Jackson Browne Mourns the Loss of His Son Ethan at 52
Musician Jackson Browne shared the sad news that his son, Ethan Browne, passed away at 52 years old.
"With immense sadness, we announce that Ethan Browne, the son of Jackson Browne and Phyllis Major, was discovered unresponsive in his residence on the morning of November 25, 2025, and has since passed," declared a message posted to Jackson's Facebook page on Wednesday, November 26. "During this challenging period, we kindly request privacy and consideration for the family. At this time, no additional information will be released."
The specific reason for his passing was not disclosed.
Jackson, who is 77, and his late wife Major became parents to Ethan in 1973. Major tragically ended her life in 1976 when she was 30 years old. Jackson later remarried in 1981, tying the knot with model Lynne Sweeney. They had a son, Ryan, a year later, but their marriage ended in divorce in 1983.
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Ethan and his father maintained a tight bond, which deepened after the passing of Major. Jackson had previously mentioned that his "primary objective" was to be present for his kids, all while managing his musical endeavors. (Prior to his solo career, Jackson gained recognition for composing songs for artists like the Eagles, Linda Ronstadt, and the Byrds.)
"I had only two aspirations I wished to combine: being a composer and a dad. My perspective was, if I must solely be a father, I hope I would realize it and commit to that," the artist behind "These Days" explained in a June 2021 interview with Route magazine. "However, life isn't structured that way, and you don't receive a formal warning that you're failing as a parent. You might believe you possess the necessary guidance and support, yet occasionally, you don't, or you choose not to follow it."
Jackson further elaborated, "The errors I committed in raising my children remain with me. I reflect on them quite frequently. It's not that one isn't consistently making an effort, nor was I lacking effort back then. It's simply that one can be sidetracked by other matters, and certain insights may not come to mind. Alternatively, one might disregard counsel that should have been heeded, due to excessive self-assurance."
Following in his father's footsteps, Ethan also embarked on a career in entertainment, working as an actor. His first movie role was in the 1995 feature Hackers. Additionally, he featured in the 2002 television series Birds of Prey and the 2004 movie Raising Helen, alongside stars like Kate Hudson, John Corbett, and Joan Cusack.
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Ethan also engaged in modeling. He had previously collaborated with fashion designer Isaac Mizrahi.
In 2022, Jackson shared his immense pride upon witnessing Ethan establish his own family after the birth of his daughter.
"Ethan is an exceptional dad. He's an outstanding son, a remarkable individual. I cherish watching him with his children," Jackson expressed enthusiastically in a May 2022 interview with Tru Rock Revival. "Witnessing him in his acting roles, his modeling, with his daughter, and fulfilling his role as a wonderful father, fills me with immense pride. It gives me the sense that I've truly achieved something significant in my life."
