James Morrison's late wife Gill Catchpole was the inspiration for his song My Love Goes On.
Singer James, 39, wrote the song with Gill in mind before the mother-of-two was found dead at their family home in Gloucestershire on Friday, aged 45.
Pop star James, who recorded the song with Joss Stone, said he drew on his experiences from a difficult time he and Gill went through together for the song.
He told OK! Magazine in 2019: 'I was going through a hard time with my other half, she was going through a hard time and I wanted to help her but she just didn't see me as someone who could. It upset me because she wouldn't let me in.
'Sometimes it's better to say it in a song. She's quite jealous, so when I first met Joss Stone she said, “I don't like her.” But she changed her mind when she heard the song.”
James Morrison's late wife Gill Catchpole was the inspiration for his song My Love Goes On, with the singer writing the song during a difficult time in their relationship (Gill and James pictured in 2012)
Singer James, 39, wrote the song with Gill in mind before the mother-of-two was found dead at their family home in Gloucestershire on Friday, aged 45.
James, who recorded the song with Joss Stone, said he drew on his experiences from a difficult time he and Gill went through together for the song (James and Joss pictured in 2019)
James praised Gill for supporting him with his music, insisting she was there for him when he performed in front of small audiences, despite thinking he might not pursue a recording career.
He said: 'She is a realist and thought I was pursuing a pointless career, but she supported me.
“Without her, I don't think I would be here. I don't think I would be the person I am.'
James's wife of 17 years, Gill, had taken off her wedding ring and was looking for a new home shortly before she died – just as her pop star husband started recording new music in 2024 after years out of the spotlight, MailOnline revealed today.
The mother-of-two, a pub owner and caterer, was found dead at their family home in Gloucestershire aged 45.
The couple, who had two daughters, Elsie, 15, and Ada Rose, five, married in 2006, but Gill was pictured without a wedding ring last summer and had her relationship status listed as 'single' on Facebook.
In 2022, she still wore the ring and shared a tactile selfie with her husband on social media. But in an Instagram post five weeks ago, James wasn't wearing his band either.
MailOnline today revealed that Gill was looking for a property in the Whitminster area of Gloucestershire on the eve of her death – the fourth family tragedy James has suffered in recent years. Gill had also recently spoken about her 'ups, downs and sadness' following a kidney transplant.
Gill pictured without her wedding ring last summer. She was found dead on Friday. Her husband James is 'devastated'
The couple was married for 17 years and walked down the aisle in 2006. Gill waves her wedding ring as they leave Claridges in 2009.
Gill had made her relationship status single on Facebook
Gill posted on Facebook that she was “looking for a house to rent asap” just 24 hours before she died
The life-saving operation took place around the time James returned to the spotlight with a Greatest Hits album and festival appearances.
He has had several long breaks between hit records and has spoken of his grief following the deaths of his father, brother and cousin after becoming a star with his breakthrough song You Give Me Something.
James and his family are 'devastated' by Gill's death. The day before her death, the singer-songwriter shared on Instagram a photo of himself recording guitar music, with the caption: “New year, new adventure.” He does not yet want to respond publicly.
Gloucestershire Police are not treating her death as suspicious.
A spokesperson said: 'Police were called to Whitminster in Gloucester at around 9.10am on Friday following concerns about the welfare of a resident.
'Officers attended and the body of a woman in her forties was found at an address.
James and Gill were pictured in a candid photo posted to social media in October 2022. Gill was found dead on Friday
“The death is being treated as non-suspicious at this time. The coroners and the woman's next of kin have been informed.”
Her death came about 14 months after she had a kidney transplant, which she admitted had destroyed her life, but she praised her family for “picking up the many pieces of my life.”
The day before the tragedy, she wrote on a local Facebook group: 'Looking for a house to rent in Whitminster ASAP. Please feel free to contact me if anyone knows or hears anything. TIA (thanks in advance).
A friend said on social media at the time: 'Gill is a very dear friend of mine. If anyone has any properties to rent, preferably in the Whitminster area, please let me know or message Gill directly.'
Gill underwent a kidney transplant at the end of 2021 after one was working at '35 per cent'. It came as a shock to her.
Ms Catchpole had shared a post on her company's social media late last year, expressing her excitement about starting the business after undergoing a kidney transplant.
She wrote in the November 2023 post, “Well what can I say. What a difference a year makes. This time last year I had my kidney transplant and a year later, after many ups and sorrows, I have my own business here.
'At the beginning of this year I didn't see this coming. For anyone who is going through a hard time, I can tell you from experience that it gets better.
'Thank you to my wonderful family and friends who have all been there and picked up the many pieces of me and my life. You all know who you are. Today I feel blessed.”
It is yet another tragedy for James who disappeared from the music industry for some time until his greatest hits album in 2022 after losing his father Paul, an alcoholic, as well as older brother Alexis and cousin Callum within three years.