How Lea Michele Found Love Again After Losing Cory Monteith
Lea Michele lost Cory Monteith to a drug overdose and had to live her grief in front of millions. Yet, she pulled through and found love again.
Lea Michele had the life millions envied - a beautiful star on one of screen’s most beloved shows, dating the most popular guy onscreen...and offscreen! But then a tragedy turned her world upside down, and all the plans she had for herself went with him...until she, somehow, found strength and happiness to live once again.
An love story that moved beyond the screen
The two immediately hit it off when they first met on the set of Glee. Lea recalls that Cory was intimated at the prospect of meeting her. His role as Finn was his first acting gig in his life whereas Lea was a seasoned performer. But she was immediately charmed.
From the minute I met Cory, I was like, This is the most handsome man I've ever seen in my whole life.
Lea Michele to Elle
While they secretly dated during the first season, Cory and Lea only made it official later in 2011. "One day we just looked at each other and we were like, 'You wanna do this?' We knew," Lea told Elle Magazine.
And then, in March 2013, Cory entered a rehab program, signaling his history with drugs to the public. A few months later, he was found dead in a hotel room in Vancouver, from an apparent drug overdose. Their beautiful future was in the past.
The loss changed her
Lea's love for Cory was obvious to many. It went beyond the characters of Rachel and Finn and fans saw it bloom right before their eyes. When Cory met his tragic death, it completely changed her. She had to carry on as the show's lead without the love of her life.
"I never thought I would be in this position in my whole life," Lea confessed. Glee went on a hiatus when Monteith died, but then the fifth season started and Michele had to continue her private mourning in public.
Cory and Lea had formed a powerful pair on the Glee set.
Before Cory passed away, Lea was definitely the leader on set, and so was Cory. She has been an absolute trouper. She's the reason we're back at work right now instead of taking a season off.
Jane Lynch to Elle
She shared her grief with millions of fans...
Michele also felt the need to pull her life together for the fans, who had suffered a loss as well. It was actually the thought of remembering Cory that pushed her onward to finish the show.
Now that I am in this position, you can choose to rise, and that's what I'm going to try to do. I know that Cory would want nothing more than for me to take this situation and use it to help people. I don't know if I will. I don't know how.
Lea Michele to Elle
Michele continued to work and perform a variety of high-profile roles in the public eye while privately mourning her great love, but there was a light at the end of the tunnel.
Dating again after loss
Dating after Cory's death proved to be a challenge, as she had to pick up the pieces. Most of all, she wanted to make sure that she was dating for the right reasons. "I wanted to make sure that I was okay with me, feeling strong and feeling happy on my own," Lea told Flare. "I didn’t want anybody to fill any holes for me."
I wanted to make sure that I was a whole person again and that no one was coming into my life to put me back together.
Lea Michele to Flare
Lea dated Matthew Paetz for nearly 2 years, but alas, that relationship was not meant to last. In fact, it freed her for her second chance at a happily ever after.
And thus, Lea met Zandy...at a friend's wedding
Like all the greatest love stories, Lea's started with an unexpected encounter."They always say, 'It will happen when you least expect it. It will happen when you least expect it!' And I met my fiance at my best friend's wedding," she told Insider.
Lea was a friend of the bride and Zandy was a friend of the groom.
They had their siblings as their best man and maid of honor, but we were sort of the closest in the friend area, and we sat next to each other.
Lea Michele to Insider
At first, the two didn't get to talk, as the bride insisted on sitting next to Lea. But fate would have them run into each other again, as they shared similar friends and went to the same events. Soon enough, Lea and Zandy started dating.
The change in her was immediately noticed.
I’m very happy and I think that you can tell. I don’t really talk a lot about my personal life, but I’m also the kind of person where I always say, ‘You will see how happy I am just by looking at my face.’ I can’t hide it.
Lea Michele to People
In April 2018, Michele announced her engagement to Zandy Reich. They were married on March 9, 2019, in Napa, California and on May 2, 2020, Michele announced that she was pregnant with her and Reich's first child.
Lea's inspiring way of dealing with grief
A big part of Michele moving on was finding joy in the memories, rather than be devastated by how the joy ended. “There are some who bring a light so great to the world, that even after they have gone, the light remains,” she posted to Twitter in 2018, as a way to remember Cory.
