Elton John, Bob Dylan, John Stamos, John Cusack and More Pay Tribute to Brian Wilson: 'The Maestro Has Passed'

Stars are mourning the death of Brian Wilson after it was announced on Wednesday that he died. He was 82.
The family of Wilson, who was a founding member of The Beach Boys, confirmed his death on Instagram, writing: 'We are heartbroken to announce that our beloved father Brian Wilson has passed away. 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.'
More from The Hollywood Reporter
The Beach Boys Remember Brian Wilson: "He Was the Soul of Our Sound"
Ananda Lewis, Former MTV VJ and TV Show Host, Dies at 52
R. Kelly Seeks Release From Prison, Claiming Officers Tried to Have Him Killed by Fellow Inmate
Soon after the news broke, celebrities took to social media to share their condolences.
Elton John took to Instagram Wednesday, calling Wilson 'the biggest influence on my songwriting ever.'
'Brian Wilson was always so kind to me from the day I met him,' John said. 'He sang 'Someone Saved My Life Tonight' at a tribute concert in 2003, and it was an extraordinary moment for me. I played on his solo records, he sang on my album, The Union, and even performed for my AIDS Foundation.'
I grew to love him as a person,' John continued. 'He was a musical genius and revolutionary. He changed the goalposts when it came to writing songs and shaped music forever. A true giant.'
Bob Dylan posted his condolences on X as well.
'Heard the sad news about Brian today and thought about all the years I've been listening to him and admiring his genius,' Dylan wrote. 'Rest in peace dear Brian.'
John Stamos, who has performed with The Beach Boys, including their appearances on his hit sitcom Full House, shared a tribute on Instagram, which reads in part: 'Brian Wilson didn't just soundtrack my life…he filled it with color, with wonder, with some of the most unforgettable, emotional, joyful moments I've ever known. It's hard to put into words what it meant to stand beside him, laugh with him, play his music with him. Brian wasn't just a musical genius, he was a gentle, soulful, funny, complex, beautiful man. He heard things no one else could hear. He felt things deeper than most of us ever will. And somehow, he turned all of that into music that wrapped itself around the world and made us all feel less alone. I grew up worshipping the Beach Boys, never imagining one day I'd get to play with them, let alone call Brian a friend.'
John Cusack, who played Wilson in the biopic Love & Mercy, said in a statement to The Hollywood Reporter, 'The maestro has passed — Brian was a raw open heart with two legs — and an ear that heard the angels — quite literally. He was touched. To see him so happy with his wife Melinda — finally talking about and performing his unfinished masterpiece Smile, (after the release of the astounding Smile sessions) — to hear him be so open about the depth of his struggles so that the telling of his story might help others and take away the stigma of mental health — was to see a triumph of endurance and spirit, love and Mercy.'
Love & Mercy director Bill Pohlad also said in a statement to THR, 'Brian was a true genius and I was honored to have gotten to know him a bit in the making of LOVE & MERCY. What an extraordinary artist! I will miss his presence on this earth. So many of his songs come to mind when I think of him. GOD ONLY KNOWS WHAT I'D BE WITH OUT (him).'
Nancy Sinatra shared on Instagram: 'His cherished music will live forever as he travels through the Universe and beyond. God bless you, sweet Brian. One of the biggest thrills of my life was singing 'California Girls' with Brian.'
The Beach Boys themselves shared a tribute on Instagram, writing in part, 'Brian Wilson wasn't just the heart of The Beach Boys — he was the soul of our sound. The melodies he dreamed up and the emotions he poured into every note changed the course of music forever. His unparalleled talent and unique spirit created the soundtrack of so many lives around the globe, including our own. Together, we gave the world the American dream of optimism, joy, and a sense of freedom — music that made people feel good, made them believe in summer and endless possibilities.'
Actor Wendell Pierce wrote on X: 'Brian Wilson RIP 82 years old Troubled life Gotta put on Love & Mercy …I was lying in my room And the news came on TV A lotta people out there hurtin' And it really scares me Love and mercy, that's what you need tonight Love and mercy to you and your friends tonight…'
Ronnie Wood, a member of the Rolling Stones, also wrote on X: 'Oh no Brian Wilson and Sly Stone in one week ~ my world is in mourning. So sad.'
Lucian Grainge, Chairman and CEO of Universal Music Group, said in a statement: 'Brian Wilson was one of the most talented singer-songwriters in the history of recorded music. Not only did his songs capture the spirit of youth, joy and longing in ways that still inspire millions of fans around the world, his innovative work in the studio transformed the way musicians record even to this day. Brian made an indelible mark, and our thoughts are with his family in this time of loss.'
See the tributes below.
Best of The Hollywood Reporter
Most Anticipated Concert Tours of 2025: Beyoncé, Billie Eilish, Kendrick Lamar & SZA, Sabrina Carpenter and More
Hollywood's Most Notable Deaths of 2025
Hollywood's Highest-Profile Harris Endorsements: Taylor Swift, George Clooney, Bruce Springsteen and More

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Learn with AIFact CheckingText to SpeechAI Summary

