Jon Bon Jovi Married His High School Sweetheart 35 Years Ago–Why the “Rock Star” Life Never Mattered
Jon Bon Jovi and his wife Dorothea can boast more years together than most. The two met when they were in high school and have been going strong ever since!And it looks like early love may run in the family with the news that their son Jake Bongiovi, 20, is officially engaged to Stranger Things star Millie Bobby Brown, 19. The two actors announced their engagement on Instagram in typical Gen Z fashion. Luckily they have excellent role models in couple Jon Bon Jovi and Dorothea who have set a high bar.After all, the '80s rocker and his wife have been married for the majority of their adult lives. And they were close before either was technically even an adult at all. How have Jon Bon Jovi and his wife Dorothea managed to not only buck the all-too-common trend of divorce in America in general, but also to overcome the much greater odds of celebrity divorce?The “secret” to Bon Jovi’s long and happy marriage is no secret at all; he and Dorothea love each other, like each other, and most importantly respect each other.How Jon Bon Jovi and Dorothea Met @jonbonjovi/InstagramThe man known to the world as Jon Bon Jovi was born John Francis Bongiovi Jr. in 1962. By the mid 1970s, while still a teenager in high school, the naturally gifted songwriter, singer, musician, and performer was playing music in clubs around his native New Jersey.While still in those high school years, after transferring schools before his junior year, Bon Jovi met another New Jersey native, Miss Dorothea Hurley. Initially just friends, as Dorothea was romantically involved with a mutual friend, there was an instant connection between the two. But it didn't take long before the two were soon dating. RELATED: Adam Sandler Insists “Nobody Wants to Hear About My Secret to Marriage,” But He Is Dead WrongEven as Bon Jovi’s career began to take off in the early 1980s, the shared love between Dorothea and the rocker only grew. By 1986, Bon Jovi, the band named for its lead, was a global sensation. They toured the world, played sold-out stadiums, and had number-one hits including “Livin’ on a Prayer” and “You Give Love a Bad Name.”In an era where womanizing, drugs, and wild, reckless behavior were the standard operating procedure for rock stars, Jon Bon Jovi completely bucked the trend. Instead of making headlines for crazy offstage antics, the gifted musician and performer spent most of his time off the stage with his significant other.How Many Children Do Jon Bon Jovi and Dorothea Have?@jonbonjovi/InstagramAnd in keeping with his practice of being a showman on the stage but a quiet and down-to-earth gent off of it, Bon Jovi married Dorothea in a private and secret ceremony in 1989. The couple wed at a chapel in Las Vegas, the musician briefly slipped away from his band’s The New Jersey Syndicate Tour to marry her in the Graceland Wedding Chapel. Since that semi-elopement in 1989, Jon and Dorothea, properly known as John and Dorothea Bongiovi, maintained a wonderfully close relationship and have grown their union into a family of six. The first of the couple’s four children, a daughter named Stephanie, is 29 at the time of this writing. Their first son, Jesse, is 28, while their younger two sons are Jake, currently 20, and Romeo, who is 19 and headed off for college.How Bon Jovi and Dorothea Make Their Marriage WorkSimply put, Jon Bon Jovi never “fell for” the celebrity life. He said via People that he always strove to give his kids “a normal life” and that approach was always in play in his earlier rock star days, too, albeit in regards to his wife. And both he and Dorothea knew all along what succumbing to stardom can do.“We work hard at [our relationship], but we enjoy each other and we never fell for the trappings of what celebrity can do. 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." RELATED: The Simple Secrets to Felicity Huffman and William H. Macy’s 25-Year “Fairytale Marriage”And well that they be mindful: per stats cited on LinkedIn, the divorce rate among celebrities is a staggering 67% higher than it is with “normal” couples, and is worst of all among musicians. (Those rates tend to fall if the relationship endures for more than a decade, it should be noted.) Be it the actions of one or both spouses, the pressures from the wider world, the strains of the unique career of a star, or other factors, it’s hard to say, but the numbers don’t lie. Bon Jovi and Dorothea are the very happy exception. For them, the only number in question is which anniversary is next, with this year slated to mark their 33rd.Bon Jovi Stays Grounded Despite a Wild Career@jonbonjovi/InstagramWhen most people think of Jon Bon Jovi, the likely first think of surging rock ballads like “Livin’ on a Prayer.” And that’s entirely fine, it’s a great song. What others might think of is his solo work and soundtracks for movies. Others might note that he is also an actor, having appeared in movies like Little City and U-571 and in several TV shows, too. Still others might note his involvement in politics and philanthropy. Or that he opened and often works in a restaurant called JBJ Soul Kitchen that is devoted to serving very low cost or no-cost meals to people struggling with poverty.Long story short, the term “rock star” can very much be applied to Jon Bon Jovi but it sells him short. And if husband and dad are not on that list of terms, you can be sure he would feel underrepresented. The secret to their love? “Mutual respect. Having grown up together and grown together. And we really like each other. We want to hang out.″It seems the two realized early on that we are not what we do, we are who we love and who loves us. His son Jake and Millie Bobby Brown not only have great examples of enduring love and how to balance the spotlight with family but the two actors may have a lot to live up to!