But the talented actress also turned to her craft to remember him: singing. In 2014, she released a solo album called Louder, in which she commemorates Cory. One of the songs, "If You Say So" is titled after the last words he ever spoke to her and was a collaboration with Sia.
The process was not easy but it certainly was therapeutic. "I said [to Sia], 'I feel like I'm starting to just sink in it, and he would never want me to do that," Lea confessed to Elle. "I need to remember that you have to live, because you can want to die.' "
To Lea, the process of remembrance has become a positive one. In fact, it was integral to her recovery.
We may not have gotten to share a lifetime together...but the memories...they're the best of my life.
Lea Michele
Her resilience not only honors Cory, but it also proves that we are capable of moving forward, even from tragedies we think we could never survive. Lea's very mature approach to grieving has led her to meet the second love of her life, when she was mentally ready for a relationship to bloom.
More inspiring celebrities:
- Nicole Richie’s Inspirational Journey From National Party Girl to Model Matriarch
- After Surviving Abuse Twice, Rihanna Is Ready To Have Kids With Or Without A Man
- Charlize Theron Fought Through Trauma To Build Her Fulfilling Life
- At 50, Jennifer Lopez Proves That Women Can Age and Continue to Thrive
- Octavia Spencer: Her Journey From Overlooked Typecast Actress to Boss Lead
Military Dad Defends His 4 Little Daughters When Strangers Make This Rude Remark
Military Dad of 4 Daughters Defends His Girls When Strangers Make This Rude Remark
Austin von Letkemann is the military officer strangers feel "sorry" for — and the reason is infuriating.
Whenever the devoted father leaves the house with his four children, strangers can't help but notice the officer in uniform is holding hands with 4 adorable little girls. They will tell the traditionally "masculine" and "all American" dad they feel sorry for him, because he has no sons. This dad makes one thing very clear: They are his daughters, they aren't a burden.
In a passionate video, von Letkemann took to Instagram to share with his followers that the only thing that's "difficult" about being a girl dad — is clapping back to these sexist remarks over and over again.
They Mock His Daughters To Their Face
When strangers approach Austin von Letkemann and his four daughters, they don't always realize that their comments are being overheard. They seem oblivious to the fact that his girls understand every word. Von Letkemann describes how people will approach him and, without thinking, make remarks like "I'm sorry" or even joke about his lack of sons. What they don't realize is that these comments, intended to be light-hearted or humorous, can be deeply hurtful to his daughters. These strangers are not just disrespecting von Letkemann's choices as a father; they're also sending a message to his daughters that their presence is something to be pitied. It’s a message that von Letkemann won't stand for, and he's speaking out to defend his girls from these insensitive remarksSaying "Get Your Shotgun" Isn't Funny — It's Sexist
Another common comment that Austin von Letkemann encounters is the old "better get your shotgun ready" trope, often delivered with a smirk or a wink. This line is typically intended to suggest that a father with daughters should be on high alert to protect them from potential "suitors," implying that they are objects to be guarded rather than individuals with agency.
Von Letkemann finds this line of thinking outdated and sexist. In his viral Instagram video, he points out that these jokes are not just stale — they're damaging.
By suggesting that his daughters require armed protection, the joke reinforces the idea that women are inherently vulnerable and need to be shielded from men. Von Letkemann argues that instead of promoting this narrative, society should focus on teaching respect and consent, challenging these sexist tropes at their source.
Watch Austin von Letkemann's Video:
"If I Had A Fifth Child, I'd HOPE It Was A Girl" — One Dad's Message For Other Parents
Despite the constant remarks about his lack of sons, Austin von Letkemann is clear: He wouldn't trade his daughters for anything.
In fact, he told his Instagram followers that if he were to have a fifth child, he would hope for another girl. This declaration isn't just about doubling down on his pride in his family — it's a pointed response to those who see fathering daughters as a misfortune.
Von Letkemann's stance is a powerful one, rejecting the notion that a family is incomplete without sons. He encourages others to question the assumptions behind these comments and to appreciate the joy and fulfillment that his daughters bring. By sharing his story, von Letkemann hopes to create a more inclusive perspective on fatherhood, one that values daughters just as much as sons.