Celebrating mums of music icons this Mother's Day
"Mama, ooooooh'
Last updated 25th Mar 2022
To celebrate Mother's Day, we've put together photos of some of our favourtie musicians and their mothers! From Chaka to Elton, all these music icons have a lot to thank their mums for!
Including the biggest Rock n Roll stars, Pop icons, and Disco queens, here are some of the most famous artists with their mothers.
Take a look at some of the mums of the biggest names in music:
Paul Simon and his mother, Belle
Belle Simon was an English teacher and from an early age played a big part in Paul's passion for music. Paul's mother brought him up in accordance with the Jewish faith.
Brian May with Freddie Mercury's mother, Jer Bulsara
Jer Bulsara was incredibly close to her son Freddie before he passed away at 45 years old. She once said, 'I often told him I didn't like his clothes and dresses and tried to get him to cut his hair, but he would explain it was something you have to do when you are in the pop world and gradually I learnt to accept it. Whatever he did or wore I always saw in him the same child I knew, he would tell us lots of jokes and I could always connect with him.'
She was also a great friend to Queen guitarist Brian May. After she passed away in 2016, he said in a statement, 'Jer was a warm and devoted Mum to Freddie, and, like Freddie, always had a strong twinkle in the eye.'
Whitney Houston and her mother Cissy
Emily 'Cissy' Houston was a soul and gospel singer and no doubt served as a huge inspiration for her daughter Whitney. She worked with artists including Elvis Presley and Aretha Franklin and won two Grammy Awards. She is the mum of Whitney Houston, grandmother of Bobbi Kristina Brown and aunt to singers Dionne and Dee Dee Warwick.
Stevie Nicks and her mother Barbara
Barbara Nicks was a huge influence on her daughter Stevie and is said to have instilled a love of fairy tale stories in Stevie from a young age. On her passing in December 2011, the Fleetwood Mac singer said: 'She supported me and all of my dreams. She was the one that made it all possible'.
Noel Gallagher, Paul Gallagher and Liam Gallagher with their mother Peggy
Both Noel and Liam Gallagher have a lot of love for their Irish mother Peggy. In the film 'As It Was', she says how proud she is of her Rock 'n' Roll sons: "Oh, I'm very proud, I still get me tissues out. Every time they are on the television I'm still there with the box of tissues."
On her youngest son Liam, she added: "I'm proud of him, I'm proud of who he is, he's never changed, Liam, I think that's why people love him. He is who he is. Liam is Liam, whatever you see is what you get. He is still the very same. He'll still come back home, and he'll still shout and bawl when he wants to and put the kettle on."
The Bee Gees and their mother Barbara
Barbara Gibb was the mother of Barry, Robin and Maurice (who went on to form the Bee Gees), Andy and Lesley. She was born in Manchester, England in 1920.
Chaka Khan and her mother Sandra
Chaka Khan once described her mother Sandra as being 'able to do anything'.
George Harrison and Ringo Starr dancing with their mothers Louise and Elsie
Louise French, mother of George Harrison, was hugely supportive of her son's music career. She loved music and was known for her loud singing voice.
Elsie Starkey was the mother of Ringo Starr. She worked in confectionary, enjoyed singing and dancing and prior to Ringo's birth, was a regular on the Liverpool ballroom circuit with his dad, Richard.
Sir Elton John and his mother Sheila
Although they have had a strained relationship over the years and only reconciled in 2018 after Elton recovered from illness, the singer has spoken out about how his mother's record collection hugely inspired him when he was growing up.
Now read:
18 of your favourite music icons and their famous kids
Celebrating brilliant female musicians of the 70s, 80s & 90s 🎶
12 of the biggest songs written about mothers 💗