Jon Bon Jovi met the love of his life Dorothea Hurley when she let him cheat on her in history class.
The high school sweethearts performed The Howard Stern Show in May 2023 and Dorothea said that Jon was “a rock star” even then.
“I remember someone told me a story and I said, ‘Well, my boyfriend is going to be a rock star,’ and they said, ‘Good luck with that,'” Dorothea said at the time.
After dating for nearly a decade, the two tied the knot in an impromptu ceremony in Las Vegas in 1989. The band Bon Jovi was there New Jersey Syndicate tour when Jon suggested that the two of them elope to Las Vegas. Since then, the couple has celebrated more than 30 years together and has four children together: Stephanie (born 1993), Jesse (born 1995), Jake (born 2002) and Romeo (born 2004).
Jon talked about his nervousness about becoming a parent The big problem in 2020.
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“I remember coming home with Stephanie, our first, and thinking, I have a daughter? “I’ve never had a sister,” he said at the time. “Everyone comes to the hospital to visit and brings flowers and balloons and they drop off your bag and the moms get in bed with the baby and then you think, oh my God. What now?”
Despite his nervousness, the rock star said he would never change his role as a father. Of all the things in his life, he would most like to relive the birth of his children.
“It was such a miracle,” Jon recalled The big problem in 2020. “The birth of someone you helped create – that’s probably the most incredible thing I could ever ask for.”
Keep scrolling to see photos of Jon and Dorothea’s relationship over the years:
1980
Jon and Dorothea met when they were students at Sayreville War Memorial High School.
1985
The two briefly separated in 1985. During their breakup, Jon went on a date Diane Lane for 5 months.
“I was 20 and I think every girl should have such a wonderful experience,” Lane continued Watch what happens live with Andy Cohen in 2017.
1989
Jon and Dorothea reconciled and while the band Bon Jovi was on their New Jersey Syndicate tour, the two escaped to Las Vegas and tied the knot there.
“We had the No. 1 album, the No. 1 single and played three nights at the Forum in LA,” Jon said Men’s health in 2010. “I turned to Dorothea and said, ‘I have an idea.’ Why don’t we get going now?’ She said, ‘You’re crazy.’ I said, ‘Come on.’ What could be better than that, right now, in this moment?’ And so we ran to Las Vegas. Didn’t tell a soul.”
1993
Jon and Dorothea welcomed their first child, Stephanie Rose, in May in Red Bank, New Jersey.
1995
In February, the couple welcomed their second child, Jesse James Louis, to the family.
2002
Jon almost missed the birth of his third child, Jacob “Jake” Hurley. The day before his son was born, Jon played a show in New Orleans. Luckily, he managed to get back to New Jersey just in time.
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2004
In April 2004, the couple gave birth to their fourth child, Romeo. Jon talked about the rigors of touring as a parent The Ellen Show in 2009.
“The more we tour, the harder it gets, and with every tour you get guiltier,” he said at the time.
2006
Jon and Dorothea founded the nonprofit organization JBJ Soul Foundation. The organization’s mission is to “break the cycle of hunger, poverty and homelessness” and has built over 1,000 affordable housing units for thousands of people across the United States
Since its founding, the Soul Foundation has also opened three JBJ Soul Kitchens in New Jersey. Dorothea came up with the idea of pay-if-you-can restaurants, where those who can afford pay for those who can’t.
2007
Jon opened up best life in 2007 about his and Dorothea’s long-standing marriage and thanked her for her support and understanding.
“I am not a saint and I have not been a saint. And, God, I missed a lot of birthdays and school plays. But it’s not like Dorothea walked in in the middle of the movie and didn’t know who she was getting,” Jon said at the time. “She was there the whole game. She understands what it means.”
2013
Jon and Dorothea attended the Winter Whites Gala at Kensington Palace alongside their daughter Stephanie and their two youngest sons Jake and Romeo. During the event, the rock star joined Prince William And Taylor Swift on stage to sing a rendition of his hit song “Livin’ on a Prayer.”
2016
After the sudden departure of Richie Sambora After three decades of playing together and a conflict between the band and their record company, Jon left the band and had almost had enough. The lead singer praised his wife for helping him through some of the worst years of his life.
“I was going through a difficult time and it felt like the weight of the world was on my shoulders,” Jon explained The mirror in 2016. “Without her, I’m not sure how I would have coped.”
“A lot of these things added up and what was a snowflake became an avalanche,” he continued. “I’m proud to say I’ve been with a band my whole life, a record label my whole life, and a woman my whole life.”
2018
After 35 years as a group, Bon Jovi were inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame on April 13, 2018 and the singer’s entire family came to support him.
Weeks later, the Bongiovi family celebrated again when Jon and his son Jesse founded their own rosé brand called Hampton Water.
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2021
In honor of their 32nd wedding anniversary, Jon posted a black and white photo from his and Dorothea’s wedding in Las Vegas on Instagram in April 2021.
“If there was one thing I did right in high school, it was fall in love with this girl. Happy 32nd anniversary baby,” he captioned the post.
2022
For Valentine’s Day in February, Jon posted a tribute to Dorothea on Instagram.
“My forever Valentine,” the singer wrote under the black and white retro photo of the two smiling on a motorcycle.
2023
The rock star and his wife were spotted on the sixth day of the Wimbledon tournament in July 2023. Jon wore an all-black outfit and Dorothea wore a colorful dress paired with a white Panama hat.
2024
Jon was accompanied by his wife Dorothea and their daughter Stephanie to the 2024 MusiCares Person of the Year gala in February, where the “It’s My Life” singer was honored for his philanthropic work with the JBJ Soul Foundation.
In an interview in April 2024 with The IndependentJon spoke openly about the hardships he and Dorothea have faced over the years and praised her “tolerance” towards him.
“It’s all the wonderful clichés of the rock star,” he said The Independent. “It’s about never lying about being a saint, but not being stupid enough to do it [mess] also improve private life.”