Brian Wilson's Heartbreaking Tribute to Wife Melinda When She Died First
Before Beach Boy frontman Brian Wilson died at the age of 82, he weathered the death of his wife, Melinda.
When she died, Wilson penned a loving tribute to her. In that tribute, he underscored her importance to him and their kids.
"My heart is broken. Melinda, my beloved wife of 28 years, passed away this morning. Our five children and I are just in tears. We are lost. Melinda was more than my wife. She was my savior," Brian Wilson wrote on Instagram in January 2024. She was 77.
"She gave me the emotional security I needed to have a career. She encouraged me to make the music that was closest to my heart," the post added. "She was my anchor. She was everything for us. Please say a prayer for her. Love and Mercy Brian."
Now, Brian Wilson's kids are similarly mourning his death with a heartfelt post on his Instagram page.
"We are heartbroken to announce that our beloved father, Brian Wilson, has passed away. We are at a loss for words right now," the June 11 post reads. "Please respect our privacy at this time as our family is grieving. We realize that we are sharing our grief with the world. Love & Mercy."
The post about Melinda's death also contained a message from the couple's kids.
According to People, Brian Wilson had seven kids. His most famous children, Wendy and Carnie Wilson, were his daughters with his first wife, Marilyn Wilson. They broke up in 1969, and he married Melinda Ledbetter in 1995, and would adopt five kids with her, People reported. They are Dakota Rose, Daria Rose, Delanie Rose, Dylan and Dash.
"It is with a heavy heart that we let everyone know that our mom, Melinda Kay Ledbetter Wilson passed away peacefully this morning at home. She was a force of nature and one of the strongest women you could come by," the kids' post read.
"She was not only a model, our father's savior, and a mother, she was a woman empowered by her spirit with a mission to better everyone she touched. We will miss her but cherish everything she has taught us," the post continued.
"How to take care of the person next to you with out expecting anything in return, how to find beauty in the darkest of places, and how to live life as your truest self with honesty and pride. We love you mom. Give Grandma Rose and Pa our love," it says.
Wilson's Instagram page posted a series of wedding and other photos showing Brian and Melinda.
"Thirty years ago today in 1995, Brian and Melinda were married! Said Brian: 'Melinda and I got married at a chapel in Palos Verdes. There were about one hundred fifty people at the wedding,'" the post reads.
"There were only supposed to be about a hundred, but people kept coming, which was a little surprising for a Monday night in February. My brother Carl was my best man. Afterward, we went to the Hotel Bel-Air for music and food and danced and had a good time," it says.Brian Wilson's Heartbreaking Tribute to Wife Melinda When She Died First first appeared on Men's Journal on Jun 11, 2025
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Hypebeast
3 hours ago
- Hypebeast
Ryan Murphy Reveals First Look Images at Upcoming FX Series 'American Love Story'
Summary Ryan Murphyis expanding his acclaimedAmerican Storyanthology universe, and the first captivating images from the inaugural season ofAmerican Love Story, focusing on the iconic and ultimately tragic romance of John F. Kennedy Jr. and Carolyn Bessette, have just been released. Shared by Murphy himself via social media, these initial glimpses offer a compelling preview of the series set to premiere during February 2026. The anticipation forAmerican Love Storyhas been palpable since its announcement, promising to delve into the whirlwind courtship, marriage, and untimely deaths of the couple often regarded as American royalty. The newly revealed 'camera test' photos are already drawing significant attention for their striking fidelity to the beloved '90s figures. Leading the cast as the ill-fated couple are newcomer Paul Kelly as John F. Kennedy Jr. and Sarah Pidgeon as Carolyn Bessette. The first-look images were revealed on Instagram, which include both still photos and brief costume test footage, immediately showcase the remarkable resemblance of the actors to their real-life counterparts. The series is poised to explore the pressures of their highly scrutinized relationship under the relentless media spotlight, alongside the demands of their individual careers and rumored family discord. The narrative will lead to their tragic demise in the 1999 plane crash. Adding further star power to the ensemble, the series also features Naomi Watts as Jackie Kennedy Onassis and Grace Gummer as Caroline Kennedy. Other notable cast members include Alessandro Nivola as fashion mogul Calvin Klein and Leila George as his wife, Kelly Klein, further populating the world of '90s elite society. Filming has recently commenced in New York City and the series is expected to release on Valentine's Week next year.
