Drew Scott Reflects on ‘Unexpected’ Death of Wife’s Mom and How They’ve Been Honoring Her (Exclusive)

Natalia SenanayakeMon, March 30, 2026 at 10:38 PM UTC

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Drew Scott with wife Linda Phan and his late mother-in-law BarbCredit: Drew Scott/Instagram -

Drew Scott first announced the death of his wife Linda Phan's mother in February with a heartfelt Instagram tribute

Scott shares how his family is honoring his late mother-in-law, Barb, through Chinese traditions of celebrating her life

Barb, affectionately called Habu by her 10 grandchildren, was a beloved presence in their lives and deeply missed, he tells PEOPLE exclusively

Drew Scott is opening up about the devastating loss of his wife Linda Phan’s mother.

During an exclusive interview with PEOPLE earlier in March, the Property Brothers: Under Pressure star, 47, got candid about how his family has been honoring his late mother-in-law, Barb, and her legacy in the after her sudden death.

“It's very sad. It was very unexpected,” Scott recalls to PEOPLE. “Habu — all of the grandkids call her Habu. Her name's Barb, but that was her nickname. But she was a big part of all ten of the grandkids' lives, and so very missed.”

While their family continues to mourn, Scott says they’ve also been focusing on celebrating Barb’s life, which is a big part of his wife’s Chinese heritage.

“In Chinese culture, there's a lot of celebration of life, whether it's at the temple or whether it's at her home. So we've had a lot of moments to be able to reflect on how amazing she is,” the HGTV star shares.

“We've spent the last month with family, and so we've all been together, which has been really great, including Linda's dad,” he adds, emphasizing that Barb “will be missed.”

Scott first announced the death of his mother-in-law in a heartfelt tribute on Instagram, which he shared on Thursday, Feb. 5.

“My heart is broken,” he wrote in his caption at the time. “We have lost one of the most beautiful, kind and selfless people this planet has ever seen. Linda’s mom is truly one of a kind and was taken from us far too soon.”

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He continued, “Thank you Habu for bringing so much light to our lives. Your laugh was infectious and I will always remember our late nights playing your favorite game 四色牌遊戲 [four color cards].” Scott added that he felt “helpless in trying to comfort Linda and her family" at the time, but he knows "memories of all the beautiful times with Habu will live on with us forever.”

“You were always there for us and all 10 grandkids. The hardest thing for me is to know we won’t have you here to see Parker and Piper grow into strong and compassionate adults like you. I love you. I miss you❤️,” he concluded.

Drew and Linda with their two kidsCredit: Drew Scott/Instagram (2)

Along with his emotional caption, the real estate expert shared a number of special moments with his mother-in-law over the years, including a photo with him, Linda, Barb and his mom Joanne Scott. Other images showed Barb spending time with their two children Parker, 3 and Piper, 1.

In the comments, famous friends, family and fans offered their love and support during the difficult time, including Drew's twin brother and HGTV co-star Jonathan Scott, who wrote, “What a loving soul through and through.”

Drew Scott and Linda PhanCredit: Gilbert Flores/Variety via Getty

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Drew and Linda first met at Toronto Fashion Week in 2010, and after six years of dating, the TV host popped the question with an elaborate proposal at Toronto’s Piano Piano restaurant. Years later, the couple tied the knot in an outdoor ceremony in Italy on May 4, 2018.

In May 2022, Scott and Linda welcomed their first child, Parker, on their fourth wedding anniversary. In January 2024, they announced they were expecting again on Instagram, and they later welcomed their baby girl, Piper, on May 21, 2024.

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Source: “AOL Entertainment”