Introduction
In an emotional and unfiltered BBC Radio 2 interview this October, legendary Welsh singer Sir Tom Jones, now 85, broke down as he revisited the most painful chapter of his life — the passing of his beloved wife, Lady Melinda “Linda” Jones, in 2016.
For the first time in years, the man known for his power, charisma, and timeless hits like “Delilah” and “It’s Not Unusual” stripped away the showmanship and spoke purely from the heart.
“I held her until the end,” Tom said quietly, his voice trembling. “Those final ten days… I never left her side.”
Tom and Linda’s love story began in their teenage years in Pontypridd, Wales. They married young and remained inseparable for nearly six decades. Through fame, fortune, and controversy, Linda was always the steady force behind the star.
When she was diagnosed with terminal lung cancer, Tom put everything aside to be with her. “She was my life,” he confessed. “And when she went, I felt like half of me went with her.”
Her final words — “Keep singing, Tom, for us” — became his anchor. Just weeks after her passing, he returned to the stage, performing through visible grief and tears. Some saw it as an act of strength, others as a man clinging to the only thing left that kept him alive — music.
Nearly a decade later, the pain is still there. Behind the dazzling career and commanding stage presence lies a widower who never stopped loving, never stopped remembering.
🎶 Tom Jones may still sing for the world — but deep down, every song is still for her.