The music world is mourning the loss of a beloved figure. Brian Wilson, the legendary frontrunner of The Beach Boys, announced on social media the passing of his wife, Melinda Ledbetter. On Tuesday, the heart-wrenching news was shared with fans and followers on X, formerly known as Twitter.

Brian, 81, conveyed his deep sorrow in a heartfelt message to his followers. “It hurts my heart. This morning, my beloved wife of 28 years, Melinda, died,” he began. “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.”

Melinda was more than just a partner to Brian; she was his pillar of strength and inspiration. “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 wrote. “She was more than just a role model, our dad’s savior, and a mother. She was a spirit-filled woman on a mission to make everyone she touched better. We will miss her, but we will always remember what she taught us.”