Linda Nolan has died with her famous sisters by her side following a 20-year battle with cancer.
The Dublin-born singer’s death was revealed in a statement released by her agent Dermot McNamara, who said that she passed away on Wednesday morning from double pneumonia amid her battle with cancer.
Four years before her devastating passing at the age of 65, Linda revealed the biggest regret of her life.
‘My only regret in life is that I didn’t have children and that is nobody’s fault but my own,’ she told RSVP Magazine.
‘The reason I didn’t have children is because I let my career get in the way and I thought, ”No, I will wait”. But I don’t dwell on it, and I don’t cry whenever I see a baby.’
Linda spoke to the publication around the time she was publishing her autobiography with her sister Anne Nolan, 74, who also received a cancer diagnosis.
The pair had time to think about their life decisions over the pandemic, allowing them to reflect on topics for their book – Stronger Together: How We’re Living While Fighting.
It was then that she mulled over her regrets about not becoming a mother, as well as topics such as the death of her husband Brian in 2007.
Linda Nolan (seen in 2023), who died on Wednesday following a 20-year battle with cancer, previously revealed that her biggest life regret was not becoming a mother
‘But personally, when I was asked to write the book, I wanted it to be honest and I wanted to mix the good with the bad,’ she told the publication.
She explained that one positive aspect of her diagnosis was that it brought herself and Anne closer together than ever with other family members, particularly her siblings Denise, Coleen, and Maureen.
Linda rose to fame alongside her sisters as a member of the girlband The Nolan Sisters, and after leaving the band pursued a career in stage musicals.
Linda’s agent said in a statement: ‘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.
‘As a member of The Nolans, one of the most successful girl groups of all time, Linda achieved global success; becoming the first Irish act to sell over a million records worldwide; touring the world and selling over 30 million records, with hits such as Gotta Pull Myself Together, Attention to Me and the iconic disco classic I’m In The Mood for Dancing.
‘Her distinctive voice and magnetic stage presence brought joy to fans around the world, securing her place as an icon of British and Irish entertainment.
The beloved Irish sister died with her sisters by her side (seen with Coleen Nolan attending the TV Choice Awards in 2017)
Pictured: The Nolans, formerly The Nolan Sisters, in London, December 1980. Left to right: Linda, Bernie (1960 – 2013), Maureen and Coleen Nolan
Linda Nolan has sadly passed away with her famous sisters by her side following a 20-year battle with breast cancer
‘Beyond her incredible career, Linda dedicated her life to helping others, helping raise over £20 million for numerous charities, including Breast Cancer Now, Irish Cancer Society and Samaritans, amongst countless others.
‘Her selflessness and tireless commitment to making a difference in the lives of others will forever be a cornerstone of her legacy.
‘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 15th January, 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.
‘Her family kindly ask for privacy at this difficult time, while they and Linda’s friends grieve the loss of an extraordinary woman. Details of a celebration of Linda’s remarkable life will be shared in due course.
‘Rest in peace, Linda. You will be deeply missed, but never forgotten.’
Following the news of Linda’s death, both sisters Coleen and Anne paid tribute by re-sharing the statement announcing her passing on X.
The singer’s death was revealed in a statement released by her agent Dermot McNamara, who revealed that she passed away on Wednesday morning following a battle with pneumonia
Linda rose to fame in the 1970s alongside her sisters Maureen, Coleen and Bernie as a member of the girlband The Nolan Sisters
Linda was born as the sixth of eight children to Tommy and Maureen Nolan on February 23 1959 in Dublin
Her parents’ relentless efforts to launch her daughters’ careers, which often led to late-night performances on school nights, soon steered the girls to international success
Linda left the group which made her famous in 1983, but later reformed with her sisters for several comeback performances (Linda is pictured top with her sisters in 1975)
With her new solo career came a new moniker – Naughty Nolan – earned after she posed for a naked photoshoot in which she was covered by just a sheet
Over the following years, she became a fixture of the stage scene, most notably owning the role of Mrs Johnstone in Blood Brothers for three years in London’s theatreland from 2000
Coleen posted a broken-hearted emoji, while Anne shared three hearts on her account.
Just last week, Linda told The Mirror that she had begun to feel better, after falling ill over Christmas with what she thought was a bout of flu.
In what would be final column for the publication, she wrote: ‘The doctors say it’s been a bad case of flu. I’d walk a few steps and struggle to catch my breath.
‘My legs were even more wobbly than usual and, although I try not to, I thought of how Bernie was at the end. You think, ”Oh my God, is this it?”
‘It was only on Monday I felt well enough to venture out. It feels like a whole new world out there. There’s nothing like the sensation of starting to feel better after an illness.
