SAD NEWS: CYNTHIA LENNON, DEAD AT 75

Sad news: Cynthia Lennon, the late John Lennon's wife from 1962-1968, has died at age 75 from cancer. According to a rep, Julian - was with her at the time of her death.

Here's the statement:

"Cynthia Lennon passed away today at her home in Mallorca, Spain following a short but brave battle with cancer. Her son Julian Lennon was at her bedside throughout. The family are thankful for your prayers. Please respect their privacy at this difficult time."

Cynthia met John when she was 18 and he was on the cusp of fame with the Beatles. They married in 1962 after she became pregnant with their only child, Julian Lennon, who was born in 1963. Their marriage was notoriously rocky, with Cynthia claiming her former husband struck her on one occasion.

"He was a very jealous young man at the time, and he had a lot of pain inside," she said in later years. "He wanted to trust me and he thought by seeing me dancing with a friend of his that I was being disloyal or messing around. So he smacked me, but that was the only time."

John divorced Cynthia in 1968 and married Yoko Ono in 1969, who he remained with until he was shot and killed in 1980. Cynthia wrote two books about their life together: A Twist of Lennon in 1980 and John in 2005.

Following her death, Julian Lennon posted the following musical tribute to his late mother.