Linda Nolan's rollercoaster life from 'naughty Nolan' to heartbreaking loss
Linda Nolan, the 'naughty Nolan', died today aged 65 in hospital surrounded by her close-knit siblings from double pneumonia following a long battle with cancer.
Linda Nolan, the sixth of eight siblings in her famous family of singers, was a standout character from an early age. At just three years old, she was already making her mark as the 'naughty Nolan', parading around her Dublin council estate in her mother's sparkly stilettos, or "hee-highs" as she called them, belting out 'Molly Malone'.
"What I lacked in years I more than made up for in style. And volume," she once said. Her mother fondly referred to her as the neighbourhood's alarm clock.
"Performing was what I did before I even knew what performing meant."
Linda, who sadly passed away today at 65 after a valiant fight with cancer and double pneumonia, was known among her family as the "blingy Nolan". She continued to entertain until her final days, embodying the showbiz spirit she so loved.
Linda was known as the 'naughty Nolan' by her family when she was a wee girl (Image: Getty Images)The indomitable Nolan sister found fame with The Nolan Sisters in the 1970s, captivating audiences worldwide and selling over 30 million records with hits like 'I'm In The Mood For Dancing', 'Spirit, Body and Soul', and 'Gotta Pull Myself Together', reports the Mirror.
However, she gained even more admiration for her honest and open approach to discussing her health struggles after her initial breast cancer diagnosis 20 years ago, in 2005. Over time, she helped raise over £20 million for breast cancer, mental health charities, and the Samaritans.
In 2017, the disease recurred as secondary cancer, and in 2023, Linda revealed that tumors had been found in her brain. As a Daily Mirror columnist, she documented her ongoing treatment and fifth hair loss experience, always with a sense of humor.
Her unflinching honesty inspired others living with the disease. During a hospital visit, a well-wisher praised her for "doing a Linda Nolan" and motivating his own wife.
This made her chuckle, but it also encouraged her to keep speaking and confronting the end of her life on her own terms. "I think everybody's journey – I hate the word – is different. But if there is anything I can say that can help someone, I will," she said.
"I have my moments when I slide down the wall in a heap," she added. "I'm frightened to cry in case I don't stop sometimes... But I'll take anything, I'll try anything, to stay alive."
Linda with sister Coleen (Image: Getty Images Europe)Linda, born on February 23, 1959, joined the bustling Nolan household following her eldest brother Tommy, now 75, and sisters Anne, now 74, Denise, 72, Maureen, 70, and her second brother, Brian, 69.
She was later joined by sister Bernie, who sadly passed away in 2013 after battling cancer, and the youngest of the siblings, Coleen, now 59. With both parents, Tommy and Maureen, being singers who toured pubs and clubs, it was almost destiny that Linda would follow suit.
The family's move to Blackpool in 1962 was a quest for more work, leading to the creation of the Singing Nolans, with the children performing alongside their parents. Linda, at just five years old, begged to join them on stage, boasting a voice powerful beyond her years.
"I could belt out a song like a kid twice my age," she once said. Bernie soon joined too, and eventually Coleen, aged four. Linda's childhood solo was Shirley Bassey's Big Spender - the irony of which wasn't lost on the star who, even in her final months, couldn't resist an online shopping spree, even when money was tight.
Despite late nights and bleary mornings at school, which she left early, she adored her family and their shows.
The Nolans' life wasn't without its hardships; despite the glamour of late nights on stage, there were tough mornings at school for Linda, who left education early. Yet, she cherished her family and the shows they put on together.
At home, money was tight, and her mother would sometimes forgo her own portion of stew to ensure her children had enough to eat, embodying the spirit of "a typical Irish mother" who "totally spoilt" her kids. The family's big break came unexpectedly in 1973 when they agreed to perform at Blackpool's Cliffs Hotel on Christmas Day, a day they traditionally reserved for family time.
In knee-high socks, they stood ready to perform, under the watchful eye of a London showbiz tycoon (billionaire Joe Lewis, owner of Spurs), who later offered the girls a steady gig at his cabaret theatre, the London Rooms on Drury Lane. At just 14 and 13 years old, Linda and Bernie saw their family relocate to the capital, leaving Coleen behind in Blackpool with her older brothers and aunt.
Linda with her beloved sisters in 1977 (Image: TV Times via Getty Images)Thus, The Nolans were born, complete with a new look featuring bell bottoms and floaty dresses, fresh dance routines, and regular performances. Coleen eventually joined the group, and they shot to household fame after being selected for Cliff Richard's new BBC show.
