Home Lifestyle Entertainment Linda Nolan passes away

Linda Nolan passes away

Linda Nolan, the celebrated Irish pop legend, television personality, Guinness World Record holding West End star, Sunday Times bestselling author and Daily Mirror columnist, has died.

The star was part of the family group The Nolans, which also included her sisters Coleen, Maureen, Bernie, Denise and Anne.

Born in Dublin in 1959, Linda moved to Blackpool with her family at the age of three.

The Nolans quickly became a household name, touring social clubs before going on to share the stage with Frank Sinatra and other iconic performers.

The Nolans (or The Nolan Sisters as they were originally called) are remembered for hits such as Gotta Pull Myself Together, Attention To Me, Who’s Gonna Rock You and the one that is synonymous with them, I’m in the Mood for Dancing.

She left the group in 1983, but later reformed with her sisters for several comeback performances.

In her solo career, she toured with Gene Pitney and was celebrated for her West End shows.

Linda was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2005, given the all clear in 2011, but in 2017 was diagnosed with secondary breast cancer. In 2020, it spread and by 2023 was in her brain.

In a statement, her manager Dermot McNamara last week 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.

“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.

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“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.

“Beyond her incredible career, Linda dedicated her life to helping others, helping raise over £20 million (€23.7 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 January 15, 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.”

The Nolan Sisters, from left Maureen, Linda, Coleen, Denise and Anne.

The statement concluded: “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.”

Leading tributes, her sisters wrote on X: “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 Nolan added on her own social media: “I am utterly devastated by the passing of my sister, Linda.

“Linda was a beacon of love, kindness, and strength. Her wit, humour, and laughter were infectious, and her presence could light up any room. Linda had a heart full of compassion and always knew how to bring comfort and joy to those around her.”

Coleen continued: “Her memory will live on in the many lives she touched, and while we will miss her more than words can express, we take solace in the love and warmth she shared with all of us. Rest in peace, Linda. You will forever be in our hearts. Love you, Coleen xxx (Colette).”

Anne Nolan added: “Words cannot describe the heartache and loss I am feeling at the passing of my third youngest sister today”.

She added: “The most generous, loving, beautiful, annoying at times, helpful, brave, forthright, person I know.

“…You found humour in life’s darkest corners.”

Maura Nolan said: “Our beautiful Linda Nolan left us yesterday, so much to say not sure where or if I can start, countless memories, countless laughs, and constant support when you really needed it, I am heartbroken as we all are, just so sad.

“I would just like to say, to all the people out there who felt inspired by Linda, the big C didn’t actually get her.

”She contracted double pneumonia over Christmas and New Year and because of her immune system it was one battle too much.

“So please keep hopeful and strong if you are suffering, she lasted nearly 20 yrs with one cancer or another, and so can you.”

The Nolan sisters, Anne, Maureen, Coleen, Denise and Linda.

The Irish World interviewed Linda Nolan numerous times over the last few years.

We spoke to her about the group becoming particularly successful in Japan, becoming the first European act to win the Tokyo Music Festival with Sexy Music in 1981, and winning a Japanese Grammy in 1992. They would tour with big names like Engelbert Humperdinck and Frank Sinatra.

We asked her: Do you enjoy looking back on such memories? “Yeah, sometimes somebody will call me and they’ll go, ‘Have you got any of your videos?’ I’ll go, ‘Hold on..’

“And then we spend the whole night watching me and have a joke about it.

“We look back on different things, things that we did that we were proud of and moments in our career.

“We’ve been fortunate enough to meet our idols, Stevie Wonder and I loved Donny Osmond since I was 11 and to meet him- He came down to the audience to me to sing with me.

“Stuff like that has been amazing: Touring with Frank Sinatra. I was 15 when we did that and I look back and think, ‘Oh my God’. And our success in Japan where our tour sold out in six hours and we were doing stadiums over there. It was unbelievable so it is great to be able to look back and say, ‘It wasn’t a bad life’.”

