Linda Nolan feared Christmas 2024 would be her last when she noticed troubling symptom

Linda Nolan, the beloved Nolans star who rose to fame with her sisters over 50 years ago, has passed away at the age of 65 after a long battle with secondary breast cancer. Linda, who was first diagnosed with breast cancer in 2005 and went into remission a year later, faced the heartbreaking news in 2017 that the disease had returned, this time in her hip.

It later spread to her liver in 2020 and, tragically, to her brain three years on. Fearing that Christmas 2024 might be her last, Linda expressed her wish to "keep breathing and see another one."

Sadly, she died on Wednesday, surrounded by her sisters, in moments filled with 'love and comfort'.

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In a heartfelt tribute, agent Dermot McNamara released a statement to the Mirror: "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," reports the Mirror.

The statement added: "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."

Just weeks before her passing, Linda was eagerly anticipating the Christmas celebrations, planning to spend it with 20 relatives. Tragically, she was hit by a "mystery illness" while battling an incurable disease.

She became so sick that she feared she was nearing death, reminiscent of her sister Bernie's final days, who succumbed to breast cancer in July 2013. The cherished vocalist confessed in her January 8 column for The Mirror that she hadn't eaten for 11 days during the festive season, a time when most are feasting to their heart's content.

"A complete wipe out. Everyone's been so worried," she wrote. "The girls have been bringing me energy drinks and that's all I've been able to get down."

She described how her doctors attributed her weakness to a severe bout of flu.

"I became so weak I'd walk a few steps and struggle to catch my breath. My legs were even more wobbly than usual and of course although I try not to, I immediately thought of how Bernie was at the end. You think, Oh my God, is this it?"

On New Year's Eve, Linda received medical attention at the hospital, where she was prescribed steroids along with antibiotics. "They sent me back home to rest and she [Denise] was then reassured enough to go to Coleen's New Year's party as my friend Sue and her husband Graham came round to stay. I was asleep by 10.10pm – but that was pretty good going!"

Dubliner, Linda opened up about the tough times she's been going through, admitting: "I missed out on pizzas and babies – our new great nephews, Coleen's son Jake's boy and our brother Tommy's new grandson. But for the first time in my life I wasn't in the mood for cuddles."

Despite feeling "terribly down" on certain days, she remained resolute in her optimism, planning get-togethers with her sisters, including Loose Women's Coleen. Facing the grim reality of secondary breast cancer, Linda encountered a series of medical emergencies.

In December 2024, she experienced a scary fall and shared with the Mirror: "My legs just gave way from under me."

When one tumble left her resembling someone who'd been "five rounds with Michael Tyson", her sister Denise and her hubby Tom Anderson urged her to move in with them. The backing from her siblings, Tommy and Brian included, proved essential for Linda, who mourned her husband Brian's passing due to liver cancer back in 2007.

Cancer touched other Nolans too, with Coleen disclosing she had skin cancer excised and Anne Nolan, aged 73, beating stage three breast cancer after chemotherapy, declaring herself free from the illness by December. With 30 million records sold featuring chart-toppers like Attention To Me, Gotta Pull Myself Together, and I'm In The Mood For Dancing, the Nolans have indeed made their mark on the music world.

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