Coleen Nolan has expressed her heartbreak following the death of her sister, Linda.
The singer died aged 65 “surrounded by her devoted family” following a long battle with cancer. The Blackpool star was part of the family group The Nolans, which also included her sisters Coleen, Maureen, Bernie, Denise and Anne.
They broke the news in an emotional statement, with the words shared on social media. Loose Women star Coleen reposted the Twitter/X statement, with a simple broken heart emoji.
The family’s statement read: “It’s with great sadness that we announce the passing of beloved Linda Nolan. She faced incurable cancer with courage, grace & determination, inspiring millions. Surrounded by family, she passed peacefully. A pop icon and beacon of hope, Linda will never be forgotten.”
Coleen’s son, and Linda’s nephew, Shane Nolan, paid tribute to his “beautiful aunty”. He wrote on X: “My beautiful Aunty Linda. [I] got to spend a few hours with her yesterday, which I’m very grateful for.”
Among those sharing tributes were the Loose Women panel. As the news broke, Christine Lampard, Myleene Klass, Kelly Brook and Nadia Sawalha shared their memories of Linda, who was a regular guest.
Christine said: “Some very sad news for you now. Linda Nolan has died at the age of 65.”
She shared the released statement and said: “Rest in peace Linda you will be deeply missed but never forgotten. We’ve been talking about Linda for so long with Coleen, you’re never prepared.”
Her manager Dermot McNamara said it was “with profound sadness that we announce the passing of Linda Nolan”. He added: “Over the weekend, Linda was taken by ambulance to Blackpool Victoria Hospital and admitted with double pneumonia.
“In the early hours of Tuesday morning, she went into a coma and into end-of-life care, surrounded by her devoted family. At around 10.20am on Wednesday, she passed peacefully, with her loving siblings by her bedside, ensuring she was embraced with love and comfort during her final moments, aged 65.
“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.”
Linda was first diagnosed with breast cancer in 2005, which resulted in her having a mastectomy. She was given the all-clear in 2011.
In 2017, she was diagnosed with secondary breast cancer, which was contained within her hip and pelvis. In 2020, the cancer spread to her liver and three years later to her brain – with scans showing the tumours had shrunk in December 2023.
Linda revealed she had started the cancer life-extending drug, called Enhertu, in August 2024, which she called “amazing”, and pushed for other people to have this “opportunity” to take the medication. Her sister Anne, whom she joined on TV series The Nolans Go Cruising, was diagnosed with breast cancer for the second time in 2020 and is now cancer-free.
Coleen also revealed she was diagnosed with skin cancer last year, and was using a chemotherapy cream to remove it. Their sister Bernie died of breast cancer in 2013 aged 52.
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