Condolences: Tom Parker
• Tom Parker, a member of the boy band The Wanted, has died at the age of 33 after a lengthy battle with brain cancer. Parker has publicly shared his diagnosis in October 2020.
Parker’s wife Kelsey Hardwick shared the sad news in an Instagram post that reads, “It is with the heaviest of hearts that we confirm Tom passed away peacefully earlier today with all of his family by his side. Our hearts are broken, Tom was the centre of our world and we can’t imagine life without his infectious smile and energetic presence. We are truly thankful for the outpouring of love and support and ask that we all unite to ensure Tom’s light continues to shine for his beautiful children. Thank you to everyone who has supported in his care throughout, he fought until the very end. I’m forever proud of you.”
As Billboard chronicled, “Parker joined the The Wanted in 2009 after trying out for the group in a mass audition. Once the lineup — which also consisted of Max George, Siva Kaneswaran, Jay McGuiness and Nathan Sykes — was finalized, the group signed to Island Records and Mercury Records, and were managed by Scooter Braun. The group found mainstream success in 2012 with singles ‘Glad You Came’ and ‘Chasing the Sun,’ which peaked at No. 3 and No. 50 on the Billboard Hot 100, respectively.”
Parker recently announced he had written a book about his cancer battle titled Hope. “It’s a book about living,” Parker wrote on March 21. “It’s a book about finding hope in whatever situation you’re dealt, and living your best life no matter what. It will show you how having faith in hope and daring to dream means you can carry on, against all odds.”
In addition to Kelsey, Parker is survived by the couple’s two children, Aurelia Rose Parker and Bodhi Thomas Paris Parker.
