Brian Wilson’s death at 82 has brought his complicated relationship with daughters Carnie and Wendy Wilson back into the spotlight.
The legendary Beach Boys frontman, who passed away on June 11, 2025, had a long, public battle with mental illness and substance abuse, factors that deeply affected his relationship with his family.
Wilson had Carnie, 57, and Wendy, 55, with his first wife Marilyn Wilson, singer with ’60s girl group The Honeys. The marriage ended in 1979, after years marked by instability and Brian’s mental health struggles, including a diagnosis of schizoaffective disorder. The divorce also triggered a long period of estrangement between him and his daughters.
During their youth, Carnie and Wendy had limited contact with their father. “We can’t call him up and we can’t see him,” Carnie said in a 1992 interview with the Los Angeles Times. “We’re so afraid of each other.”
The emotional distance was echoed in Wilson Phillips’ 1992 song “Flesh and Blood,” which addressed their father directly. Lyrics like, “If you never plan to come out of your shell / You’re never gonna get well,” painted a raw picture of the pain they carried. Carnie later admitted she didn’t know how Brian would respond to the song, either with tears or anger.
Despite the hurt, there was a turning point in 1994 when the family began to reconnect. Carnie spoke to People at the time about hopes of working together musically. “Wendy and I are doing demo tapes… and I hope Daddy will provide background harmonies.”
Their bond gradually strengthened. While Brian remarried in 1995 to Melinda Ledbetter and adopted five more children, his connection with Carnie and Wendy improved, especially through shared musical moments. In later years, Brian became a proud fan of Wilson Phillips.
“He really does love Wilson Phillips,” Carnie told UsWeekly in 2024. “He’s always asking, ‘How’s Wilson Phillips?’ I go, ‘We’re great, Dad.’ He’s funny. He’s very proud.”
Even after being diagnosed with a dementia-like condition, Brian still enjoyed singing with his daughters. Songs like Surfer Girl, In My Room, and California Girls became familiar comfort zones where their bond deepened.
Though Carnie and Wendy originally kept their famous last name at arm’s length, determined not to ride on their father’s coattails, they later embraced their shared legacy. “We didn’t want people to think that they were the reasons for our success. Because they weren’t,” Carnie once said.
Still, by the end, their music had become a way back to each other. Brian Wilson’s legacy is more than his hits, it’s also the fractured and slowly healed connection with his daughters.
Jamie Wells has a knack for getting the inside scoop on Hollywood’s biggest stars and up-and-coming talent. With a sharp eye for industry trends and an ear for viral moments, Jamie covers everything from red-carpet events to behind-the-scenes drama in movies, TV, and celebrity culture.
