Beach Boys star Brian Wilson has paid tribute to his wife Melinda Ledbetter, who has died at the age of 77.
The 81-year-old musician married Ledbetter - who was also his longtime manager - in 1995, and the couple adopted children Dakota Rose, Daria Rose, Delanie Rose, Dylan, and Dash.
On Tuesday (January 30), Wilson took to Instagram to share the devastating news, telling his followers that his "heart is broken" at the loss of his "beloved wife" of 28 years.
"Our five children and I are just in tears. We are lost," the singer captioned under a set of throwback shots of his wife. "Melinda was more than my wife. She was my savior. She gave me the emotional security I needed to have a career. She encouraged me to make the music that was closest to my heart. She was my anchor. She was everything for us. Please say a prayer for her. Love and Mercy, Brian."
Check out Wilson's post below:In a further message, Wilson and Ledbetter's adopted children revealed that their loving mother passed away peacefully at home on Tuesday morning.
"She was a force of nature and one of the strongest women you could come by. She was not only a model, our father’s savior, and a mother, she was a woman empowered by her spirit with a mission to better everyone she touched," they wrote in another message.
"We will miss her but cherish everything she has taught us. How to take care of the person next to you without expecting anything in return, how to find beauty in the darkest of places, and how to live life as your truest self with honesty and pride. We love you mom. Give Grandma Rose and Pa our love," they concluded.
The 'You Still Believe In Me' musician and Ledbetter initially crossed paths in 1986 when she sold him a Cadillac, which led to them dating on and off for three years. The couple decided to rekindle their romance in 1992 after bumping into each other in Los Angeles and tied the knot three years later.
The couple's relationship was portrayed in the biopic Love & Mercy, which starred Paul Dano as the young Wilson and John Cusack and Elizabeth Banks as the older Wilson and Ledbetter.
The movie gave viewers a deep dive into the 'God Only Knows' artist's battles with mental illness, and chronicled his complex relationship with his therapist and legal guardian Dr. Eugene Landy (Paul Giamatti). Ledbetter eventually helped free Wilson from Landy's control.
In 1991, Wilson's family sued the therapist, contending that he'd exercised "undue influence" over the singer's life. Their lawsuit was successful, and Landy was banned from contacting Wilson.
Wilson in 1998 described Ledbetter as "a partner who's also a best friend" during an interview with PEOPLE, adding: "I've never had a relationship with a girl like we have."
Meanwhile, Ledbetter told the publication that her significant other had problems dealing "with the world's insanity" but was "probably the most sane person" she knew.
Our thoughts are with Melinda's family and friends at this time.
