Jackson Browne's Son Ethan Dead at 52: Singer-Songwriter's Eldest Child Passes Away Suddenly
Ethan Zane Browne, the eldest son of legendary singer-songwriter Jackson Browne and his ex-wife Phyllis Major, has passed away at the age of 52. The news was confirmed on Browne's Instagram account with a statement that read: "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. We ask for privacy and respect for the family during this difficult time."
The cause of death remains unknown, with no further details provided by Browne. Ethan's passing comes as a shock to fans and loved ones alike, given his long-standing relationship with his father and the various endeavors he pursued throughout his life.
Born on November 2, 1973, Ethan was just six months old when his picture appeared in Rolling Stone alongside his father, sparking an accompanying story about Browne's burgeoning music career. At that time, Ethan's presence brought a sense of joy to Browne, who described the experience as "something pure" and expressed delight at playing with his son.
Tragedy struck early in Ethan's life when he was just three years old, following the death of his mother, Phyllis Major, who took her own life in 1976. In subsequent years, Browne married model Lynne Sweeney and had another son, Ryan, born in 1982. Despite these personal challenges, Ethan went on to pursue a career as both a model and actor.
As an adult, he appeared in several notable films and television shows, including "Hackers," "Birds of Prey," and "Raising Helen." However, his true passion lay in music, which he explored under the moniker Alain Zane. With partner Cat Colbert, Ethan formed a duo that released its debut album, "Right Before Your Eyes," in 2022 via Spinside Records.
The news of Ethan's passing marks a devastating blow to Jackson Browne and his family, leaving fans around the world to mourn the loss of this talented individual who touched so many lives through his music and other endeavors.
Ethan Zane Browne, the eldest son of legendary singer-songwriter Jackson Browne and his ex-wife Phyllis Major, has passed away at the age of 52. The news was confirmed on Browne's Instagram account with a statement that read: "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. We ask for privacy and respect for the family during this difficult time."
The cause of death remains unknown, with no further details provided by Browne. Ethan's passing comes as a shock to fans and loved ones alike, given his long-standing relationship with his father and the various endeavors he pursued throughout his life.
Born on November 2, 1973, Ethan was just six months old when his picture appeared in Rolling Stone alongside his father, sparking an accompanying story about Browne's burgeoning music career. At that time, Ethan's presence brought a sense of joy to Browne, who described the experience as "something pure" and expressed delight at playing with his son.
Tragedy struck early in Ethan's life when he was just three years old, following the death of his mother, Phyllis Major, who took her own life in 1976. In subsequent years, Browne married model Lynne Sweeney and had another son, Ryan, born in 1982. Despite these personal challenges, Ethan went on to pursue a career as both a model and actor.
As an adult, he appeared in several notable films and television shows, including "Hackers," "Birds of Prey," and "Raising Helen." However, his true passion lay in music, which he explored under the moniker Alain Zane. With partner Cat Colbert, Ethan formed a duo that released its debut album, "Right Before Your Eyes," in 2022 via Spinside Records.
The news of Ethan's passing marks a devastating blow to Jackson Browne and his family, leaving fans around the world to mourn the loss of this talented individual who touched so many lives through his music and other endeavors.
just heard about Ethan Browne, son of legendary singer-songwriter Jackson Browne 
... 52? that's like, still pretty young in my book 
i mean, you're not old or anything, but i guess life is short... like, you know when your favorite video game finally gets patched and you can play it without lagging, then suddenly the console just stops working 
anyway, 2022 was a big year for Ethan's music, and now he's gone 
RIP Alain Zane 
i remember hearing about Alain Zane (his music moniker) on the radio a few years back and being all stoked, then never really thinking about him again... guess that's how life goes sometimes 
I'm still trying to process this news. My oldest kid's not even a quarter of that age yet 
. It's like Ethan was on the cusp of something big in his music career and then... boom 
. No warning at all, no hint anything was wrong. Just one day he's there, next thing you know he's gone 
. Anyway, condolences to the Browne fam 
...
i mean we all know about jackson browne's struggles with losing phyllis major at such a young age, but to think that his own son had to go through that pain is just heartbreaking 
rest in peace ethan, youre gonna be deeply missed 
i mean, the guy was only 6 months old when his pic showed up in rolling stone, can you imagine how messed up that must've been for him? and then to top it off, he died from something unknown... no details? just a bunch of empty space. 
he had a long life but it feels like he was just getting started 
RIP alain zane
it's crazy how life can be full of ups and downs, you know? I mean, he was born into a legendary family with his dad being one of the greatest singer-songwriters of all time... but still, we don't get to see people's struggles until they're already gone 
which is way too young 
. My heart goes out 2 Jackson Browne & his family right now 
. Losing someone so young is just devastating 
. I remember him being on Rolling Stone when he was just a baby 
. RIP Ethan Zane Browne 
. Can't believe he won't be attending our school's talent show anymore... RIP Ethan 
That's actually kinda old for someone who wasn't even close to being over the hill yet. And yeah, his mom died when he was just three, but so what? That's life, right? He still managed to live a full and awesome life. I mean, have you seen his album "Right Before Your Eyes"?! 
.
. It's no wonder his passing is shocking to everyone - he had such an impact on so many people through music and acting. RIP Ethan 
but ethan never let that stop him from living life to the fullest 
. As a parent, you always hope your child will live forever 
, but life has other plans sadly 
anyway gotta respect the fam's need for privacy during this super tough time 
it's so sad that we don't know the cause of death yet... just sending love to jackson browne and his family during this hard time 
. His own journey as an actor and model is also noteworthy, showcasing his versatility and talent outside of the music industry 
. My thoughts are with Jackson Browne, Phyllis Major's family, and Ethan's loved ones during this incredibly difficult time