Related Articles

Yahoo

30 minutes ago

• Yahoo

Dear Abby: My family thinks I'm making up my long-distance boyfriend

DEAR ABBY: I am a woman in my mid-20s who has had only abusive, toxic and horrendous relationships after entering adulthood. Since high school, I have spent years trying to find a 'good guy' who will treat me with respect and love me unconditionally. I made a friend online two years ago who I began recording music and podcasts with. He lives in another state. He's smart, witty and sarcastic, and we hit it off well as long-distance friends. I am smitten with him, and he is with me, and we are a 'thing' now. In a few months, he and a mutual friend are flying here to see me and to attend a concert. He says he wants to transfer schools and attend school here. As someone who's been single for three years, I feel ready to love again and be with someone, and my gut instincts and intuition feel safe with him. The only roadblock I'm worried about is my family. They don't believe my relationship is 'real.' They think I'm delusional for being with someone long-distance (even though my mom met my stepdad in a different state). I also don't know how I'll be able to explain this to my grandparents or my very strict, racist dad. How do I respond to people who call me delusional? — SEEMS LIKE THE REAL THING DEAR SEEMS: Although you have known this person for two years, you may be jumping the gun. While he may be everything you say he is (and he says he is), you can't be certain he is really Prince Charming until you meet in person. That he is considering transferring to a nearby school to be closer to you is a good thing. It will give you an opportunity to judge whether he is really the person he presents himself to be and allow your family to get to know him. It will also provide him an opportunity — if the romance continues to develop — to decide if he would welcome them as in-laws, in spite of the racism you so casually mentioned in passing. DEAR ABBY: I know I'll be chastised for having these thoughts, but I need advice. I thought I was supportive to my friend who lost her husband after a four-year battle with Alzheimer's disease. We have known each other for 25 years. She has become unresponsive and no longer asks me about anything. I check on her almost daily, but she never makes the first text. I also send cards, which she does not acknowledge. Her husband died more than a year ago, and I know I shouldn't judge her grieving, but I thought she would be better by this time. Widows ask why their friends desert them after a death, but what about the widows who desert friends? — LONELY IN THE EAST DEAR LONELY: Some individuals are more resilient than others. While you may have been able to get over the loss of a spouse, parent, child or pet quickly, others are not so lucky. The sad fact is, there is no set timetable for grieving. Invite her out to lunch so you can talk face to face instead of relying on cards and texts. If you do, it may help her to recover more quickly. Dear Abby is written by Abigail Van Buren, also known as Jeanne Phillips, and was founded by her mother, Pauline Phillips. Contact Dear Abby at or P.O. Box 69440, Los Angeles, CA 90069.

Yahoo

13 hours ago

• Yahoo

Actor ‘addicted' to Karen Read trial says he invited her to Mass. concert

John Stamos appears to be a fan of Karen Read. The actor, who is currently on tour with The Beach Boys, said he was 'addicted' to the trial during a concert at Lowell Memorial Auditorium on June 10. 'I'm addicted to the trial,' Stamos said before telling the crowd that he 'invited Karen Read' to the show, according to a TikTok that was reshared by The Young Jurks on Facebook. The audience erupted in cheers and laughter before Stamos shared that this July will mark his 40th year of playing with The Beach Boys. Since 1985, the 'Full House' star has sung and played various instruments with the band, including drums and various other percussion instruments. Stamos honored The Beach Boys' late co-founder Brian Wilson in an emotional tribute on his Instagram on June 11, the day Wilson died. 'Brian Wilson didn't just soundtrack my life … he filled it with color, with wonder, with some of the most unforgettable, emotional, joyful moments I've ever known," Stamos wrote, adding that 'it's hard to put into words what it meant to stand beside him, laugh with him, play his music with him.' 'His music made me feel things I didn't know how to say. It made me want to make people feel the way his music made me feel. So much of my life and career, so much of me, exists because of what Brian created,' the actor wrote. 'Rest easy, Brian. Thank you for the music. Thank you for the moments. I'll carry them with me -forever.' Meanwhile, jurors in the Karen Read trial continued their deliberations Monday morning. The jury began deliberating last Friday. The jury heard from dozens of witnesses over the eight weeks of the trial. Read, 45, is charged with second-degree murder, manslaughter while operating under the influence and leaving the scene of an accident causing injury or death in the death of her boyfriend, Boston Police Officer John O'Keefe. Prosecutors say Read backed her SUV into O'Keefe, then left him to die in the snow outside the home of a fellow Boston Police officer in Canton on Jan. 29, 2022. Read's defense has insisted there was no collision and others are responsible for O'Keefe's death. Famous drama actor battling ALS says he has lost use of his arm 'Bachelor' winner from Mass. splits from fiancé nearly 3 months after finale Emmy-nominated actor from 'Scarface,' 'Ghostbusters II' dies at 87 Legendary songwriter, co-founder of iconic '60s band dies at 82 Doechii calls out Trump's 'ruthless attacks' to stop Los Angeles protests Read the original article on MassLive.

a day ago

Jon Bernthal reported to join Tom Holland in upcoming 'Spider-Man: Brand New Day'

Jon Bernthal could be set to return as the Punisher in "Spider‑Man: Brand New Day," the next installment in the Sony/Marvel Spider‑Man franchise, according to " The Hollywood Reporter." Directed by Shang‑Chi filmmaker Destin Daniel Cretton, the film is scheduled to begin production in England this summer and is set for release on July 31, 2026, Sony announced via Instagram back in March. Bernthal previously portrayed Frank Castle in Netflix's "Daredevil and The Punisher," later reprising the role in "Daredevil: Born Again" on Disney+. While details remain under wraps, it is reported that the movie picks up after the events of "Spider‑Man: No Way Home," where the world's memory of Peter Parker's identity as Spider‑Man was erased. Tom Holland will return as Peter Parker, with Zendaya and Jacob Batalon expected to reprise their roles as MJ and Ned. The extent of their involvement has not been confirmed. "Stranger Things" star Sadie Sink and "The Bear" actress Liza Colón-Zayas are also joining the cast in undisclosed roles, according to IMDB. "Spider‑Man: Brand New Day" will be the fourth solo Spider‑Man film starring Tom Holland and the first directed by Cretton.