How Jimmy Buffett's Daughter Delaney Honors the Late Singer in Her New Movie: 'Always Wanted to Pay Tribute' (Exclusive)

Mar. 15, 2025

Delaney Buffett and Jimmy Buffett on March 15, 2018.Photo:Walter McBride/WireImage

Walter McBride/WireImage

Jimmy Buffett’s daughterDelaney Buffettis sharing how she paid tribute to her father in her new movie.

Delaney, an actor, director, writer and movie producer, recently shared her directorial debutAdult Best Friends— a comedy about a woman who takes a trip with her best friend shortly after her engagement — which included a few of the late Jimmy’s songs in scenes taking place at bars in the new movie. She tells PEOPLE that she “always wanted to pay tribute to my dad in some way even before” the “Margaritaville” singerdied at 76in 2023.

“Just because of the influence that he’s had on my life and everything that he’s given to me. I just felt that I owed him at least that,” Delaney, 32 says. “And when he passed, I always was saying, ‘We should just have the jukebox at the bar always playing his music.’ And that was sort of a running joke and I knew he would love that.”

“And then when he passed and I was in the edit, I wanted to have a more obvious needle drop that would pay tribute to him,” she adds; Delaney chose to insert Jimmy’s 1983 song “One Particular Harbour” in one montage in the film. “And then our editor did an excellent job of editing that to the music and then also having it flow into the next scene. And I think that … the Easter eggs were supposed to be subtle, and then it became more obvious when it became more of a tribute than a nod.”

Katie Corwin and Delaney Buffett in ‘Adult Best Friends’.Courtesy of Gravitas Ventures

Courtesy of Gravitas Ventures

Delaney costars inAdult Best Friendswith her real-life best friend Katie Corwin, as well asMason Gooding,Zachary QuintoandCazzie David. While discussing her father with PEOPLE, Delaney additionally shares that Jimmy “was really happy and excited” that she wanted to step into filmmaking as she grew up and described her father as a major movie buff and especially a comedy fan.

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Jane Buffett, Jimmy Buffett and Delaney Buffett on Aug. 19, 2007.PATRICK MCMULLAN/Patrick McMullan via Getty

PATRICK MCMULLAN/Patrick McMullan via Getty

“I think he was a very unique person, yes he was. He found a niche and he did that,” Delaney adds. “But if I can work as hard as he did and just make people happy in some capacity, then I feel like I will have done him proud.“Adult Best Friendsis available to rent or purchase on digital now.

source: people.com