Brian Wilson’s Secret Family Legacy: The Untold Stories of His 7 Remarkable Children (Including the Talented Sisters Who Shocked the Music World With Their Own Chart-Topping Band) 

Brian Wilson has died at 82 years old, his family announced on June 11

Rebecca Aizin is an Associate Editor at PEOPLE. She has been working at PEOPLE since 2023. Her work has previously appeared on Elle, HGTV and Backstage.

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Brian Wilson, Melinda Ledbetter and children arrive at The 54th Annual GRAMMY Awards on February 12, 2012 in Los Angeles, California.Credit : Lester Cohen/WireImage

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Brian Wilson, who co-founded the Beach Boys, has died at 82 years old, his family announced on June 11
Over the years, he welcomed seven children — two with his first wife Marilyn Wilson and five with his second wife Melinda Ledbetter
His daughters Carnie and Wendy are members of the band Wilson Phillips

Brian Wilson was a father to seven children.

The Beach Boys co-founder’s family announced in a June 11 Instagram post that Brian had died.

“We are heartbroken to announce that our beloved father Brian Wilson has passed away,” the statement read. “We are at a loss for words right now. Please respect our privacy at this time as our family is grieving. We realize that we are sharing our grief with the world. Love & Mercy.”

The singer welcomed his first daughter, Carnie, in 1968 and his second daughter, Wendy, in 1969 with his ex-wife Marilyn Wilson. He later split from Marilyn in 1979 and married Melinda Ledbetter in 1995 after dating on and off for nine years. Together, they adopted five children: Dakota Rose, Daria Rose, Delanie Rose, Dylan and Dash.

Though Carnie and Wendy have been in the spotlight as two-thirds of the band Wilson Phillips, Brian’s five younger children have remained mostly private.

From their music careers to Brian’s decision to adopt, here’s everything to know about Brian Wilson’s children.

Carnie and Wendy were born within a year of each other

Wendy Wilson, Brian Wilson and Carnie Wilson backstage at The Hollywood Bowl Fifth Annual Hall Of Fame Concert.Mathew Imaging/FilmMagic

Brian welcomed his first child, Carnie, on April 29, 1968. His second daughter, Wendy, followed shortly after on Oct. 16, 1969. As the two were growing up, Brian was already world-famous with his band, so the sisters had a “chaotic” childhood, they shared on The Kelly Clarkson Show in May 2020.

Despite all the wild moments that came with being Brian’s children, Carnie said their mother prioritized keeping their lives as normal as possible.

“She was really great at keeping it steady and being real about things,” Carnie said of Marilyn. “Not everything is normal and what is normal? Building our self-esteem as people and showing us love, and now we instill that in our kids.”

Carnie and Wendy had a strained relationship with their dad growing up

Wendy Wilson, Brian Wilson and Carnie Wilson perform onstage at Brian Fest: A Night To Celebrate The Music Of Brian Wilson on March 30, 2015 in Los Angeles, California.Jeff Kravitz/FilmMagic

Brian struggled with alcohol and drug use as Carnie and Wendy were growing up which led to difficult relationships with his daughters. The two wrote a song in 1992 dedicated to their father, “Flesh and Blood,” in the hopes that it would bring them closer to him.

“We can’t call him up and we can’t see him,” Carnie told the Los Angeles Times in 1992 of Brian, with whom she hadn’t spoken in two years at the time. “I guess we could, but we’re so afraid of each other. I don’t know what I would say to him.”

Two years later, Brian reunited with his daughters whom he had scarcely seen for 20 years other than at “big dinners and things,” Carnie told PEOPLE in 1994. They began collaborating on music together, which Carnie said she hoped to continue and include Wendy in the future.

“Wendy and I are doing demo tapes for our debut album as a duo, and I hope Daddy will provide background harmonies,” Carnie said. “I know that one day we’ll all work together.”

Carnie and Wendy were part of Wilson Phillips

Wendy Wilson and Carnie Wilson at the What A Pair! Benefit Concert on May 31, 2014 in Beverly Hills, California.Amanda Edwards/WireImage

The band Wilson Phillips came together in 1989 as a trio including the two older Wilson sisters and Chynna Phillips, the daughter of John and Michelle Phillips of The Mamas & The Papas.

Though the trio stopped making music in the 1990s, as of 2020, they continued to get together once a month to perform a show, they shared on The Kelly Clarkson Show. Now, Wendy is focused on raising her family and her skincare line while Carnie is passionate about baking.

Brian was a grandfather

Both Wendy and Carnie have families of their own. Carnie married musician and producer Robert Bonfiglio in 2000 and the couple have two daughters together: Lola and Luciana.

Wendy married her husband Daniel Knutson in 2002 and is a mother of four boys: Leo, Beau and twins Will and Jesse. In 2008, Wendy made her national TV debut on Supernanny when she joined the show seeking help for her four then-toddlers and babies.

Brian adopted five more children after marrying Melinda

Melinda Ledbetter and Brian Wilson with children Dash Wilson, Dakota Wilson, Dillon Wilson and Daria Wislon attend the Roadside Attractions’ Premiere Of “Love & Mercy” on June 2, 2015 in Beverly Hills, California.Todd Williamson/Getty

Over the course of their 28-year marriage, Brian and Melinda adopted five children together.

“About a year into our marriage, we decided we wanted children, and we didn’t get married til I was 48,” Melinda explained in a 2004 interview with Larry King. “We decided we would adopt.”

“I was thrilled to be able to do it,” Brian added.

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Though they have stayed out of the public eye, they have accompanied their father to events like film premieres and the Grammy Awards.

His younger children are Taylor Swift fans

Brian Wilson and Melinda Ledbetter with family and friends attending Taylor Swift’s 2009 Fearless show at the Staples Center in Los Angeles, CA.Brian Wilson Instagram

After Taylor Swift was announced as TIME’s Person of the Year in December 2023, Brian posted a throwback photo of himself and some of his younger kids meeting the popstar in 2009.

The crew, along with Brian and Melinda, met Swift backstage at the Los Angeles stop of her Fearless tour.

Brian’s children filed for a conservatorship after Melinda died

Brian Wilson with his kids and grandchildren on Father’s Day in 2014.Brian Wilson Facebook

After Melinda died on Jan. 30, 2024, Brian posted a touching tribute to his wife on Instagram and included a note from their children.

“It is with a heavy heart that we let everyone know that our mom, Melinda Kay Ledbetter Wilson passed away peacefully this morning at home,” his kids wrote. “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.”

Following Melinda’s death, Brian’s family filed for a conservatorship for the singer, stating that he suffers from a “major neurocognitive disorder (such as dementia),” per the court filings.

“Following the passing of Brian’s beloved wife Melinda, after careful consideration and consultation among Brian, his seven children, Gloria Ramos and Brian’s doctors (and consistent with family processes put in place by Brian and Melinda), we are confirming that longtime Wilson family representatives LeeAnn Hard and Jean Sievers will serve as Brian’s co-conservators of the person,” Brian’s family said in a statement to PEOPLE in February 2024.

“This decision was made to ensure that there will be no extreme changes to the household and Brian and the children living at home will be taken care of and remain in the 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 statement continued.

Brian later died at 82 years old, his family announced on June 11, 2025.