Brian, 81, conveyed his deep sorrow in a heartfelt message to his followers. “It hurts my heart. This morning, my beloved wife of 28 years, Melinda, died,” he began. “All five of our kids and I are crying. We don’t know where we are. It wasn’t just my wife that Melinda was. She saved my life. I felt safe enough with her around to have a career.”

Melinda was more than just a partner to Brian; she was his pillar of strength and inspiration. “She told me to make the music that was important to me. She held me down. She did everything for us. There was no stopping her. She was one of the strongest women you could meet,” Brian wrote. “She was more than just a role model, our dad’s savior, and a mother. She was a spirit-filled woman on a mission to make everyone she touched better. We will miss her, but we will always remember what she taught us.”

Brian shared the profound impact Melinda had on his life and the lessons she imparted. “I learned how to care for the person next to me without expecting anything in return. I also learned how to find beauty in the worst places and how to be proud to be yourself in every situation. We love you, mom. Give Grandma Rose and Pa our love,” he concluded his emotional thread.