“My heart is broken,” the US musician wrote on Instagram on Tuesday, “Melinda, my beloved wife of the past 28 years, died this morning.” A cause of death was initially not known. It was a peaceful death, according to a message from their five children, which was also published on Wilson’s Instagram account.
Ledbetter married the musician from the band The Beach Boys (“Surfin’ USA”) in 1995 and also took over his management. She was 77 years old.
Woman gave Wilson emotional security
“Melinda was more than just my wife,” Wilson continued. “She was my savior.” The success of the Beach Boys and the self-imposed pressure of competition with the Beatles had caused problems for the musician throughout his career. He had nervous breakdowns, was addicted to pills and drugs, suffered from anxiety and fell out with his bandmates. Ledbetter gave him emotional security for his career and encouraged him “to make the music that was most important to me,” the 81-year-old wrote.
Ledbetter’s children also wrote that she was “our father’s savior.” “We will miss her, but will cherish everything she taught us: how to care for the person at your side without expecting anything in return.” The couple had adopted five children, the New York Times reported, citing Wilson’s manager Jean Sievers. They therefore have Wilson’s last name.