‘You’ve forgotten what it feels like to feel normal (well, I say normal?).’ In what will prove to be a poignant final line, she added: ‘I’m no fan of resolutions but here’s one: It’ll take more than flu to finish me off.’
In November, Linda admitted that she ‘never expected to make it to Christmas’, meaning that the festive period meant all the more to her.
She said: ‘I can’t wait [for Christmas]. Not to be morbid, but I didn’t think I’d make Christmas, so it’s a real bonus.
Linda married Brian Hudson, who was The Nolans’ tour manager, in 1981, two years after they first met, and he died in 2007
‘We love Christmas as a family and we’re all going to gather at [sister] Denise’s. It will be great. We all have such a good time when we get together so I can’t wait. I especially love seeing all the little ones and how excited they get.’
The sister of Loose Women panelist Coleen Nolan added that she hoped to be here to celebrate with her family next year as well before issuing a health update.
Linda told the publication that she was undergoing chemotherapy once every three weeks alongside having her bloods taken and if the results were positive, she was going on to have another round of treatment.
She added: ‘You have to be careful with chemo. I’ve lost my hair again – I’m bald for the fifth time and it still gets to me each time.
‘I’m distraught when it goes. Pain-wise I get a cramp in my leg which really hurts, but apart from that there’s no pain, which is good.’
Despite her health struggles Linda remained positive and told the magazine that she has been fighting cancer since 2005 and vowed to continue fighting as long as she could.
She described how on her 60th birthday she hoped to make it through to the next year and, defying the odds, has managed to make it to 65.
She added: ‘If you lose hope, you lose everything. It’s hard sometimes, but you’ve gotta have the stamina to go, ‘Yeah, I’m not going to lie in bed feeling sorry for myself.”
In 2021, Linda shared that one of her biggest regrets was that she and Brian never started a family, telling RSVP Magazine: ‘That is nobody’s fault but my own’
Linda added that she remains in good spirits by making sure she keeps busy and gets outside as often as she can.
She said she’ll even sit outside in her garden in the freezing cold because the fresh air makes her feel better.
Keeping busy is important as is getting outside. Even if it is sitting outside in your garden in this cold weather getting some fresh air always makes you feel better.’
Linda also previously shared that a recent fall made her realise she could no longer live independently and moved in with her sister Denise.
Linda previously begged cancer to leave her family alone in an interview with Good Morning Britain in August.
Linda fought back tears as she she shared her plea as she prepared to undergo treatment for a fifth time.
Linda originally received the all-clear from breast cancer in 2006, but was later diagnosed with incurable secondary cancer in 2017.
And in August, Linda issued an update that the tumours in her brain – which were thought to be stable – have grown.
Appearing on GMB, Linda revealed that she was being set on a new course of chemotherapy as a result of the update – and shared the news that she could face losing her hair once again.
She also revealed the physical toll the ongoing treatment was taking on her smile, pointing to a gap in her teeth and exclaiming: ‘Look, I’ve lost a tooth!’
Linda married Brian Hudson, who was The Nolans’ tour manager, in 1981, two years after they first met.
After she left the group, Brian became Linda’s tour manager, and they stayed married until his death from liver failure in 2007.
She later wrote of the loss: ‘I hate my life without Brian. Some nights I wake up and reach out for him before I remember he’s not there. I know I can survive. But life is so much less without him.’
Linda’s sisters also have a history of cancer, with herself, Coleen and Anne all receiving diagnoses and Bernie passing away from the disease in 2013.
Linda’s sister Anne was the first to be diagnosed with breast cancer in 2000, and while she got the all-clear, she was diagnoses again in April 2020.
Just days later Linda was told her secondary breast cancer had spread to her liver, so the sisters decided to undergo their chemotherapy together.
The sisters went on to write Stronger Together, an account of their journey with cancer with no-holds-barred descriptions of their treatments, the side effects, how they coped with losing their hair and how they had emerged on the other side.
The book is interspersed with recollections of how cancer has affected those close to them, including their late sister Bernie and also Linda’s late husband, Brian.
In 2013, the family were devastated when Linda’s sister Bernadette, better known as Bernie, died from breast cancer in 2013.
Bernie was first diagnosed with the disease in April 2010, and while she was later declared cancer-free following a mastectomy, in October 2012 it was revealed the disease had returned to her left breast, brain, lungs, liver and bones.
She passed away in July of the following year at the age of 52.
Linda was born as the sixth of eight children to Tommy and Maureen Nolan on February 23 1959 in Dublin.
Her parents – both singers – were keen to turn their young family into a musical troupe and Linda made her stage debut at the age of four.
Their relentless efforts, which often led to late-night performances on school nights, soon steered the girls to international success.
Among their chart hits were Gotta Pull Myself Together, Don’t Make Waves and Attention To Me, and they earned their own BBC TV specials.