Neil Young shares an emotional tribute to his ex-wife Pegi who died of cancer

On New Year’s Day, musician Neil Young paid tribute to his ex-wife Pegi Young on his website. Pegi passed away after a battle with cancer.

The tribute was the singer’s first public statement since her death.

Neil Young, 72, honored his ex-wife Pegi Young, 66, on his official website dedicated to his music archives with the words: "Thanks Pegi, for being such a wonderful mother to our children."

For more on this story go to our Twitter account @amomama_usa. He added, "You live inside of them and the many you have touched."

The musician also included lyrics to his “Harvest Moon” 1992 track "Such a Woman." This was one of the many songs he’d written about his former wife.

The lyrics read:

"You are such a woman to me / And I love you / Our love will live / Until the end of time / No one else can kill me like you do / No one else can fill me like you do / And no, no one else can feel our pain / Love is a healer / And I love you."

The couple divorced in 2014 after being married for 36 years and lived together in the Bay Area for many years. The pair helped to found the Bridge School for children with speech and physical impairments.

The school was first conceived in 1986 by Pegi after she and her then-husband struggled to educate their son Ben who was born with cerebral palsy. In the next three decades, the Youngs held all-star concert benefits, with guest performers including Bruce Springsteen, David Bowie, and Tom Petty.

Pegi and Neil met in 1974, when she was living in a teepee, and married four years later. Since 2014, Neil has been in a relationship with "Splash" actress Daryl Hannah, 57.

In November, the rock singer confirmed the news that he and Hannah had gotten married. Neil and Pegi had two children together, Ben and Amber.