Valerie Bertinelli Says She's Gone to Text Eddie Van Halen a "Few Dozen Times" Since His Death

From Good Housekeeping

• Valerie Bertinelli is opening up about how she and her son Wolfie are dealing with the loss of Eddie Van Halen, who died in October 2020 from throat and lung cancer.

• Fighting back tears, she told Today anchors that the past few months have been "rough" as she's processing the loss of her ex-husband and co-parent.

• Valerie thanked Today anchor Carson Daly for interviewing her son about his musical tribute to his father, "Distance," which premiered back in November.

Like many others in 2020, Valerie Bertinelli has faced personal tragedy recently after the October 6 loss of ex-husband Eddie Van Halen to throat and lung cancer. The former One Day at a Time star has previously spoken out about her heartbreak surrounding Eddie's death, and has shared outspoken support for her 29-year-old son, Wolfie Van Halen, as he grapples with his father's passing during the pandemic. But the emotional toll of Eddie's tragic death on his family has never been clearer, as Valerie opened up about the "rough" few months since his passing while appearing on the Today show this week.

"It's been rough — very bittersweet, [but] we're doing okay," Valerie told anchor Hoda Kotb, describing how she and Wolfie are working through the start of 2021, having spent the holidays together. When a selfie with Woflie and Eddie flashed on the screen, however, Valerie couldn't help but let out a choked sob, and the emotion prompted her to explain how the loss is affecting her every day.

"It's hard. I've gone to text him a few dozen times and it's like, 'Oh, no, I can't text him right now," she told Hoda, pushing past tears.

While Valerie divorced Eddie in the early 2000s, the pair remained very close as they co-parented while raising Wolfie. "40 years ago, my life changed when I met you. You gave me the one true light in my life, our son, Wolfgang," Valerie shared at the time of Eddie's death. "I'm so grateful Wolfie and I were able to hold you in your last moments."

Wolfie has also shared a string of tributes to his father, who he performed with as a bassist in the group Van Halen, including releasing a single and music video titled "Distance" back in November. The emotional song has touched many people since it's release, including Today's Carson Daly, who sat down with Wolfie to talk about Eddie's lasting legacy and impact. "It doesn't seem like the pain is ever really going to go away. You just kinda figure out how to carry it a bit better," Wolfie told Carson during the Today interview, previously calling Eddie "the best father I could ever ask for" on Instagram shortly after his passing.

"Carson, I just want to say a big thank you to you for that lovely piece you did on Wolfie, it really touched my heart," Valerie added during this week's appearance, wiping away tears. Carson replied: "[The piece is] only as good as your subject, though, he's an incredible young man… it's a testament to his parents, both of you, what an impressive young man."

You can watch Wolfie's full interview with Carson above, and learn more about his first solo single "Distance" in this Rolling Stone report.

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