Loose Women star Coleen Nolan is mourning the heartbreaking loss of her sister Linda Nolan. Linda, one of the beloved sisters from the iconic pop group The Nolans, passed away at the age of 65 on Wednesday (January 15). Known for her angelic voice and resilience, Linda battled cancer for over two decades.
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Despite her illness, Linda remained a beacon of hope and positivity. Her passing has left Coleen and the entire Nolan family, who also dealt with their fair share of health struggles, utterly heartbroken.
Coleen Nolan mourns sister Linda Nolan’s death
The heartbreaking news of Linda’s demise was confirmed by her sister Coleen—who herself was diagnosed with cancer twice. In a deeply emotional Instagram post, Coleen expressed her devastation at the loss of her sister, reports BBC.
She described Linda as a source of ‘love, kindness, and strength’ who brought light to every room she entered. She wrote:
I am utterly devastated by the passing of my sister, Linda…Linda had a heart full of compassion and always knew how to bring comfort and joy to those around her.
The Nolan's said in a statement:
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.
Linda reportedly had her ‘loving siblings’ by her side who embraced her with love and comfort during her final moments. Since the news of Linda’s passing broke, tributes have poured in from across the entertainment world and beyond. Fellow Loose Women presenter Christine Lampard described it as ‘very sad news,’ while co-panellist Nadia Sawalha called it an ‘awful shock,’ adding that the team was sending love to Coleen and her family.
Linda Nolan’s struggle with cancer
Linda’s battle with cancer began in 2005 when she was diagnosed with breast cancer. Despite the shock and fear, she tackled the diagnosis head-on, undergoing a mastectomy and chemotherapy.
By 2011, Linda had been given the all-clear, but her relief was short-lived. In 2017, she revealed that her cancer had returned as secondary breast cancer, which had spread to her hip and pelvis, reports Manchester Evening News.
The journey became even more difficult in 2020 when Linda disclosed that the disease had metastasised to her liver. By December 2023, the cancer also spread to her brain.
Despite these setbacks, Linda refused to let cancer define her. She often spoke candidly about her journey, raising awareness and inspiring others with her courage.
In her recent interviews, she was very positive about her condition. Speaking to the Mirror last month, she said:
I thought my 60th birthday would be my last, but I'm still here, five years later. It's easy to sit back and get depressed about it, but I'm still going.
And just last week she wrote, in an opinion piece for the publication, that she was feeling brighter after a ‘bout of flu’ over Christmas. She said:
Despite all the rubbish, I feel so grateful to be getting well again. I’ve never been keen on resolutions, but here’s one: it’ll take more than flu to finish me off.
She was then taken to hospital with breathing problems just two days later.
You can read Linda Nolan's full article for the Mirror here.
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Sources used:
BBC: Singer Linda Nolan dies aged 65
Manchester Evening News: Linda Nolan's brave 20-year cancer journey as 'comforting' final hours spent with famous sisters by her side
