″She let me cheat off her in history!″ Jon recalls of his first impression of his future wife.
Jon Bon Jovi and his wife Dorothea on keeping their marriage strong — and giving back, together
Jon Bon Jovi and wife Dorothea Bongiovi give love a good name.
In this week’s cover story, the rock star and his high school sweetheart — who still finish each other’s sentences — opened up to PEOPLE exclusively about their 40-year bond, keeping their 31-year marriage strong and raising their four children.
Their secret?
″Mutual respect,″ says Jon, whose new Bon Jovi album, 2020, drops Friday, Oct. 2. ″Having grown up together and grown together. And we really like each other. We want to hang out.″
Adds Dorothea: ″I always said I was good at spotting potential too. I have a gift.”
Watch the full episode of People Cover Story: Jon Bon Jovi and Wife Dorothea streaming now on PeopleTV.com, or download the PeopleTV app on your favorite device.
All these years later, the pair, both 58, are even closer because of their not-so rock-and-roll marriage and close-knit family life with their four kids, daughter Stephanie, 27, and sons Jesse, 25, Jacob, 18, and Romeo, 16.
Despite the hit singles, world tours and countless adoring fans, Jon remained grounded, thanks to his solid bond with Dorothea, whom he says is, ″without a doubt,″ his rock.
″We work hard at it, but we enjoy each other and we never fell for the trappings of what celebrity can do,″ says the ″Livin’ on a Prayer″ rocker. ″We’ve witnessed that happen over the years to people that were close to us and people that we knew from afar. It’s just what I do, it’s not who I am. I write songs. I happen to be very good at performing them. That’s it.”
″It’s a partnership,″ Dorothea adds of their work with the Soul Foundation, which they launched in 2006. ″When we see injustice or people suffering, you want to help. We’re very blessed, and we have the ability to do that.″
Now, Jon is slowly shifting his focus back to rockstar life, with face masks on and Dorothea by his side.
″I’m happiest,” he says, ″if I like what I do for a living, I’m doing right by my family and I’m making the world just a little bit better.”
For more on Jon Bon Jovi & wife Dorothea, pick up the new issue of PEOPLE, on newsstands everywhere Friday.
News
‘He’s an angry boy’: As Prince Harry’s faux-royal tour ends, why despite his jollity and cheeky dancing, one pal claims the Duke’s American dream ‘hasn’t turned out the way he wanted’… and shouldn’t expect an invitation when Wills takes the throne
‘He’s an angry boy’: As Prince Harry’s faux-royal tour ends, why despite his jollity and cheeky dancing, one pal claims the Duke’s American dream ‘hasn’t turned out the way he wanted’… and shouldn’t expect an invitation when Wills takes the…
“Meghan Markle Stuns in Colombia: Princess of Sussex Wows Crowd with Fluent Spanish While Prince Harry Struggles with Earpiece”
“Meghan Markle Stuns in Colombia: Princess of Sussex Wows Crowd with Fluent Spanish While Prince Harry Struggles with Earpiece” Meghan Markle showed off her ability to speak Spanish as she addressed the audience during her ‘Afro women and power’ talk in…
“It’s what I went through…”: Rob Lowe praised Taylor Swift’s fame, saying it is far more intense than what he experienced during his ’80s heyday
“It’s what I went through…”: Rob Lowe praised Taylor Swift’s fame, saying it is far more intense than what he experienced during his ’80s heyday Rob Lowe has some perspective on what Taylor Swift is going through right now. In the 1980s he…
How Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce make their long-distance relationship work – as NFL star’s secret to dating success is revealed
How Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce make their long-distance relationship work – as NFL star’s secret to dating success is revealed As Travis Kelce and Taylor Swift enter year No 2 of their relationship, finding consistent ways to make their long-distance romance survive is…
Taylor Swift shows her love for Travis Kelce at London Eras show
Taylor Swift shows her love for Travis Kelce at London Eras show Taylor Swift subtly showed her love for boyfriend, Travis Kelce, while taking the stage for her first of five performances in London at Wembley Stadium on Thursday. As she returned to…
EXCLUSIVE: Taylor Swift tearfully reveals her parents are in attendance for her second Wembley show as she performs London Boy for the FIRST TIME on her Eras Tour after a three-minute standing ovation from fans..
EXCLUSIVE: Taylor Swift tearfully reveals her parents are in attendance for her second Wembley show as she performs London Boy for the FIRST TIME on her Eras Tour after a three-minute standing ovation from fans.. Taylor Swift tearfully revealed her parents…
End of content
No more pages to load