Valerie Bertinelli, Eddie Van Halen’s ex-wife, recently shared an emotional tribute to the late guitarist on her Instagram account. She posted an old photo of them together and expressed how much she misses him, as shown on Instagram.
The heartfelt message focused on her ongoing grief and the void left by Eddie’s absence. She particularly emphasized their shared pride in their son Wolfgang’s musical career.
“Some days I really do miss you,” Bertinelli said. “There will always be a loud absence in these gratifying sideline years.”
She continued to reflect on their unique bond as parents and former partners.
“Who do I yap to when there was really only one person I could talk to about Wolfie the way that we did?” she said. “The pride we both felt. Still feel. I’m grateful for where we landed. Through the ups and the downs to still alight where we did is a blessing.”
Bertinelli also expressed regret about not being able to share future moments with Eddie. She specifically mentioned watching their son perform.
“You’d be so proud of Wolf,” she said. “I know we’d be screaming together in the stands watching him on stage. Seeing who could whistle the loudest. I will never not miss being able to experience that with you.”
The emotional post has raised questions about how Eddie’s widow, Janie Van Halen, might react to such public displays of affection from his ex-wife.
This latest tribute reflects the complex but enduring relationship between Bertinelli and Eddie. Their bond has evolved significantly over the decades since their initial meeting.
Ultimate Classic Rock reported that Valerie and Eddie’s relationship began in 1980 after she was convinced by her brother to attend a Van Halen concert. An instant connection formed backstage. They married in April 1981 and had their son, Wolfgang, in 1991. Their marriage faced challenges that led to their separation in 2001 and eventual divorce in 2007.
Despite the end of their romantic relationship, the former couple maintained a respectful and cooperative bond focused on co-parenting Wolfgang. Wolfgang later joined Van Halen’s lineup as a musician. The List noted that Bertinelli herself has described their love evolving over time from romantic to a more familial, sibling-like bond after their divorce. She emphasized the care they continued to have for each other in their shared roles as Wolfgang’s parents.
Following Eddie’s death in October 2020, Bertinelli has been open about processing her grief publicly. OK Magazine revealed that she spoke about the dual nature of grief in an Instagram Live. She explained that while their relationship had difficult times, the gift of grief allowed her to cherish the beautiful moments more than the struggles.
“The gift of grief is that you remember all the beautiful stuff more than all the hard stuff,” Bertinelli said during the emotional social media session.
The actress and cookbook author’s continued public expressions of love and loss for her ex-husband demonstrate the lasting impact of their shared history. This is particularly evident in their mutual devotion to their son’s success and well-being.
