Bernadette Hernandez, the mother of Grammy winner Bruno Mars, died in Hawaii Saturday.
According to a publicist for Mars’ label, Atlantic Records, Hernandez died from a brain aneurysm at Queens Medical Center in Honolulu. She was 55 years old.
Bernadette Hernandez was a hula dancer and singer who moved from the Philippines to Hawaii. She was supportive of her six children’s early musical ambitions, and a 4-year-old Mars even wrote a song about her called, “I Love You Mom.” In the song, he says, “My mommy helps me with my voice, cuz a superstar singer is my first choice.” Mars’ brother, Eric, plays the drums in his bands, and his four sisters — Presley, Tahiti, Tiara, and Jamie — created their own group, the Lylas (Love you like a sister).
The sisters landed a reality series of the same name on WEtv , which will chronicle their move from Honolulu to L.A. to pursue their own music career. The network has committed to eight hour-long episodes, which will premiere in the fall.
It was initially reported by Star magazine that Hernandez suffered a heart attack Friday and had been rushed to the hospital in critical condition. Family friend Anita Sojot told the rag, “Bernadette is in the hospital and the grandkids are all here, I’m looking after them. The family is on its way here right now and we are going to discuss what to do next.”
Mars spoke to Rolling Stone magazine about his childhood in April, including how he impersonated Elvis Presley in the family band when he was two, and how, when the band broke up, the family struggled to pay its bills. But Mars said he doesn’t regret the experience.
“I wouldn’t trade it for anything. Because I feel like I can enjoy this so much,” he said.
Bruno Mars was set to begin his “Moonshine Jungle Tour” this month, but there is no word yet on whether his mother’s death will affect the tour schedule.
We here at The Inquisitr extend our condolences to Bruno Mars and the Hernandez family.
[Photo credit: Presley Hernandez / Instagram ]