LONDON, Jan 15 (BBC) – Linda Nolan, the Irish singer and TV personality, has passed away at the age of 65, her agent announced.
Linda, along with her sisters Coleen, Maureen, Bernie, Denise, and Anne, rose to fame in the late 1970s and ’80s with hits like the iconic disco track “I’m In The Mood for Dancing.” She was a member of the pop group the Nolans, which became the first Irish act to sell over a million records worldwide, eventually selling 30 million records in total.
Diagnosed with breast cancer in 2005, Linda received the all-clear in 2011 but was diagnosed with secondary breast cancer in 2017, which later spread to her brain. Despite her illness, she maintained a sense of optimism and continued to be active on social media.
TV presenter Coleen Nolan, Linda’s sister, expressed her devastation, describing Linda as a “beacon of love, kindness, and strength.” Loose Women presenter Christine Lampard announced Linda’s death on the ITV daytime show, calling it “very sad news.” Co-panellist Nadia Sawalha described it as an “awful shock” and said the show’s team was “sending our love.”
Linda also appeared in a West End production of “Blood Brothers,” was a Daily Mirror columnist, and wrote a best-selling memoir. Although she left the Nolans in 1983, she later reunited with her sisters for several comeback performances.
Despite her health challenges, Linda remained active on social media, updating her profile picture on X with the message: “Living with cancer, NOT battling or dying from it.” However, on Wednesday, a statement posted on the Nolan Sisters’ account announced her death, highlighting her courage, grace, and determination in facing incurable cancer.
