Nedra Tully Ross, the last surviving member of the Ronettes, has passed away.
The iconic girl group’s official Facebook page announced the sad news in a statement on social media on Sunday.
“It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Nedra Talley Ross. She was a light to those who knew and loved her,” the statement said.
“As a founding member of The Ronettes, along with her beloved cousins Ronnie and Estelle, Nedra’s voice, style and spirit helped define a sound that changed music. Her contributions to the group’s story and the influence that defined them will live on forever,” the statement continues.
“Rest in peace, dear Nedra. Thank you for your magic.”
The cause of death is unknown. She was 80 years old.
Her daughter, Nedra K. Ross, also posted about her mother’s death on Facebook, sharing that she passed away Sunday morning.
“At about 8:30 this morning, our mother Nedra Talley Ross went home to be with the Lord,” she wrote. “She was safe in her bed at home with her family and she knew she was loved.”
The Ronettes consisted of lead singer Ronnie Spector, her sister Estelle Bennett, and her cousin Tully Ross.
After signing with Phil Spector’s label, Phil’s Records, in 1963, he had major hits such as 1963’s “Be My Baby” and 1964’s “Baby I Love You.”
Although they disbanded in 1967 due to declining popularity, their influence on the music industry, from sound to fashion, was profound.
“Be My Baby” was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame in 1999.
Bennett died of colon cancer in February 2009 at the age of 67. Spector also battled cancer and passed away in January 2022 at the age of 78.
Deadline reported in March 2025 that Zendaya will play Spector in the upcoming A24 biopic Be My Baby, directed by Moonlight director Barry Jenkins.
“My heart is broken to hear this news. It feels weird to talk about her as if she’s not with us anymore. She is so incredibly full of life,” Zendaya wrote on Instagram after Spector’s death.
“You’ll never see her without her iconic red lips and perfectly teased hair. A true rock star through and through,” she continued. “Ronnie, it has been one of the greatest honors of my life to know you.”
She added, “Thank you for sharing your life with me. I could listen to you for hours. Thank you for your immense talent, your unwavering love of acting, your strength, resilience, and kindness.”
