Rihanna flies back to Barbados after grandmother’s death

Rihanna's decision to fly home was reported after the news that she had pulled out of the Rock In Rio festival in Madrid, Spain. (File photo)

BRIDGETOWN, Barbados, Friday July 06, 2012 – Barbadian superstar Rihanna has reportedly made a flying visit back home to be with her mother following the death of her grandmother last weekend.

The 'We Found Love' hitmaker, said to be devastated by the passing of Clara 'Dolly' Braithwaite, cancelled professional commitments to jet to Barbados to spend time with her family.

Prior to her departure from London, the singer tweeted a picture of herself about to board a private plane and accompanied the shot with the caption: "Coming home to squeeze ya mama."

Rihanna's decision to fly home was reported after the news that she had pulled out of the Rock In Rio festival in Madrid, Spain, where she had been booked to make a headline appearance on Thursday.

Organisers of the festival have confirmed they are trying to book a replacement for the grieving star, but are also offering fans refunds.

Her performance at this weekend's Wireless Festival in London's Hyde Park is still scheduled to go ahead.

After hearing the news of her grandmother’s death, Rihanna went ahead with a performance in Sweden, following-up with a tribute to her relative on twitter.

She wrote: "Goodbye, gran gran Dolly. Get your beauty rest until I see you. Gran gran Dolly that is all."

The ‘You Da One’ chart-topper then posted a series of pictures of herself and her grandmother on the site, including some of her standing next to Dolly’s hospital bed, as well as childhood images with her beloved family member taken several years ago.

Affectionately called ‘Gran-gran Dolly’, Clara Brathwaite died on Saturday after a battle with cancer.

She was hospitalised at the Sloan-Kettering Memorial Hospital in New York, where her famous granddaughter was a frequent visitor.