
80s rock icon celebrates 36th wedding anniversary after cheating confession
The Livin' On A Prayer hitmaker, 63, posted their celebrations on social media in the form of 36 roses for 36 'amazing years'.
He also shared a throwback photo of the pair looking young and in love alongside a picture of their wedding venue, Graceland Wedding Chapel in Las Vegas, where they tied the knot in 1989.
Jon and Dorothea met in high school and married nine years later. While they briefly broke up in 1985, in which time the rocker dated actor Diane Lane, they quickly found each other again.
While their relationship is long-lasting, the It's My Life hitmaker admitted in an interview last year that he 'got away with murder' in his younger years when he was 'no saint'.
The musician made the frank comments while speaking on the ABC special, Michael Strahan x Jon Bon Jovi: Halfway There.
Reflecting on Jon's stratospheric success, host Michael, 52, remarked: 'It had to be tough on a relationship. You're young…'
'That's nonsense,' Jon interjected. 'I got away with murder.'
He continued: 'I'm a rock and roll star. I'm not a saint. I'm not saying that there weren't 100 girls in my life. I'm Jon Bon Jovi. It was pretty good.
'But if you think I'm ever going to jeopardise anything for believing the narcissist in me was real? What a stupid thing to do.
'What kind of excess does a man need that's going to fuel that fire? It's just not worth it.'
In April 2020, Bon Jovi told People their secret to a long-lasting partnership was 'mutual respect'.
'Having grown up together and grown together. And we really like each other. We want to hang out,' he said.
In 2010 he reflected on the moment they decided to marry in an interview with Men's Health.
'We had the No. 1 album, the No. 1 single, and we were playing three nights at the Forum in L.A.,' he told the publication.
'I turned to Dorothea and said, 'I got an idea. Why don't we go right now?' She said, 'You're out of your mind.' I said, 'Come on. What's better than this, right now, this moment?' And so we ran off to Las Vegas. Didn't tell a soul.'
The pair went on to welcome four children together – Stephanie, 31, Jesse, 30, Romeo, 21, and Millie Bobby Brown's new husband Jake, 22.
To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video
Jon previously spoke to The Independent about the 'wonderful clichés of rock stardom'.
Elaborating, he continued: 'It's about never lying about having been a saint, but not being a fool enough to [mess up] the home life, either.'
In November, Jon was asked to elaborate on his previous comments in a podcast episode of Just for Variety with Variety journalist Marc Malkin.
'You're honest about being a rockstar, that you've got a lot of women in your life. Girls, as you call them,' said Marc, asking: 'Were your family surprised at how honest you were? Did your wife know you were going to be that honest?'
After a pause, Jon answered: 'It was based on an old article many years ago, it would be a lie if you said you were a saint. It was the 80s for god's sake. I'm still that guy. Did a girl ever throw herself at me? F**k yes, I'm Jon Bon Jovi.
'But did I ever, ever, ever consider anything that would jeopardise my relationship with my wife who I've always been madly in love with? F**k no. But she would tell, me, 'Of course you were a moron.''
He continued: 'Yesterday was our 35th wedding anniversary. We're madly in love more every day, I'm ecstatic being in love with her.
'So we've been together 44 years. I wouldn't jeopardise a lick of that. I'm the luckiest guy in the universe.' More Trending
Mark pressed: 'The stories that are getting picked up are making it sound like you cheated on her left and right?'
'Even if I did I was 20, I was 30, this wasn't yesterday,' Jon replied, adding: 'It was a decade or so in my youth.'
When asked what he got Dorothea for their 35th anniversary, Jon revealed with a chuckle he'd got her flowers and a book it turned out 'she's already read'.
The rocker added: 'We don't have to outdo things with presents and stuff because every day there's such deep gratitude. Watching TV together, sitting on the couch and making a cup of tea, she knows how grateful I am.'
Got a story?
If you've got a celebrity story, video or pictures get in touch with the Metro.co.uk entertainment team by emailing us celebtips@metro.co.uk, calling 020 3615 2145 or by visiting our Submit Stuff page – we'd love to hear from you.
