Jackson Browne’s Son Ethan Browne Dies at 52 After Accidental Drug Toxicity

Another American life has been lost to fentanyl, and this time it has struck a well-known music family. Ethan Browne, the son of legendary singer-songwriter Jackson Browne, has died at the age of 52.

According to the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner, Ethan died from the toxic effects of fentanyl, methamphetamine, and lidocaine. The manner of death was ruled accidental.

Jackson Browne publicly announced his son’s death in November, sharing a brief and emotional statement with fans. “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,” the statement read. The family also asked for privacy as they grieved, noting that no further details were available at the time.

Ethan Browne was the son of Jackson Browne and Phyllis Major, who died by suicide in 1976 when Ethan was still a toddler. Despite the tragedy that marked his early life, Ethan went on to build a creative career of his own.

He appeared in the 2004 film Raising Helen, starring Kate Hudson, and also found success as a fashion model, working with renowned designer Isaac Mizrahi. In addition to acting and modeling, Ethan was a musician, following in his father’s artistic footsteps.

Ethan also shared a unique place in pop culture history. As a baby in 1974, he appeared on the cover of Rolling Stone with his father, in a now-iconic photograph showing Jackson Browne tenderly nuzzling his infant son.

In recent years, Jackson Browne often spoke with pride about Ethan, especially about his role as a father. In 2022, Jackson said, “Ethan is a great father. He’s a great son, a great man. I love seeing him with his kids.” He added that watching Ethan balance his creative work with fatherhood made him “very proud.”

Ethan Browne’s death adds to the growing toll of fentanyl-related fatalities across the United States, a crisis that continues to claim lives across all backgrounds and communities. His passing leaves behind family, friends, and children who knew him not just as the son of a famous musician, but as a devoted father, artist, and loved one.