Carnie Wilson breaks silence on dad Brian Wilson's death with heartbreaking message
Carnie Wilson is mourning the death of a legendary family member.
The Beach Boys co-founder Brian Wilson's eldest daughter shared an Instagram tribute Wednesday reacting to his death at age 82.
'I have no words to express the sadness I feel right now,' Carnie began her emotional message, alongside a throwback photo of herself with Brian and her sister Wendy Wilson.
9 Brian Wilson with his daughters Carnie and Wendy.
carnie68/Instagram
'My Father @brianwilsonlive was every fiber of my body,' Carnie continued. 'He will be remembered by millions and millions until the world ends. I am lucky to have been his daughter and had a soul connection with him that will live on always.'
The Wilson Phillips singer admitted that she's 'never felt this kind of pain before' in regards to her dad's death.
9 Carnie and Brian Wilson during 2005 MusiCares Person of the Year.
WireImage
'But I know he's resting up there in heaven,' she added, 'or maybe playing the piano for Grandma Audree his Mom. I will post something else soon but this is all my hands will let me type.'
'I love you Daddy….I miss [you so much] already,' Carnie concluded.
9 Carnie Wilson at the 'Hollywood Houselift With Jeff Lewis' premiere in Los Angeles in Dec. 2023.
Getty Images
Brian welcomed Carnie and Wendy, 55, with his first wife, Marilyn Wilson-Rutherford, whom he was married to from 1964 to 1979.
The siblings formed the pop music group Wilson Phillips with Chynna Phillips in 1989.
Carnie's daughter Lola Bonfiglio, 19, also paid tribute to Brian with a throwback photo of the music pioneer holding Bonfiglio as a baby at the piano.
9 Brian Wilson with his granddaughter Lola.
lola.bonfiglio/Instagram
'I love you grandpa. you changed the world. you have left an invaluable mark on me and so many others and i am blessed to have had you in my life,' Bonfiglio wrote. 'i will forever do music in your honor. rest in music paradise🕊️🤍.'
Brian's family confirmed Wednesday that the singer passed away.
'We are heartbroken to announce that our beloved father Brian Wilson has passed away,' their statement read. 'We are at a loss for words right now.'
9 Carnie Wilson, Brian Wilson, Melinda Wilson and Wendy Wilson in 2001.
WireImage
9 Wendy Wilson, Brian Wilson and Carnie Wilson perform in Los Angeles in March 2015.
FilmMagic
'Please respect our privacy at this time as our family is grieving. We realize that we are sharing our grief with the world,' the Wilsons added.
Brian was also a father to five adopted children that he shared with his second wife, Melinda Kae Ledbetter. The couple were married from 1995 until Ledbetter's death in 2024 at age 77.
Since Brian struggled with alcohol and drug use and became a recluse during the height of his fame, Carnie and Wendy were estranged from their famous dad while growing up. They even wrote the 1992 song 'Flesh and Blood' for Brian in hopes of reconciling.
9 Wendy Wilson, Brian Wilson, Carnie Wilson and Chynna Phillips in 2004.
FilmMagic
'We can't call him up and we can't see him,' Carnie told the Los Angeles Times in 1992. 'I guess we could, but we're so afraid of each other. I don't know what I would say to him.'
Brian later made amends with his two eldest children. In April 2024, Carnie told Us Weekly that Brian is to thank for the family's music talents.
9 Carnie Wilson at the premiere of the Disney+ documentary 'The Beach Boys' in May 2024.
Getty Images for Disney
'To sing with my dad, to sing with Lola and then all of us singing together [is great],' Carnie shared. 'Over Easter, we were singing some Beach Boy songs for him, for my dad, and he couldn't get over it. I said, 'Dad, Lola's voice.' He said, 'She's great. She's great.''
After Ledbetter's death last year, Brian's family filed to place him under a conservatorship and revealed that he was suffering from dementia.
9 Melinda Ledbetter, Brian Wilson and Carnie Wilson in 2015.
Getty Images
Brian founded the Beach Boys in 1961 with his brothers, Dennis and Carl. The group went from local California band to worldwide superstars, with hits including 'Surfin' USA,' 'I Get Around,' 'Help Me, Rhonda,' 'California Girls' and 'Good Vibrations,' all of which were written or co-written by Brian.
His bandmates Mike Love and Al Jardine both paid tribute to Brian on social media after news of his death.
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