Brian Wilson, musical genius behind the Beach Boys, dies at 82

Brian Wilson, the musical savant who scripted a defining Southern California soundtrack with a run of hit songs with the Beach Boys before being pulled down a rabbit hole of despair and depression when his highly anticipated masterwork was shelved unfinished, has died. Wilson's family announced his death Wednesday morning on Facebook. "We are at a loss for words right now," the post said. "Please respect our privacy at this time as our family is grieving. We realize we are sharing our grief with the world," said the statement, also shared on Instagram and the musician's website. The statement didn't reveal a cause of death. Wilson died more than a year after it was revealed he was diagnosed with dementia and placed under a conservatorship in May 2024.