VANESSA Hudgens' father has died.

The 27-year-old actress' announced on Twitter this morning that her beloved dad Greg Hudgens lost his battle with cancer last night, and she will dedicate her performance in tonight's 'Grease: Live' musical special - in which she plays Rizzo - to his memory.

She posted: "I am so sad to say that last night my daddy, Greg passed away from stage 4 cancer. Thank you to everyone who kept him in your prayers.

"Tonight, I do the show in his honor (sic)"

The 'High School Musical' actress - who is in a relationship with Austin Butler - revealed last August that 65-year-old Greg had been diagnosed with the disease.

Picking up the Breakthrough Performer award at the 2015 Industry Dance Awards & Cancer Benefit Show, she said: "Last year, my boyfriend, Austin, lost his mom, Lori, to cancer, and my dad has just been recently diagnosed with stage four cancer. Let me tell you, I hate cancer. I hate cancer with every cell of my being."

"If you would have asked me two years ago what I thought of cancer, I would have said, 'Man, you know, it sucks. It's a horrible disease.' But that's only because I had not been faced with it personally."

In addition to the actress, Greg is also survived by his wife Gina Hudgens and their other daughter, 20-year-old Stella.