MORE: 80s rock icon finally reveals tragic reason behind infamous rift with bandmate
MORE: Chilling new details in Gene Hackman's wife Betsy Arakawa's autopsy revealed
MORE: Carrie and Dallas actress Priscilla Pointer dies aged 100
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


Daily Mail
28 minutes ago
- Daily Mail
Danielle Spencer dead at 60: What's Happening!! child star passes away after cancer battle
Iconic child star Danielle Spencer has died aged 60. Spencer, best known for her role as the sassy Dee Thomas on What's Happening!! which ran from 1976-1979, passed away on Monday, August 11, after a battle with cancer. Her former co-star Haywood Nelson, who played Dwayne Clemens Nelson on the ABC show, confirmed her death in an emotional tribute. He wrote: 'Brilliance! It comes in a great many forms. We all have them and we all have this family's - Dr. Danielle Spencer (June 24, 1965 - August 11, 2025). 'Dr. Dee, our brilliant, loving, positive, pragmatic warrior, without fail, has finally found her release from the clutches of this world and a body. We celebrate Danielle Spencer and her contributions as we regret to inform her departure and transition from a long battle with cancer. 'We have lost a daughter, sister, family member, 'What's Happening' cast member, veterinarian animal rights proponent and healer, and cancer heroine. Our Shero. Danielle is loved. She will be missed in this form and forever embraced.' Spencer, best known for her role as the sassy Dee Thomas on What's Happening!! which ran from 1976-1979, passed away on Monday, August 11, after a battle with cancer - pictured February 2025 in one of her final public outings As Dee, the sister of Raj Thomas (Ernest Thomas) and daughter of Mabel (Mabel King), she was known for her signature phrase, 'Oooh I'm gonna tell mama!' She later reprised her role for the show's sequel What's Happening Now! which aired for three seasons between 1985-1988. Spencer later became a veterinarian in 1996 and the following year art imitated life when she played one in As Good As It Gets.


Metro
an hour ago
- Metro
Strictly 2025 line-up confirms sixth contestant is social media star
The first celebrities for the Strictly Come Dancing's 2025 line-up have been confirmed. The BBC reality competition series hosted by Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman is back for another year of jaw-dropping dance routines and emotional journeys for our cohort of famed contestants. Strictly has had a difficult couple of years after pros Giovanni Pernice and Graziano Di Prima were removed from the show (and replaced) after behavioural accusations from former partners came out against them. Earlier this month, the long-running series came under scrutiny once more with reports that two stars had used cocaine, and one veteran worker had been offered drugs at a party. Meanwhile, beloved pro Gorka Marquez confirmed he would not be competing this year, much to everyone's devastation, but would make a cameo in some of the group performances. Wake up to find news on your TV shows in your inbox every morning with Metro's TV Newsletter. Sign up to our newsletter and then select your show in the link we'll send you so we can get TV news tailored to you. Amid all changes, however, it remains one of BBC's flagship shows with a fresh set of faces ready to take to the dance floor. So who is in the official 2025 line-up? The sixth and latest contestant twirling onto the ballroom will be George Clarke. Clarke is known as George Clarkey online, where he is a YouTuber, podcaster and social media star known to millions for his comedy content. He also co-hosts The Useless Hotline Podcast. On joining Strictly, he said: 'Never thought I'd say this, but I'm doing Strictly! Honestly, I've got no idea what I'm doing but I'm excited to get stuck in and potentially fall over a fair bit.' To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video Balvinder Sopal was confirmed as the latest celebrity to join Strictly Come Dancing on Tuesday morning during Good Morning Britain. Richard Arnold was in Walford to confirm that an EastEnders legend was joining the ranks. 'I can't stop butterflies. Every time I think about it, they just go, so, yeah,' the actress who plays Suki in the soap said. 'I dabbled a little bit. I did ballroom and Latin as a kind of hobby, and I really love it. And I think when you've got a passion for something, you're naturally kind of inclined to enjoy it. So I'll definitely enjoy it.' 'I don't know if I'll be any good!,' she added, saying she loved the drama of Latin dancing. 'It is about telling the story with your feet, with your body, and not speaking. So, you know, won't have to learn any lines, which would be great, but it'll be like learning a new language, I think!' she said. She confirmed she'd still be appearing on EastEnders during her stint, and wasn't sure how she'd hack it – but was excited to find out. She added that she thought her mother would be proud of her: 'This is her dream. Actually, I think she would have been extremely proud. So, yeah, hold mom's legacy.' To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video The latest additions to the Strictly line-up were confirmed on Monday's instalment of The One Show, with the secret even kept from hosts Alex Jones and Roman Kemp. The BBC show confirmed three new names who will battle it out for the glitterball trophy, with Dani Dyer the first to walk out into the studio. How hard was it keeping this a secret? 