We wanted him to know we loved him, even if we didn’t always know how to show it,” those were the words Carnie Wilson said about her father, Brian Wilson. When people talk about Brian Wilson, they often start with the music. But for his seven children, the story was more complex and a lot more human. Behind the fame was a man trying to navigate fatherhood while battling his own troubles.
Brian Wilson, co-founder of the Beach Boys and musical genius, died on June 11, 2025, at the age of 82. His family shared the news on Instagram, asking for privacy and saying they were “heartbroken” and “at a loss for words.” While fans remember him for changing the sound of American music, his children remember something else: the dad who tried, who failed, and who still mattered to them.
Brian Wilson had a complicated relationship with his first two daughters
Carnie and Wendy Wilson were born in the late ’60s, just as the Beach Boys were soaring. Their mom, Marilyn Wilson, tried to give them a steady home even as Brian’s life was filled with fame, pressure, and addiction. The sisters once described their childhood as “chaotic,” but they also said their mother worked hard to keep them grounded.
Brian’s struggles made it hard for him to connect with his daughters during their early years. Carnie once admitted that they were scared to reach out to him and didn’t know how to communicate with each other. But time slowly mended what was broken. In the 1990s, the three reconnected and even made music together. Carnie and Wendy later formed the pop group Wilson Phillips with Chynna Phillips.
Brian Wilson adopted five more children
In 1995, Brian married Melinda Ledbetter, and together, they adopted five children: Dakota, Daria, Delanie, Dylan, and Dash. The family lived more privately, though they occasionally joined him at music events and premieres.
Melinda, who passed away in early 2024, was known for being Brian’s rock. After her death, the children filed for a conservatorship to help care for their father, who had developed memory problems. The family said the decision was to keep life at home stable for Brian and the younger kids, with trusted caregivers already in place. Though these five children stayed out of the spotlight, they shared sweet moments with Brian, too. One picture he posted showed them all meeting Taylor Swift backstage in 2009.