Pegi Young – Neil Young’s second wife – died on New Year’s Day aged 66 after a year-long cancer battle, a statement has tragically revealed. The American singer-songwriter died “surrounded by her friends and family”, a post on her official Facebook page said in the early hours. It read: “With great sadness, we confirm that on January 1st, after a year-long battle with cancer, Pegi Young – mother, grandmother, sister, auntie, musician, activist and co-founder of the Bridge School – passed away surrounded by her friends and family in her native California. “We request that the families’ privacy be respected at this time.”
Pegi and Neil walked down the aisle back in 1978 and they were married until 2014.
The former couple had two children together, Ben and Amber.
She spent decades as a backing singer on his tours, before releasing five country albums, most recently 2017’s Raw.
The duo founded the Bridge School in the 1980s, a non-profit organisation helping children with severe speech and physical impairments.
It came after their son was born with cerebral palsy.
Canadian hitmaker Neil was first married in the late 60s to Susan Acevedo but their marriage only lasted two years.
Last year the 73-year-old confirmed he had married Daryl Hannah, who he is thought to have been dating for three years.
He revealed the news in a video released on October 31 after months of speculation about himself and the 57-year-old actress.
“‘Ohio’ was written back in 1970 after seeing the cover of a magazine with a young girl kneeling beside her fallen friend,” he wrote.
Neil continued: “When the National Guard murdered four students at Ohio’s Kent State University for protesting the Vietnam War, it was a pivotal moment in our history.
“It was pivotal for me. Today we see what we have become. With no real laws protecting us from guns, and with politicians supporting the NRA because the NRA supports them, we are not well represented.
“Today’s students are brave, demanding change in violent times. We stand with them. They are us. We are them. This has been going on for far too long.”
He added: “My wife Daryl and I put this video together for you to reflect on. Support the students. Support our children. They want protection.
“Give us common sense gun laws that protect our people, in schools, in places of worship, in the workplace and on the streets. VOTE.”
Speaking about bumping into Neil at a benefit in a 2016 interview, Pegi told Rolling Stone: “That was fine. I don’t want awkward.
“Take the high road, that’s my approach. The concert is about the kids and the preschool, and that’s so much more important than the Neil and Pegi drama.”