'So hard,' Dani said on the show. 'Especially when there was speculation and stuff, people kept coming up to me, and I'm such a bad liar. I'm going to have to send so many apologies.' The 28-year-old reality star, and daughter of national treasure Danny Dyer, was rumoured to have signed a pre-show contract earlier this year. When asked what her parents made of the news, Dyer said they're 'so excited'. 'It's just such a fun, magical show,' she said, 'and to be asked to do it was just such an honour. So, yeah, they're just so excited for me.' She did admit she's nervous though. 'I think it's picking up the routines and being on live telly, it petrifies me. It's just the whole thing of being able to perform.' The training starts now! Next up on The One Show was Alex Kingston, who tuned in from a holiday in Italy to confirm she had signed up for the Strictly ballroom. The 62-year-old actor, who played River Song on Doctor Who (aka The Doctor's wife) opposite three Doctors on screen, was one of the names rumoured to be involved ahead of the line-up announcements this week. 'I was super excited, and now I actually am terrified,' she told the programme. Speaking about why she decided to take the plunge, Alex said it was 2024 contestant and fellow actor Sarah Hadland who convinced her. To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video 'In 2019 I did a play with Sarah Hadland and we both admitted that we desperately wanted to be in Strictly,' she told hosts Alex Jones and Roman Kemp. 'When I then saw Sarah performing last year, I just thought, she's done it, and not only has she done it, she went all the way. 'I reached out and just asked her what her experience of having been part of the show was, and she was really honest with me about how hard it is, how overwhelming it can be, but also how it absolutely changed her life, and she would do it again in a heartbeat. 'It just gave me the chance to make the decision for myself as to whether I wanted to go for it. And I just thought, I'm in my 60s, just go for it.' To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink was the third contestant to appear on The One Show, confirming he will be swapping the pitch for the ballroom. Alex Jones in the BBC One studio was clearly in shock when he appeared, saying she didn't think he would ever agree to it. The ex pro footballer said his four daughters were part of the reason he decided to sign on up to the show. The 53-year-old said from the red studio sofa: 'A few years ago, I would say the same, but I'm a father of all girls, and Strictly is part of our home life. I've got into it. I like the show, and let's have a go. 'Honestly, I have no idea what to expect. I have a little bit of rhythm.' Jimmy played for clubs including Leeds United, Atlético Madrid and Chelsea, carving out a prolific goal-scoring career in the Premier League and across Europe. Since retiring, Jimmy has become a familiar face in football punditry as well as a football club manager of clubs including Burton Albion and Northampton Town. He also served as an assistant coach for the England national team. Olympian and star of BBC's Gladiators, Harry Aikines-Aryeetey, was the first famous face confirmed to grace the Strictly ballroom this autumn. The TV personality already took part in last year's Strictly Come Dancing Christmas Special with pro-partner Nancy Xu and now he is back for round two. 'After the Christmas Special, it was so nice I just had to do it twice! I'm so excited to be part of the Strictly family this series and I'm ready to give it all I've got. 'I'll be bringing tons of energy to light up the dance floor. Let's hope I'm as quick picking up the routines as I am on the track,' he said in a statement. The multi-gold-medal-winning Team GB sprinter was announced as Nitro in the high-stakes BBC gameshow in 2023. He will no doubt be bringing all his skills to the dance floor. If there is one thing Harry is used to, it's being the best of the best, not only competing at the 2016 Rio Olympics but also securing the BBC Young Sports Personality of the Year award in 2005 aged 17. Not to mention being a three-time European champion and two-time Commonwealth champion. So he'll be a force to be reckoned with on the dancefloor. As we eagerly await the full line-up, there is still plenty of speculation over who will be joining the confirmed names this year. There are a couple of celebrities who have come out at the top of the rumour mill – including Natalie Imbruglia, 50, and Delta Goodrem, 40, who are said to be in talks to join the show. More Trending A source told The Sun: 'Delta and Natalie would bring some glamour to the programme, and be some of this year's most eagerly anticipated competitors. 'If all three former Neighbours stars end up performing, the Strictly dance floor will end up looking more like Ramsay Street. But the next 24 hours of discussions between execs and the stars' reps are critical.' Strictly Come Dancing returns on September 20, 2025, a week later than its usual start date. View More » A version of this article was originally published on August 11. Got a story? If you've got a celebrity story, video or pictures get in touch with the entertainment team by emailing us celebtips@ calling 020 3615 2145 or by visiting our Submit Stuff page – we'd love to hear from you. MORE: Inside EastEnders and Strictly star Balvinder Sopal's life and prolific career MORE: Suki stunned in EastEnders early BBC iPlayer release as Avani makes her choice MORE: First Match of the Day panel since Gary Lineker's BBC exit revealed