Zendaya’s Siblings: Who Are They and What Is Her Relationship With Them Like?
Zendaya's family isn't just big, they are close. With five siblings, nephews, nieces, stepsisters and cousins, the Euphoria star doesn't have to worry about ever being alone.Many of the biggest stars in Hollywood are tight-lipped when it comes to their families. Then, on the other hand, you have some A-list celebrities who make their families a full part of their story. Zendaya Maree Stoermer Coleman, usually only known as Zendaya, is already an international star with major roles in film, TV, and tens of millions of followers on social media. But this is one star who is outspoken about her love and pride in her family, and she regularly credits them for her own success.The way Zendaya feels about her family is touching and inspirational, and all the more so because the feelings are clearly mutual among the loving and grounded family.How Many Siblings Does Zendaya Have?@zendaya/InstagramZendaya is the youngest of six siblings, and all of her brothers and sisters (she has two brothers and three sisters) are in fact half-siblings, her father having had them with a woman from a relationship before meeting her mother. The fact that they are half-siblings has had no effect on how close the brothers and sisters are.RELATED: The Real Reason Why Zendaya Is Staying Away From RelationshipsZendaya’s oldest sibling is her brother Austin Stoermer Coleman. Her oldest sister is Katianna Stoermer Coleman, and Zendaya often remarks on how much she looks up to her older sister in particular, calling her a role model and positive influence. “I look up to my big sister and realise the influence she’s had on me and making me a better person. Having such a big, grounded family, I realised as you get older how important that is.”Zendaya’s Relationship With Her Siblings@kazembeajamu/InstagramZendaya’s next eldest sibling is Annabella Stoermer Coleman, followed by her other brother, Julien Stoermer Coleman. Her closest sibling in age is sister Kaylee Stoermer Coleman, who has accompanied Zendaya to several major movie events.It’s also important to note how close Zendaya is with her nieces and nephews — all of Zendaya's siblings being older, it’s no surprise that the Spider-Man co-star has lots of nephews and nieces running about.Katianna Stoermer ColemanZendaya's oldest sibling prefers to stay out of the spotlight. Does Zendaya Have a Twin Sister?@zendaya/instagramContrary to rumors that often swirl, Zendaya does not have a twin — remember, she does not even have a full-blood sibling. One reason many people think Zendaya has a twin sister is because of her work with actress Storm Reid in the show Euphoria. Reid and Zendaya do share quite a resemblance, but absolutely no relation; and in fact, Storm Reid is many years younger than Zendaya.Who Are Zendaya’s Parents?@kazembeajamu/InstagramZendaya’s father, Kazembe Ajamu Coleman, is African-American. He is a former teacher who today operates as the actress’s manager. He is a fiercely loving and protective father, and Zendaya is equally loving of her dad, often sharing photos of her with him before her millions of followers on social media.RELATED: How Tom Holland and Zendaya’s Slow-Burn Relationship Flourished Against All OddsZendaya’s mom is Claire Stoermer, and Claire, who is Caucasian, is arguably the most important person in Zendaya’s life — though Zendaya’s boyfriend actor Tom Holland may not like to hear that. Claire Stoemer was an educator for more than two decades, working primarily in schools that served underprivileged children. This served as a great inspiration for Zendaya, who saw her mother always treating her students with the utmost care and respect and helping instill an appreciation for education in young minds. Little wonder that Claire Stoermer is a frequent guest of Zendaya’s at red carpet events and awards shows and ceremonies.@kazembeajamu/InstagramToday, Zendaya’s parents are separated but they remain on cordial terms and, as a whole, the family is quite close and connected.A quick scroll through Zendaya’s Instagram feed shows a star who is aware of her fame and her place in the world yet who does not take herself too seriously and remains grounded in reality. She has posted images of herself on magazine covers and in lavish, high-fashion outfits, but she also shares images of herself as a little kid, casual snaps with her equally famous boyfriend, and candid images of her just hanging out and being a regular 26 year old. We get the sense of a person who would be as much fun to chat with at a family gathering as she would be to watch on the screen — in other words, she comes across as a genuine person.
