Brian Mcknight Legally Change His Name to Newborn Son’s
By Extra-Ordinary Women
Renowned singer Brian McKnight recently made a significant decision to publicly reaffirm his family ties by officially changing his name.
On Saturday, October 21, McKnight took to his Instagram account to share not only his new name but also to introduce his latest musical endeavor. Accompanied by a heartwarming image of Brian Kainoa Makoa McKnight Jr., the caption read, “JR. because I am also proud to officially announce that I have legally changed my name to exactly match my legacy’s. My legal name is now BRIAN KAINOA MAKOA MCKNIGHT SR.” In addition to this revelation, he also unveiled the title of his forthcoming album, “MCKNIGHTtime LULLABIES.”
This personal transformation comes after a period of significant life changes for Brian McKnight. In January, he welcomed a son with his current wife, Leilani Mendoza McKnight. He also embraced the role of stepfather to Mendoza’s two children, Jack and Julia, from a previous relationship.
However, it’s important to note that McKnight’s journey has not been without its challenges. Earlier this summer, the “Back At One” singer faced allegations of neglecting his children, Brian Jr. and Niko, from his first marriage to Julie, whom he married in 1990 and divorced in 2003.
Brian Sr.’s decision to change his name received a mixed response, especially from his eldest son, Brian Jr. When a comment on Instagram suggested that Jr. should change his name to distance himself from his estranged father, he responded by saying, “I’m not ashamed of the name my ancestors had. I’ll never change the name my own son now has. We are witnessing an obscene level of self-hate, which has reached mental illness status at this point.” He further expressed his love for his stepfamily, whom he had allegedly not yet had the chance to meet, and emphasized that they would welcome his new half-brother with open arms when the time comes.
The accusations of Brian Sr.’s actions grew after a 2020 Instagram post resurfaced, in which he celebrated his stepdaughter, Julia, by referring to her as the “perfect daughter” he had always wanted. This led to online criticism, as it seemed to imply that he had not acknowledged his own daughter from his previous marriage. Brian Sr. responded to these allegations by stating that the decision to be out of his first children’s lives was mutual and that he had made adjustments to his will in light of this choice.
In changing his name and addressing these family matters, Brian McKnight appears to be taking steps to solidify his commitment to his evolving family dynamics and to mend any previous misunderstandings.
