Who was Brian Wilson married to? All about his wives and kids as legendary Beach Boys creator dies at 82

Brian Wilson, 82, has recently passed away on June 11, 2025. The singer was married to Melinda Ledbetter before his death and was the father of seven children.

The news was first revealed by Al Jardine, a member of the band The Beach Boys, where Brian was also the co-founder. A post was additionally shared by the artist’s family through Instagram, with a picture where Wilson was sitting on a bench at an outdoor location.

“We are at a loss for words right now. Please respect our privacy at this time as out family is grieving. We realize that we are sharing our grief with the world. Love & Mercy”, the caption reads in part.

Although he accumulated a huge fan base over the years for his association with The Beach Boys, Brian Wilson reportedly struggled with some health issues, such as neurocognitive disorder.

Back in February last year, his family also spoke to People magazine, stating that their representatives, LeeAnn Hard and Jean Sievers, would be his co-conservators.

The family opened up on the reasons for doing the same, as they said,

“This decision was made to ensure that there will be no extreme changes to the household and the Brian and the children living a home will be taken care of and remain in home where they are cared for by Gloria Ramos and the wonderful team at the house who have been in place for many years helping take care of the family.”

The family filed for conservatorship, claiming Brian Wilson couldn’t take care of his basic needs. According to People magazine, his doctor said Brian was aware of what was happening but too distracted to attend the court hearing.

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Brian Wilson was the father of seven children: Personal life and other details explained

The Inglewood, California native’s love story with wife and talent manager Melinda Ledbetter dates back to 1986. Notably, the latter approached Brian at the time to sell her car, and Melinda once recalled in an interview with ABC News that she was immediately attracted to Wilson’s personality.

According to People magazine, Brian Wilson and Melinda Ledbetter began dating the same year and exchanged vows around nine years later. The wedding ceremony was held in California, and Melinda eventually started serving as Wilson’s manager at one point.

Although the pair did not have any biological children, they adopted five kids. While the identities of the children remain unknown for now, the duo has been spotted attending certain events alongside their parents. Following the demise of Melinda in January 2024, Brian Wilson included a statement from the kids in his tribute post.

“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 kids mentioned.

On the other hand, the musician had two daughters, Carnie and Wendy, born from his first marriage to singer Marilyn Rovell, as stated by People magazine. The daughters initially followed their father’s footsteps, forming a band called Wilson Phillips. The group also included singer and actress Chynna Phillips.

The band’s self-titled debut album was able to reach on top of the Billboard charts. They also have many singles in their credits, including Impulsive, Daniel, and Give It Up. Carnie and Wendy have also established their career on television, appearing on shows like Gone Country, Outsider’s Inn, and The Newlywed Game.

Meanwhile, Brian Wilson’s cause of death has not been confirmed by his family members until now. Further updates on the same are currently awaited.