Gretna Van Fleet, Namesake of Greta Van Fleet, Dies at 95

Gretna Van Fleet, the Michigan woman whose name inspired the Grammy-winning rock band Greta Van Fleet, died Monday at age 95. She passed away at a senior living center in Frankenmuth, Michigan, according to her obituary.

The band, which formed in Frankenmuth in 2012, adopted a version of her name in its early days. According to former drummer Kyle Hauck, the group needed a name for a local performance. He recalled hearing his grandfather speak of helping a friend named Gretna Van Fleet, and the idea stuck. The band removed the "n" from "Gretna" to become Greta Van Fleet.

Van Fleet, who was in her 80s when the band started, said in a 2019 interview that the musicians did not seek her permission initially. She joked that they might have checked her background first. She later met the band members and gave her blessing. The band went on to achieve significant success, winning the Grammy for Best Rock Album in 2019 for "From The Fires" and earning a nomination for Best Album in 2024 for "Starcatcher."

Though not a member of the band, Gretna Van Fleet was musically talented in her own right. Her obituary notes she played several instruments, including saxophone, violin, tuba, and...