Brian WilsonThe family stayed by his side in his last year. The late Beach Boys Band member was survived by seven children who broke news of his death via his Instagram account on June 11, 2025.
“We are heartbroken to announce the passing of our beloved father, Brian Wilson,” the Wilson family wrote in the caption. “We are at a loss for words right now. Our families are grieving, so at this point, please respect privacy. We find ourselves sharing our grief with the world.”
Learn about Brian’s children, his marriage, and the following career.
Who was Brian Wilson’s wife?
That’s what Brian’s late wife was like. Melinda Ledbetter. The spouse, dated between 1986 and 1989, separated for about two years before rekindling love in 1991. Melinda was also Brian’s manager. The two were married until her untimely death in January 2024, but the “it’s not a good thing” artist was heartbroken, he wrote in an Instagram statement at the time.
“My heart is broken. My beloved wife, Melinda, 28, passed away this morning,” Brian’s statement read. “Our five children and I are just crying. We’re lost.”
Brian detailed that Melinda is more than his wife. “She was my savior,” he added. “She gave me the emotional security I needed to have a career. She encouraged me to make music that was closest to my heart. She was my anchor. She was everything for us.”
Brian Wilson’s children
Brian had seven children from different relationships. He shared his daughters, Carney and Wendy with his ex-wife Marilyn Wilsonand later adopted five children: Dakota Rose, Dahlia Rose, Delaney Rose, Dylan and Dash.
After his mother passed away in January 2024, Brian’s children released a statement that was included in his then-dad’s Instagram caption.
“It’s with a heartfelt heart that we let everyone know that our mom, Melinda Kay Ledbetter Wilson, passed away peacefully at her home this morning,” Wilson’s children wrote. “She was the power of nature and one of the strongest women you could come. She was not only a model, a savior of her father and a mother, but a woman who was empowered by her spirit. Pride.”
How did Brian Wilson die?
Brian’s family did not determine the cause of his death in an official statement. However, his fans know that the “Surfin’USA” hitmaker lived with neurocognitive impairment towards the end of his life.
