Dani Martín's father dies: I was with him in his last moments with our hands held, it was the most healing

Spanish singer Dani Martin announced Saturday that his father, Jose Manuel Martin, known as Manolo, has died. The musician shared the news via an Instagram story, explaining that he had to return urgently from Barcelona to Madrid to hold his father’s hand during his final moments. Martin stated that this experience was deeply healing for him. He apologized to fans for missing two scheduled concerts in the Catalan capital due to the family emergency. The cancellation was initially confirmed on Friday by Martin’s team through a statement posted on social media. They cited an extreme family situation as the reason the artist could not perform at the Palau Sant Jordi arena. The shows were part of the tour titled 25 Pts Anios, which marks the twenty-fifth anniversary of his career. This tour began in Madrid in November 2025. The management indicated that dates for the rescheduled performances would be communicated in the coming days. It remained unclear whether tickets would be refunded if attendees could not attend the new dates. Martin, who is 49 years old and from San Sebastian de los Reyes, addressed his followers directly in a post accompanied by a photograph. The image showed his late father walking with their sister, Miriam, who passed away unexpectedly in 2009. In the text, Martin wrote that while he intended to hold hands with the audience in Barcelona, his father needed his presence more urgently. He described returning to Madrid without warning to be with his parent until the end. The singer thanked fans for their respect toward his family and himself over the years. He concluded his message with the phrase, Fly high, captain, referencing a song dedicated to his father. The track Captain appears on the album Lo Que Me De La Gana. According to reports, the song describes the bond built between father and son over the years, particularly through their shared passion for Atletico Madrid football club. Following the announcement, Martin’s previous post regarding the concert cancellations received numerous messages of support. These included tributes from fellow musicians such as the band Supersubmarina and singer Dani Fernandez. This loss adds to a history of personal tragedy for the artist. His sister Miriam died suddenly of a stroke in February 2009 at the age of 34. Martin has previously discussed how her death forced him into a parental role within his own family. In interviews, including one with public broadcaster RTVE in October 2021, he reflected on managing grief and the difficulty of accepting blows as they happen. He noted that he stopped being the younger member of the band El Canto Del Loco to become a mature man after his sister’s departure. Miriam was a veterinarian whom Martin described as discreet and very different from him. She inspired his first solo album, Pequeno, released in 2010. That year also saw the separation of the band he had led since 2000. Martin recently mentioned his sister again in a letter published in El Pais newspaper on October 12. The piece coincided with his performance alongside Shakira at the final show of the Colombian artist’s residency in Madrid. He wrote that Shakira and the song Pies Descalzos reminded him of his sister, elevating his enthusiasm for the collaboration. The immediate focus now shifts to the logistical arrangements for the cancelled tour dates. Fans await official information regarding new performance times. Martin continues to process the recent loss while maintaining his professional commitments. The music community has rallied around him following the disclosure of his father’s passing. Details about the specific circumstances of the death beyond the urgent need for his presence have not been elaborated upon in the initial statements. The emphasis in all communications has remained on the emotional impact of holding his father’s hand in those final hours.