Their stardom soared when they toured with Frank Sinatra. "We were screaming when we found out," recalled Linda.
They graced television screens alongside The Two Ronnies and Val Doonican, and performed personally for The Queen Mother, The Princess Royal, and US President Gerald Ford. In 1977, they toured South Africa with Rolf Harris, comedian Stu Francis, and ventriloquist Ray Alan.
Linda shared a humorous tale about ending up in a sauna with Tom Jones, who exclaimed, "'Oh my goodness,' he said, 'Can you imagine what the tabloids would make of me in a sauna with six Nolan sisters! ' He was lovely and we sat and chatted for ages."
In 1979, Linda Nolan's life took a romantic turn when she met Brian Hudson, who was to become the love of her life. At that time, Denise had embarked on a solo career, and Brian stepped in as her new agent.
In 1979, Linda Nolan's life took a romantic turn when she met Brian Hudson, who was to become the love of her life (Image: Mirrorpix)Despite being older and having been married with two children, Linda found herself unable to resist Brian's charm, with their mutual attraction striking her like "a lightning bolt". As The Nolans soared to new heights with top-three chart success and international fame, Brian took on the role of their tour manager.
Their popularity in Japan was unprecedented, eclipsing even global superstars like Beyonce, Michael Jackson, and The Beatles.
The couple tied the knot in 1981, but this union led to tensions and eventually a rift between Linda and her sisters, exacerbated by her close relationship with Brian. In 1983, Linda chose to pursue a solo career, and it took about a year for the family wounds to heal.
Embracing her newfound independence, Linda marked her solo venture with a daring photoshoot, signalling her departure from The Nolans' clean-cut image. Her career flourished with singing tours, a decade-long run as Maggie May in Blackpool, and roles in musicals such as Blood Brothers and Prisoner Cell Block H - The Musical, where she starred alongside her friend Paul O'Grady.
Brian remained steadfastly by her side as her manager throughout these ventures. Linda also graced the stage in productions like Menopause the Musical and Rumpy Pumpy, portraying a madame.
Amongst her many accolades, Linda stands out as the only Nolan Sister to receive the honour of a Madame Tussauds waxwork.
Linda, who cherished her nieces, nephews and great-nieces and nephews, always considered postponing children for her career as her 'one regret'. She later explored fostering.
Financial woes hit hard; the couple's 1995 bankruptcy was splashed across headlines. Health struggles soon followed.
Brian's battle with heavy drinking led to a skin cancer diagnosis, while Linda faced her own fight with breast cancer in 2005, enduring a mastectomy and 18 rounds of chemotherapy. Tragically, alcoholism claimed Brian's life due to liver failure in 2007, and with her mother passing from Alzheimer's Disease shortly after, Linda's cancer, and sister Bernie's breast cancer diagnosis in 2010, she was engulfed by clinical depression and suicidal thoughts.
Candidly, she recounted how she contemplated suicide, lining up tablets and penning a farewell note to her siblings. "I never tell people it gets better quickly," she remarked on coping with grief.
Yet, Linda found resilience through her tight-knit family, "the cavalry", and her passion for performing, rejoining sisters Bernie, Coleen, and Maureen for a much-anticipated tour in 2009, and featuring on Celebrity Big Brother in 2014.
Linda appeared on Celeb Big Brother in 2014 (Image: Channel 5)In 2017, Linda suffered a fall which resulted in a fractured hip and led to the discovery of her secondary cancer. She underwent radiotherapy, but by 2020, the disease had spread to her liver.
As her condition worsened, she moved in with her sister Denise in Blackpool. By March 2023, doctors found tumours in her brain.
Despite facing mobility challenges, including needing a wheelchair, walking sticks and a stairlift, Linda maintained her zest for life. She organised family holidays, or 'familymoons' as she called them, and enjoyed regular lunches with old school friends.
Bingo, Mr Whippy ice-creams, and gin remained firm favourites. Linda openly admitted to struggling with "the big grey cloud" on some days, but always managed to find humour in her situation.
Even as her memory faded due to the tumours and she lost her hair for the fifth time, she would joke, "I'm identifying as a sheep," when her hair started growing back. The star often expressed her fear of death, saying, "What happens? Is it dark, are you on your own? I'm frightened of the unknown and being on my own, I have always been with people."
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However, her positivity and love for life always shone through.
In her final Mirror column last week, after recovering from a bout of flu over Christmas, she wrote, "I feel so grateful to be feeling well again," before her health took a turn for the worse with pneumonia.
"I wake up every morning and I think this is another day to celebrate," she expressed.
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