After moving from Raheny, Dublin to Blackpool, the girls’ parents Tommy and Maureen launched a family singing group. First known as The Singing Nolans, the line-up also comprised their brothers Tommy and Brian as well as the parents and would sing in working men’s clubs all over the country. This was tough going for kids who still had to get up for school in the morning.

“We loved it though. I especially loved it. Some of the others weren’t as mad about it as I was. I just loved singing and being onstage. I was a bit of an extrovert kid, got over excited about everything.

“It was tough getting home at night, going to bed about three and then dragging yourself out of bed at eight o’clock to get up and go to school and I think maybe a little bit more difficult for the older girls because of their schoolwork and all of that.

“I think for them being teenagers it was hard to not be able to go out to maybe a youth club with your mates or go cinema with your mates because you were singing at night.

“I don’t think there was much choice for them really.”

Linda was once nicknamed ‘Naughty Nolan’ due to some risque publicity shots she had taken when leaving the group for a solo career back in 1983.

However, although considered ‘risque’ for the time, the shots Linda describes would be considered tame by today’s standards.

“My mum even said at the time, ‘I see more at the beach’. I really do think it was because it was one of the Nolan sisters. Six Catholic Irish sisters: You’ve got a sweet image before you do anything, don’t you?

“And at times that was difficult because we were normal. We weren’t outrageous and all of that but we weren’t Mary Poppins sweet. We were just normal girls so it used to irritate at times that people thought we were so sweet. It was a difficult image to move on from. It was a difficult image to put to bed so then we became the Nolans and we had more say in what we wore and stuff like that.”

Ep3 L-R Linda, Maureen, Anne and Coleen Nolan making soap at Port Sunlight.

She also told us how much it meant to hear from some fans that their act meant a lot during some tough time: “Four or five of the guys from gay pride came to the party dressed in their outrageous costumes.

“One of them came up and he took my hand and said, ‘I just want you to know when I was an 11 year old boy fighting with my sexuality, I used to go up to my bedroom and the only thing that made me smile was playing I’m in the Mood for Dancing and learning the routine’.

“And then he went round all the girls and said the same thing. He was lovely. Really nice.

“It was just nice of him to say it.

“And they said, ‘We used to be you in the bedroom with the hair brushes.

“And they’d go, ‘I was you’ and all of that.

“And it’s just so lovely that people remember us and they remember us with a smile.

“And that’s what it’s all about.”

Linda never shied away from discussing the illness that hung over her.

Linda told us: “I’m lucky in the fact that my cancer is at least treatable.

“I’m just happy to be here. My hair is growing back now.

“Don’t get me wrong, I am scared to death. I don’t want to die. I want to be around for as long as possible but in the grand scheme of things at the moment it’s all going in the right direction and I can at least enjoy life.”

Linda added in a different chat: “Of course we hate cancer. The thing about cancer is you can’t find it to kick its head in. I said to my counsellor, ‘I just want to find it and kick its head in’. For everyone who’s ever had it not just because we’ve got it. But I work with a cancer charity called Breast Cancer Now and they believe that by 2050 nobody will actually die of breast cancer because of the research and everything.”

In September 2021 she- along with her sisters Anne and Denise Nolan- spoke about the new series of Nolans Go Cruising.

Both Linda and Anne had been diagnosed with cancer early in lockdown when they had just returned from filming.

The previous December Anne had been able to reveal that her cancer was gone while Linda’s news was not so good as her cancer is treatable but not curable.

Asked if she is able to forget about the horrible disease to enjoy a holiday, Linda said: “I think you have to, otherwise cancer’s won really.

“It will probably get me in the end you know, but at the moment I’m putting up a big fight.

“Obviously everyone has a down day, my down days are about cancer and maybe not being there for as long as I want to be.

“Mine isn’t curable so I’m just on tablets and drugs until they stop working and we try something else.

“But most of the time, I have counselling still and most of the time I can manage to put it into perspective.

“If I spent the whole week waiting for my treatments lying on the couch under a duvet, then cancer’s won and I’m just waiting to die really.

