Musician Jackson Browne is grieving the loss of his son Ethan Browne, who tragically passed away at 52. The singer, 77, shared the news on Wednesday, November 26, in a statement posted on social media.
“It is with deep sorrow that we share that on the morning of November 25, 2025, Ethan Browne, the son of Jackson Browne and Phyllis Major, was found unresponsive in his home and has passed away,” the statement said.
Getty“We ask for privacy and respect for the family during this difficult time. No further details are available at this moment.”
Ethan was the son of Browne and actress Phyllis Major. The family faced a tragedy in 1976 when Major died by suicide when Ethan was still a toddler. As a newborn, Ethan made waves when he appeared on the cover of Rolling Stone with Browne in 1974.
The photo showed the musician holding his infant son close to his face.
Ethan Browne Worked in Acting, Modeling & Music
GettyEthan built a varied creative career in film, fashion, and music. He appeared in the Kate Hudson movie “Raising Helen” and in the 1995 film “Hackers.” He also modeled in campaigns for designers, including Isaac Mizrahi.
Producer Mark Ronson wrote about their friendship in his memoir Night People. He remembered Ethan as “the real deal, with an angular face and soulful gaze that seemed to reveal his deepest truths, even from a glossy page.”
The Daily Mail reported that Ronson had written that Ethan had the “sharp cheekbones” of his late mother and the “soulful eyes” of his father.
In 2010, Ethan founded Spinside Records, an imprint of Inside Recordings, Browne’s independent label.
Browne Said Fatherhood Became His Life’s Priority
Browne often spoke about how raising Ethan shaped his life after Major’s death. In a 2021 interview with Route Magazine, he said their bond guided every major decision.
“I only had two things that I hoped I could fit together: being a songwriter and a father,” Browne said. “And I looked at it like this, if I have to only be a father, I hope I’ll know it, and just do that.” Their relationship remained one of the most defining parts of his life.
Browne reflected on Ethan’s devotion to his own children in a 2022 interview with Tru Rock Revival.
“Ethan is a great father. He’s a great son, a great man,” Browne said. “I love seeing him with his kids. When I see him in his movies, modeling, with his daughter, and being such a great dad, it makes me very proud. It makes me feel I’ve done something really right in my life.”
Browne is also father to son Ryan, 43, whom he shares with ex-wife Lynne Sweeney.
