Jimmy Buffett's daughter Delaney posts touching tribute: 'My dad was the joy he sang about'
Jimmy Buffett's daughter is opening up about her beloved father, calling him a "great man" and "even better dad," days after his death.
Sarah Buffett, who goes by Delaney, shared a heartfelt tribute to the "Margaritaville" singer on Instagram on Wednesday, nearly a week after he died on Sept. 1 at the age of 76 from skin cancer, specifically Merkel cell carcinoma.
"I knew my dad my whole life, but in his final days, I saw who he was: a man whose spirit could not be broken," Delaney Buffett wrote.
"Despite the pain, he smiled everyday," she added. "He was kind when he had every excuse not to be. He told us not to be sad or scared, but to keep the party going. And as much as I'd like to use that as an excuse to drink myself into an oblivion worthy of his literary heroes, I know it's not what he meant. Yes, he loved his weed and his wine, but the truth is, most of the time, he was just high on life, and that is what he wanted for everyone: to enjoy the fantastic trip that life can be."
Delaney Buffett continued to gush about her father, saying he "was the joy he sang about."
"He was the hardest working person I've ever seen," she wrote. "He was a great man and an even better dad to my brother, sister and me. He was generous with friends and strangers alike. He had a deep admiration for the people he worked with, and he never took himself too seriously, which is probably what I loved most about him.
She thanked her dad's fans and his music family for giving him "the strength to keep going" throughout his decades-spanning career, the medical professionals who were there for him during his cancer treatments, and family and friends for being there for her family during this difficult time.
To end her post, Delaney Buffett addressed her father directly, writing, "And finally, to my dad, thank you. You turned nothing into something and gave me everything."
"I will never be able to repay you or my mom for my beautiful life," she said. "I will love you forever, and I will always keep the party going (responsibly, of course)."
Jimmy Buffett is survived by his three children, daughters Savannah and Delaney, as well as son Cameron, all of whom he shared with his longtime wife Jane Buffett, whom he married in 1977.
