Online tributes remember Rita MacNeil

Rita MacNeil came from the small community of Big Pond, Nova Scotia, but her music touched people around the world.

She was famously shy, but MacNeil said her parents helped her overcome that by constantly reminding her to believe in herself.

Hers is an unlikely success story. She didn't get her big break on the national stage until she was in her early 40s at Expo '86 in Vancouver.

In 1987 she earned her first of three Junos and went on to receive numerous other awards including the Order of Canada and five honorary doctorates.

In addition to her many music accomplishments, MacNeil demonstrated her sense of humour making a cameo appearance on the Canadian television showThe Trailer Park Boys.

In the episode, the boys board MacNeil's tour bus and force her and her crew to harvest marijuana.

In 1998 sheteamed up with Rick Mercer to film the opening of the East Coast Music Awards.

After news of her death became public, people turned to social mediasharing their grief and memories of the performer.

People remembered her incredible voice, her kindness and her Cape Breton and Canadian pride.