– Beach Boys Brian Wilson’s wife Melinda Ledbetter passes away at 77
– Melinda Ledbetter, wife of Beach Boys’ Brian Wilson, dies at 77.
Melinda Ledbetter, the wife of Brian Wilson, co-founder of the Beach Boys, has sadly passed away at the age of 77. The news was announced by Wilson himself in an Instagram post on January 30, accompanied by a statement from their children.
In the heartfelt caption, Wilson shared two photographs of Ledbetter. The first is a sepia-colored picture of his wife, who was not only his partner but also a talent agent. The second image shows Ledbetter standing behind Wilson with her hands resting on his shoulders.
“My heart is broken. Melinda, my beloved wife of 28 years, passed away this morning,” Wilson’s caption begins. “Our five children and I are just in tears. We are lost. Melinda was more than my wife. She was my savior.”
Wilson goes on to express how Ledbetter provided him with the emotional security he needed to have a successful career in music. She encouraged him to create the music that was closest to his heart and was his anchor. Wilson asks for prayers for his late wife and signs off with the words “Love and Mercy.”
At this time, the cause of Ledbetter’s death has not been shared.
Before her relationship with Wilson, Ledbetter had a career as a model and car salesperson.
The title “Love and Mercy” holds great significance in Wilson’s life. It is the name of a song he released in 1998, which became the opening track of his debut album. In 2014, their love story and Wilson’s music career were portrayed in the biographical film titled “Love & Mercy,” with John Cusack and Elizabeth Banks portraying Ledbetter.
Wilson and Ledbetter were married in 1995 and spent nearly 30 years together before her untimely death.
This was Wilson’s second marriage. He was previously married to Marilyn Rovell from 1964 to 1979, and they share musician daughters Carnie and Wendy Wilson of the trio Wilson Phillips.
Wilson and Ledbetter also had five adopted children together: Dakotah Rose, Daria Rose, Delanie Rae, Dylan, and Dash. Their joint statement regarding their mother’s passing was included in their father’s Instagram post.
“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,” their statement reads. “She was a force of nature and one of the strongest women you could come by. She was not only a model, our fathers’ savior, and a mother, she was a woman empowered by her spirit with a mission to better everyone she touched.”
The children continue to express their gratitude for the lessons their mother taught them and the love she showed them. They mention her ability to care for others without expecting anything in return, finding beauty in the darkest places, and living life authentically.
“We love you, Mom. Give Grandma Rose and Pa our love,” their statement concludes.
The passing of Melinda Ledbetter is a great loss to the Wilson family and the music community. Her impact as a wife, mother, and supporter of Brian Wilson’s music will be remembered and cherished. May she rest in peace..
– Beach Boys Brian Wilson’s wife Melinda Ledbetter dies
– Melinda Ledbetter, wife of Beach Boys Brian Wilson, passes away.