Who is Carnie Wilson? Singer seen for first time since father Brian Wilson's death

Carnie Wilson is Brian Wilson's first daughter, out of his seven children. Although Carnie and her sister had a normal childhood, thanks to their mother, Carnie grew up following in her father's footsteps and became a singer. Carnie and Wendy co-founded the group Wilson Phillips. However, the two sisters had a complicated relationship with their father while growing up.

In 1992, during an interview with the Los Angeles Times, Carnie Wilson revealed that she had not spoken to her father in two years. She said:

"We can’t call him up and we can’t see him... I guess we could, but we’re so afraid of each other. I don’t know what I would say to him."

However, two years later, Brian Wilson reached out to his daughters, and they started working together on some new music. Carnie added:

"Wendy and I are doing demo tapes for our debut album as a duo, and I hope Daddy will provide background harmonies... I know that one day we'll all work together."

Carnie is now 57 years old, and her musician father passed away recently on June 11, 2025. Keep reading to learn more about Carnie Wilson's first public appearance after Brian Wilson's passing.

Where was Carnie Wilson seen for the first time after Brian Wilson's passing?

Carnie Wilson was spotted in public almost a month after Brian Wilson's passing. According to Daily Mail, the "Monday Without You" singer was seen with her husband, Rob Bonfiglio, at a car dealership on July 6, 2025.

She was wearing a light blue top with lace detail on the neckline and cuffs. She paired it with cropped white pants, along with brown strappy sandals, and wore gold accessories.

The couple has two daughters: Lola, who is 20 years old, and 16-year-old Luciana.

While this is the first time Wilson was seen out in public, she would often post photos of Brian Wilson on her official Instagram account, expressing how much she missed him.

How did Brian Wilson die?

American musician, singer, and record producer Brian Wilson passed away on June 11, 2025, after battling dementia and other health issues. The singer was also a co-founder of the Beach Boys. Almost a year after his wife, Melinda Ledbetter, passed, his seven children filed for a conservatorship after making it known that their father was suffering from a major neurocognitive disorder.

Through a family statement shared by People Magazine, Brian's family said:

"Following the passing of Brian’s beloved wife Melinda, after careful consideration and consultation among Brian, his seven children, Gloria Ramos and Brian’s doctors (and consistent with family processes put in place by Brian and Melinda), we are confirming that longtime Wilson family representatives LeeAnn Hard and Jean Sievers will serve as Brian’s co-conservators of the person."

Two months after the announcement, Brian Wilson passed away. The news of Brian's passing was shared with the public by his family on Instagram. They wrote:

"We are heartbroken to announce that our beloved father Brian Wilson has passed away. We are at a loss for words right now. Please respect our privacy at this time as our family is grieving. We realize that we are sharing our grief with the world. Love & Mercy."

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Carnie Wilson may have had a strained relationship with her father growing up, but everything seemed to shift after he reached out to her and her sister, Wendy. What followed was years of reconnecting, working through the past, and making music together as a family.

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