“It’s given me a sense of freedom to say no to things that I don’t want to do. It’s my nephew’s birthday next week and if something came in for me to do on that day, I’d say, ‘I can’t, I’m going to a birthday party. It’s my nephew’s birthday’.

“Because that’s more important to me because I don’t know if I’ll be here for his next birthday you know? Nobody knows. We don’t know what is around the corner.

“I think it’s made me prioritize things in a different way but I feel well, I’m enjoying day to day life.

“It (cancer) is there nagging me every time but I’m alright, you get used to it.”

Linda would often joke about her illness.

Speaking about her holiday Linda said: “I went down to the doctor. That was the highlight.

“The doctor was bloody gorgeous so I was quite glad that I wasn’t very well.

“I offered to stay in his hospital bed for a little longer but no go there.”

In April 2021 Linda and her sister Anne told us about their new book Stronger Together and their hell of living with cancer.

Linda told The Irish World: “When they asked us about writing a book we both went, ‘Well, would anybody buy it?’ And then they said, ‘Your journey could help somebody else who’s sitting at home on their own with no family’.

“We’re lucky, we’ve got family around to support us but they could be sitting at home on their own and maybe look at stuff that we’ve said and go, ‘Oh, I’ve been through that’. It’s nothing medical. It’s just our story of how we’ve dealt with it really.”

The silver lining in Linda and Anne getting diagnosed within days of each other was that the sisters could have their treatment together meaning they didn’t have to go through it alone.

Linda remembered: “Just as a joke I said, ‘You’ve heard of the Chemical Brothers but we’re the chemo sisters and it kind of stuck then.”

Linda with her late sister, Bernie.

Cancer had already took their sister Bernie in 2013 at the age of 52.

Linda said: “We think about Bernie every day.

“‘Cancer schmancer’, she would say and everything was about research. She used to say that knowledge was power. She was a real battler as well. She’s a massive part of our lives still.”

“She was a force to be reckoned with, Bernie.

“She was the life and soul of the party. She was always laughing. She was always the last one at the party.”

Linda adds: “It would be three in the morning and she would go, ‘Ah, don’t go to bed, you wimp’.”

Linda urged others not to make her mistake and wait to get a worrying lump checked out.

“I left mine. I left it for a year trying to work around it thinking, ‘I can’t go into hospital now. If I can just do this pantomime, it will put money in the bank’. Because Brian had skin cancer. The consultant said even without getting the results of the biopsy, ‘It is a cancer for sure and it’s a mastectomy’. So don’t wait. You can wait as long as you like but when you go, you’re still going to need treatment and it might be harsher treatment than if you went straightaway.”

In the book Stronger Together Linda pictured an afterlife that allowed her to see Bernie and her late husband Brian again.

“Bernie, Brian, mum and dad will be there, anyone that we love. I’m frightened of death because I don’t know what’s there. You know these films that you see, somebody dies and then you see them in Heaven? I wonder what it’s like. It’s really scary. I think, ‘When I say goodbye, am I going to be on my own somewhere?’ And that’s when your religion comes back in.

“I remember when Brian died, I was at Coleen’s house. Her daughter was four and Brian and I had a dog. The doorbell went and the dog started barking and Ciara went, ‘Hudson, stop barking. It’s not uncle Brian. He’s dead’. And me and Coleen were shocked.

“And Ciara went, ‘He is mum, he’s up in Heaven and it’s a big garden and he’s going to have a good time and he’ll be better. He won’t be sick anymore’. And I thought, ‘I love that outlook on what’s going to happen’. But I do think about that sometimes, not all the time obviously. I do think about, ‘What is it? What’s going to happen?’ That kind of thing. Will I be aware? I don’t know but that is one of the things I think about sometimes.”

“But then after that I try not to do that for the whole two or three weeks because otherwise cancer’s won.

“I don’t want it to define me, cancer. I’m living with it.”

Rest in peace, Linda from all at The Irish World.

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