Brian Wilson, the legendary frontman of The Beach Boys, has shared the heartbreaking news of his wife Melinda Ledbetter’s passing.
On Tuesday, the 81-year-old musician took to social media to express his sorrow, writing a heartfelt message on X, formerly known as Twitter. “It hurts my heart. This morning, my beloved wife of 28 years, Melinda, died,” he began.
He continued, “All five of our kids and I are crying. We don’t know where we are. It wasn’t just my wife that Melinda was. She saved my life. I felt safe enough with her around to have a career. She told me to make the music that was important to me. She held me down. She did everything for us. There was no stopping her. She was one of the strongest women you could meet.”
Brian went on to describe Melinda as more than just a wife, mother, and savior; she was a spirit-filled woman on a mission to uplift everyone she encountered. “We will miss her, but we will always remember what she taught us,” he wrote. He reflected on the lessons she imparted: how to care for others selflessly, find beauty in difficult situations, and embrace individuality. “We love you, mom. Give Grandma Rose and Pa our love,” he concluded.
The post was accompanied by a photo of a young Melinda and another of the two of them together.
Fans quickly responded with an outpouring of love and support in the comments. “We love you, Brian,” one fan wrote. “So very sorry to hear this.” Another added, “Sending you much love. May you always feel her with you and find the strength to keep going.” Others expressed their shock and sadness at the news, with one fan saying, “I am so shocked and saddened to hear of Melinda’s passing. I cannot picture your pain.”
Brian and Melinda’s love story began in 1986 when she sold him a Cadillac. They dated on and off for three years before reconnecting by chance in Los Angeles in 1992. The couple married in 1995 and went on to have five children together: Dakota Rose, Daria Rose, Delanie Rose, Dylan, and Dash.
In a 1998 interview with People, Brian described his relationship with Melinda as unlike any he had ever experienced, calling her both a partner and a best friend.
Their relationship was depicted in the 2014 biopic Love & Mercy, which tells the story of Brian’s struggles with mental illness, his tumultuous relationship with his controlling therapist Dr. Eugene Landy, and how Melinda helped him escape Landy’s influence. Brian was portrayed by Paul Dano and John Cusack, while Elizabeth Banks played Melinda. The Wilson family famously sued Dr. Landy for “undue influence” and won the case in 1992.
