“Happy Birthday Pops” Iman and Lexi Jones Lead Global Tributes for David Bowie’s 79th Birthday

On January 8, 2026, the world paused to remember David Bowie on what would have been his 79th birthday. The date also marks a significant milestone in music history: the 10th anniversary of the release of his final studio album, Blackstar. Leading the wave of global remembrance were the two people closest to him—his wife, Iman, and daughter, Lexi Jones.

“A Million Feelings”: Iman’s Heartfelt Message

Bowie’s widow, the iconic supermodel and entrepreneur Iman, took to social media to share a poignant tribute to her husband of 24 years. Staying true to her tradition of sharing intimate, often private glimpses of their life together, she posted a striking black-and-white photograph of the couple.

Her caption read:

“A million feeling, a thousand thoughts. A hundred memories… YOU! Happy Heavenly Birthday.”

Since Bowie’s passing in 2016, Iman has been vocal about her “everlasting marriage,” famously stating in interviews that she still refers to David as her husband rather than her “late” husband. Her 2026 tribute continues a decade-long practice of honoring his birth and death anniversaries with “eternal love.”

“Miss Ya”: Lexi Jones Honors “Pops”

Alexandria “Lexi” Zahra Jones, now 25, shared her own personal tribute to her father. Lexi, who has spent the last year establishing herself as a musician and artist in her own right, posted a rare throwback photo of herself as a child with Bowie.

Her message was short but deeply moving:

“Da big 79 today. Happy birthday pops, miss ya!”

Lexi’s tribute carries extra weight this year following the 2025 release of her debut album, Xandri. While she has been open about the pressure of being “David Bowie's daughter,” she has recently used her platform to express that she is “creating her own rhythm” while keeping her father's “forever sunshine” alive in her heart.

A Decade of Blackstar

Today’s tributes also serve as a somber reminder that it has been ten years since the world received Bowie’s “parting gift.” Blackstar was released on his 69th birthday, just two days before his death on January 10, 2016.

Music critics and fans have spent the morning revisiting the album, which has seen a massive surge in streaming numbers today. The 10th anniversary of the record is being marked by:

• Special Edition Vinyl Releases: Rare pressings of the album featuring “lost” artwork.

• Global Listening Parties: Organized fan events in London, New York, and Berlin.

• The “Heroes” Spike: A renewed interest in his catalog following recent high-profile uses in film and television throughout late 2025.

What’s Next: The January 10th Anniversary

While today is a celebration of Bowie’s life and birth, the focus will soon shift to Saturday, January 10, 2026, which marks exactly one decade since his passing.

Major tributes are scheduled for this weekend, including the “A Night of Stardust” finale in Philadelphia and Mike Garson’s “A Decade in the Stars” residency in Los Angeles. Iman and Lexi are expected to spend the anniversary privately, as they have done for the past ten years, though fans are already leaving flowers and lightning-bolt tributes at the Bowie mural in Brixton and outside his former apartment in Lafayette Street, NYC.