Johnny Hallyday's funeral: Laeticia Hallyday's choice that “stunned” Laura Smet and David Hallyday

On December 5, 2024, Laura Smet confided in the columns of Paris Match about Johnny Hallyday. Seven years after the rocker's death, she spoke about his funeral particular.

© VEEREN/BESTIMAGE David Hallyday, Laura Smet, Laeticia Hallyday and her daughters Jade and Joy à the Madeleine church for Johnny Hallyday's funeral in Paris.

IN BRIEF

• Johnny Hallyday, icon of French rock, died on December 5, 2017 in 74, leaving behind his four children, including Laura Smet.
• Laura Smet has revealed that she was not informed of her father's burial in Saint-Barthélemy, a decision that surprised her and her brother David.
• Discover Laura Smet's moving confidences on her father's last days and the impact of his unexpected burial.

An emblematic rock icon, Johnny Hallyday left his mark on the French music scene for over 50 years. On December 5, 2017, he died at the age of 74. Seven years after her disappearance, her daughter Laura Smet gave an interview to Paris Match.

During her interview, the 41-year-old woman spoke about cancer then her father's death. “He never complained during his illness. He never complained at all. Never, never, never! But his end was really hard on everyone. It was special…” she remembered.

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Laura Smet was not aware of the location of the burial

On December 9, 2017, Johnny Hallyday's funeral took place at the La Madeleine church in Paris. A very complicated moment for his family. “I didn't understand anything about that day. I was completely absent. I had tinnitus. I didn't know at all that çit was going to be like ça” explained Laura Smet.

Two days later, the Boss was buried at Lorient Cemetery, in Saint-Barthélemy. According to Laeticia Hallyday, burial on the Caribbean island was her husband's last wish. However, his two eldest children were not informed about this. Laura Smet thus revealed : “I didn't know about the burial in Saint-Barth, I learned about it at the time and I was shocked. David and I were shocked”.

Johnny Hallyday's daughter didn't return to his grave

Despite the unexpected announcement of the burial in Saint-Barthélemy, Laura Smet and David Hallyday did not want to cause a scandal. “We followed the movement to be with him until the end” confided the rocker's eldest daughter.

Last June, Laura Smet had already discussed her father's special funeral. On France TV info, she explained that she had not visited his grave since that fateful day. “Çhad gone a little far to go see him (…) Çthat goes for all people who have had parents buried far away” she had thus revealed. A difficult situation live for the one who hopes that it was indeed Johnny Hallyday's will.