Yahoo
3 hours ago
- Yahoo
Bob Dylan, 84, Makes Beautifully Heartfelt Tribute to Brian Wilson
Bob Dylan, 84, Makes Beautifully Heartfelt Tribute to Brian Wilson originally appeared on Parade. Yesterday, the world mourned the loss of one of the single greatest songwriters we had the privilege to experience, and that was Brian Wilson, of The Beach Boys. His career, spanning 60 years, has completely changed music. So many different facets of the music world owe so much to Wilson, with "Pet Sounds" being considered one of the greatest albums of all time. Wilson's beautiful writing style has created so many incredible songs throughout the years, and the music industry should be forever grateful for that. Artists all over the music world have been coming out to share their feelings on the man and pay tribute. His impact is truly being felt in this moment, with several of music's greatest writers and composers bending the knee to the incredible talent that has been lost. One of these musicians to come out and speak on Wilson's passing is legendary songwriter, Bob Dylan. He posted a brief, yet touching tribute on his X account yesterday evening. Fans were touched by this recognition from artist to artist, leaving comments about the tribute. "Yes, Brian gave us a truly beautiful gift with his music. May he rest peacefully now, God bless." "The music never aged. Rest in peace." "He gave us little slices of the twinkle in god's eye…. Hope you are loving life Bob." It's a tremendous loss to all of music to see him gone. I know I'll certainly have his music on loop for the foreseeable future. Rest in peace, Brian.🎬SIGN UP for Parade's Daily newsletter to get the latest pop culture news & celebrity interviews delivered right to your inbox🎬 Bob Dylan, 84, Makes Beautifully Heartfelt Tribute to Brian Wilson first appeared on Parade on Jun 12, 2025 This story was originally reported by Parade on Jun 12, 2025, where it first appeared.
Yahoo
3 hours ago
- Yahoo
'80s Metal Legend Celebrates the Legacy of Brian Wilson: 'A Huge Inspiration'
'80s Metal Legend Celebrates the Legacy of Brian Wilson: 'A Huge Inspiration' originally appeared on Parade. Inspirations can often come from unlikely places. One inspiration that has never surprised me, however, is Brian Wilson of The Beach Boys. You would be hard pressed to find a single musician working today who doesn't owe Wilson some kind of gratitude for all he has done. He completely changed modern music as we know it. We're really starting to see the amount of people he influenced now that he has unfortunately passed away. People have been coming from all parts of the music world to celebrate the man, but one of the more surprising ones is James Hetfield of Metallica. You wouldn't expect the sweet, gorgeous harmonies of Wilson's writing to have an influence on the thrash metal sound of Hetfield's songs, but they did, and they inspired something deeper with him. Take a look. "One of the most amazing songwriters on the planet, not just American, but you know, all the stuff and trials and tribulations that he went through, for me, that's a huge inspiration... not that I'm comparing myself, but we all go through our tough stuff mentally. I think 'God Only Knows' that song is like, one of the best written songs ever, and thank you Brian for that. May you rest in peace, we're gonna miss you." You can see the impact Wilson had on the metal star. Fans were quick to leave their reaction to this connection across genres in the comments. "Respect." "Brian was a musical genius. Look at all of the musicians across different genres coming out to say the impact his music had on their lives. 🎶 🥰" "'God Only Knows' is the only Beach Boys song I ever enjoyed. Just beautiful." I'm sure we'll hear more and more about the impact Brian Wilson left on the music industry in the days to come. He certainly deserves all the recognition in the world.🎬SIGN UP for Parade's Daily newsletter to get the latest pop culture news & celebrity interviews delivered right to your inbox🎬 '80s Metal Legend Celebrates the Legacy of Brian Wilson: 'A Huge Inspiration' first appeared on Parade on Jun 12, 2025 This story was originally reported by Parade on Jun 12, 2025, where it first appeared.
