Linda Nolan, who has sadly passed away at the age of 65, was left heartbroken following the death of her soulmate husband, Brian Hudson. But she had, in recent times, felt ‘ready for love’ again

Linda Nolan was loved by many, but there was only one man in her life who held her full heart.

The Nolan sister, who sadly passed away today (Wednesday, January 15) at the age of 65, spoke just last year about wanting to find romance while living with incurable cancer after losing her beloved husband to the same disease.

Dublin-born Linda, who rose to fame alongside sisters and bandmates Anne, Denise, Maureen, Bernie and Coleen, was first diagnosed with breast cancer in 2005. A fall in 2017 led to the discovery of cancer in her pelvis, which had spread to her liver by 2020. In March 2023, the singer revealed that the cancer had spread to her brain.

Throughout her significant struggles, Linda remained a beacon of positivity, and even during gruelling treatment, she felt “ready for love” again. However, she knew all too well that no man could hold a candle to her husband of 26 years, Brian Hudson.

Singer Linda rose to fame with her close-knit sisters in The Nolans ( 
Image:
Andre Csillag/REX/Shutterstock)

Linda met Brian in 1977, back when he was The Nolans’ tour manager. They married two years later with her close-knit gang of sisters, of course, on hand for bridesmaid duties. There was plenty of joy ahead for the couple, as well as profound sorrow.

Brian died at the age of 60 in 2007 from cancer, all while Linda was dealing with her agonising breast cancer diagnosis. It was a devastating loss for Linda, who longed to have Brian back by he side as she navigated many trials and tribulations in the years that followed.

Brian was Linda’s tour manager ( 
Image:
Daily Record)

Sparks flew and they married in 1979 ( 
Image:
Mirrorpix)
As she told the Mirror in 2016: “I know my family are desperate for me to be happy again, it breaks their hearts as well as mine. But I just don’t ever see it happening. I miss Brian every second of the day. I know some people find it difficult to understand that the grief is still that raw, but it will always be raw because somebody you love isn’t with you. A little piece of me died with him.”

Concerned sister Coleen also opened up about Linda’s grief, reflecting that her sibling deserved to find love again. It wasn’t quite so simple for grief-stricken Linda, however, who at that point still carried a ‘token urn’ of some of his ashes wherever she went.

Linda’s sisters longed for her to find happiness again with someone else, but it just wasn’t that simple ( 
Image:
Mirrorpix)

By 2022, Linda had begun dabbling with online dating, with her ever-supportive sisters even setting her up on Tinder. However, after realising it wasn’t quite the right platform for her, and wanting something a little less casual, Linda signed up for some dating apps aimed at more mature people, revealing that she’d “spoken and met with a few people”.

In a piece penned for the Daily Express at the time, Linda reflected: “While nothing has come of it per se, the whole experience showed me that romance could be possible in my life again one day and made me think it would be nice to have some male company.

“I’m not talking about marriage or anything like that. I know I’ve already had the love of my life and have been incredibly lucky to have that. But perhaps there could still be someone else out there for me – someone to watch a film or go with a drink with, the companionship.”

And by March 2024, Linda felt ready to take the plunge and find love again, cheekily telling Hello! magazine: “If a George Clooney lookalike came along, it would be hard to resist, but if he had the personality of a mouse, I wouldn’t be interested. There has to be humour and romance. Not too much to ask for, is it?”

Brian’s sense of humour was one of his best attributes ( 
Image:
Sunday Mail)
Humour was one of the attributes Linda loved best about hubby Brian, recalling how Brian was left smiling away on their wedding day after her father accidentally dropped his false teeth down the loo and so had to give his father-of-the-bride speech with a “whistle”. She shared: “That’s how I’ll always remember him, always smiling.”

Ahead of her final Christmas, Linda spoke with her usual zest for life about her determination to make every last second count. In a poignant message of defiance, Linda told the Mirror: “I thought my 60th birthday would be my last, but I’m still here, five years later. It’s easy to sit back and get depressed about it, but I’m still going. My hope for 2025? To not die, obviously. I just want to be here with my family. I want us all to be here next year, that’s the goal.”

In a statement released to the Mirror, agent Dermot McNamara said: “It is with profound sadness that we announce the passing of Linda Nolan, the celebrated Irish pop legend, television personality, Guinness World Record-holding West End star, Sunday Times bestselling author and Daily Mirror columnist.”

The statement continued: “She passed peacefully, with her loving siblings by her bedside, ensuring she was embraced with love and comfort during her final moments. Linda’s legacy extends beyond her incredible achievements in music and entertainment. She was a beacon of hope and resilience, sharing her journey to raise awareness and inspire others. Rest in peace, Linda. You will be deeply missed, but never forgotten.”

For more information or support about cancer, you can contact Macmillan Cancer Support or you can call 020 7940 1760 for advice.