losing a loved one is terribly difficult – even more so when that loved one is larger than life. Rush will forever be the greatest of all time.

“Rush was an extraordinary man, a gentle giant, brilliant, quick-witted, genuinely kind, extremely generous, passionate, courageous and the hardest-working person I know.”

READ MORE: Andrew Strauss urges people to get lung cancer test if they have a persistent cough