Music | Celebrity

Tom Petty's Daughter Shares a Heartbreaking Tribute

The late, great Tom Petty left behind two daughters, Adria Petty and Annakim Violette Petty, when he passed away at the age of 66-years-old. Both girls followed in their father's footsteps and pursued the arts, with Adria becoming a successful music video and documentary director, while 35-year-old Annakim became an artist. Through Annakim's work, she makes it clear that she doesn't follow the crowd.

"Unapologetically, I love costumes," she says. "But I hate the fashion industry. I don't have a standard. My low is my high, basically."

Annakim's moter, Jane Benyo was Petty's first wife and the couple were married from 1974-1996.

Petty and Benyo met at the age of 17, which was the basis for the Stevie Nicks hit song "Edge of Seventeen".

The "Free Falling" singer later married Dana York Epperson in 2001.

Daily Mail

Annakim traveled a lot growing up, so that contributes to her feelings that she is not part of any one world.

"You can take people that are in different places in the world, have never met, and have a collective that could be so similar that it's terrifying, yet their experiences are completely distinct from the people around them," she told StyleLikeU.

She relates music and her work in fashion, and tries to draw one into the other.

"Music is like liquid, and I feel like clothing should be more like music. It's like a song that you love. It shouldn't be about something that's trying to fit in or out of the world. It should be something that's bringing people closer to the world," she said in 2011. "It's one of those things where it makes me not take life so seriously. I feel like clothing should be the opposite of anxiety."

Annakim has turned to her Instagram page to tribute her late father, posting personal photos and other milestones from his career.

It was confirmed on Monday night that Tom Petty died at 8:40 P.M. surrounded by his family, friends and band-mates. Petty was found his his home in full cardiac arrest which resulted in no brain function, before the family took him off of life support.

Pitchfork

In a touching series of Instagram photos, Annakim shared many important moment of her life with her dad.

"One week ago today I was watching my dad play," she wrote on Instagram just hours before Petty's death. "We showed up rushed to our seats. I got stoned had a beer the lights went dark, sat watching realizing I grew up on these songs, everyone grew up on these songs. [This] is real American Art made from the roots of real people who deeply love life. My father loves music more than anything and always put music first. It's going to be healing to know I will never go a day without hearing his music. I love his class honesty and how strange and funny he is. Tom Petty is an American Icon because his heart has always put human rights first. We are one. I love you dad your songs are dreams manifested."

She draws on personal memories, and shares them with the world while she was in hospital with her dad.

"My dad had matching stage clothes made for me as a kid this jacket still fits me made by glen Palmer from granny takes a trip when I got the call to come to the hospital I grabbed this jacket and I'm still wearing it⚡️" she wrote on Instagram.

While in hospital with her father, she reminisced about the life they had together.

"96 tears was the first song my dad taught me to play thank you for all the love this has been the longest day of my life💜" she posted still wearing the jacket.

And simply sharing her heartbreak.

"I love u," she wrote.

She thanked everyone for their help during the family's hard time, but asked for privacy while they grieve.

"The amount of pain you feel will one day be the amount of joy you exsperience [sic]

I want to thank the hospital for there privacy,compassion,medical care. Thank my family for only bringing love to the room

Friends for there around the clock emotional sopport [sic]

Fans for there out pouring of love and respect for my familys [sic] space and privacy🖤🤘🏿

My heart feels open and light years closer to my loved ones

The body dies but the loves grows forever

Invite love🖤," she wrote.

Our hearts go out to the Petty family as they deal with their loss.

Source: Heavy / Daily Mail /

Related Articles