Metro
2 hours ago
- Metro
Inside EastEnders and Strictly star Balvinder Sopal's life and prolific career
EastEnders star Balvinder Sopal is set to swap Albert Square for the Strictly Ballroom as she joins the line up for Strictly Come Dancing 2025. The news was confirmed on Good Morning Britain, with Richard Arnold heading to the EastEnders set to speak to Balvinder about her latest venture. 'I can't stop butterflies. Every time I think about it, they just go, so, yeah,' Balvinder said, before addressing her history with dance. 'I dabbled a little bit. I did ballroom and Latin as a kind of hobby, and I really love it. And I think when you've got a passion for something, you're naturally inclined to enjoy it. So I'll definitely enjoy it. 'I don't know if I'll be any good!,' she added, saying she loved the drama of Latin dancing. Wake up to find news on your TV shows in your inbox every morning with Metro's TV Newsletter. Sign up to our newsletter and then select your show in the link we'll send you so we can get TV news tailored to you. The actress has played the role of matriarch Suki Panesar on the BBC soap since 2020, and will continue to appear on the show during her Strictly stint. To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video Suki has been involved in some enormous storylines over the past five years, with perhaps her biggest being the one that saw her fall in love with Eve Unwin (Heather Peace) as she struggled to accept her sexuality. Things got more complicated when abusive husband Nish Panesar was released from prison and inserted himself back into Suki's life. Over the next few months, Nish made Suki's life hell, until she found the courage to finally leave him and start fresh with Eve. It was never going to be that simple, though, and Nish went out of his way to try and get Suki back. Things came to a head on her wedding day to Eve, when he poisoned his rival and pulled Suki over the edge of a balcony. Thankfully, the newlyweds survived the ordeal and Nish's reign of terror was finally over. So far, the celebrities announced for the 2025 series of Strictly are: EastEnders star Balvinder Sopal Love Island star Dani Dyer Actress Alex Kingston Footballer Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink Gladiator and Olympian Harry Aikines-Aryeetey In more recent weeks, Suki and Eve have found themselves involved in a major disagreement, following Suki's decision to adopt Avani Nandra-Hart's (Aaliyah James) baby. Eve didn't think this was the right thing to do for anyone involved, and supported Avani in her final decision to have a termination. How will Suki cope with Eve's betrayal? Hailing from Kent, Balvinder was born on December 4, 1978 and is the eldest of four children. She previously shared pictures alongside younger sister Manjeet, wowing fans with how alike they look. 'There is no bond like that of sisters!' She wrote alongside the post in celebration of Manjeet's birthday in 2021, revealing that she 'based 'some' parts of Suki Panesar' on her. Last year, Balvinder opened up about the loss of her mother Nirmal in a moving tribute on Instagram. She reflected on how 'fiercely supportive' Nirmal was of her children, adding that 'LOVE is Mum's legacy'. The post was inundated with supportive messages from Balvinder's EastEnders co-stars, as well as family, friends and fans. Speaking about how she thinks her mother would react to her appearance on Strictly, Balvinder said: 'This is her dream. Actually, I think she would have been extremely proud. So, yeah, hold mom's legacy.' Balvinder has previously shared how she still lives in Kent, and makes the commute to Elstree Studios for work. 'I'm from Gillingham, just down the road from here. So I travel from Gillingham to Elstree,' she told KentLive in 2022. 'Unless I'm working early morning, which is a seven o'clock start, then I'll stay over because I'm not attacking the M25 at five in the morning!' Before taking on the role of Suki, Balvinder was no stranger to soaps. She has had several roles in Emmerdale, as solicitors and police officers, played a police woman across four episodes of Coronation Street and also appeared in Doctors and Waterloo Road. More Trending In 2018, she starred in four episodes of Hollyoaks as social worker Liz. She also appeared in an episode of BBC drama Call the Midwife as Mumtaz Gani. Earlier this year, she also stepped into the role of guest editor on BBC Radio Kent, taking to the airwaves for an edition of The Wake Up Call, hosted by Anna Cookson. View More » MORE: Lisa Riley had the 'most wonderful' time recording new show away from Emmerdale MORE: Emmerdale star gutted as second ITV show cancelled: 'I don't know what I did wrong' MORE: Coronation Street star reveals 'stressful and crazy' time as she makes a major change