State Trooper Doesn't Hesitate to Buy Donuts for Young Girl Without Money — The Letter She Sends Him Afterwards Sets off Amazing Chain Reaction
Little changes can have big impacts.It was on a December day in the year 2017 when a girl named Brooke walked into a Sheetz gas station in Butler, PA, hoping to get something sweet to eat. She had her heart set on some donut holes, but she soon found she had not brought enough money into the store with her.Brooke was about leave the Sheetz when a man named Chad stepped in.Pennsylvania State Trooper Chad Savannah is his full title, and he happened to be there in the gas station at the same time as Brooke. When Officer Savannah realized what was happening, he immediately opened his own wallet and bought Brooke her donut holes.To Serve, Protect, and Treat(WTRF)Thrilled, Brooke hurried out of the Sheetz and went home. Savannah didn't twice about his little act of kindness, and went on with his day.But Brooke was thinking twice about the moment, and she couldn’t let things rest as they were without a formal thank you.At home later that day, Brooke wrote a note of thanks to Officer Savannah, though she didn’t even know his name at the time. The note read in part:“My name is Brooke and I am 9 years old. I was at Sheetz and didn't have enough money. A nice police officer behind me kindly paid for my item. I thanked him, but felt bad because I didn't offer him the money I had. So, I am donating this money. I want to thank this officer again. Stay safe. Brooke.”A Gift Given and Then Shared OnShe sent the letter off to the police where it was received with so much appreciation that Chad Savannah and his fellow officers just had to keep the loop of kindness going.Officer Savannah and his fellow troopers quickly pooled $50 and bought a Toys ‘R’ Us gift card for Brooke and sent her a letter of her own along with it. The letter told Brooke she should use the gift card to buy some toys.And Brooke did buy toys, but not for herself. Instead, she kept on spreading joy. Brooke used the money the officers had gifted her to get toys that she then donated to the Toys for Tots organization, a program the works to ensure all kids have some cherished toys despite the socioeconomic circumstances in which they live.It’s easy to imagine that because Officer Savannah bought Brooke those few donut holes that December day, many other kids had a happier day sometime later. And the ripples spread further than we can see.
Young Man With Rare Medical Disorder Gets to Meet Santa — His Reaction Will Make You Cry Tears of Joy
For Andy Pollone of O’Fallon, Illinois, Santa is still real, even in Andy’s 24th year. This is because of a rare medical condition called 15Q24.Thanks to a 2017 encounter with a man dressed as Santa, Andy will forever remind us all that believing in Santa — or in anything else that gives us joy — is a beautiful thing at any age.When Andy Met SantaAndy Pollone’s mom Jennifer knew her son had a few great loves in life. A few of her son’s favorite things are Harley Davidson motorcycles, hamburgers, and Santa Claus.Knowing how much Andy loved St. Nick, Jennifer started filming when Andy approached the doors of a Harley Davidson showroom where Santa was greeting visitors. In the clip, we see Andy peering through the glass doors and exclaiming a long, loud, and thrilled “Oh! Ooooooh!”With his hand clapped over his mouth in utter disbelief, Andy enters the showroom and gleefully cheers: “Santa! Mama, Santa!”Andy then runs toward “Santa” with open arms and as he reaches his hero, the man in the red suit stands and says: “Hi, buddy! How are ya!”Andy and Santa embrace and the young man’s face is simply filled with glee. We get the feeling that it’s a moment Andy Pollone will surely remember and cherish forever.How Andy’s Moment with Santa Touched Lives Far and Wide(Sunny Skyz)For Andy, meeting Santa was a happy moment. But that moment has multiplied into countless hours of happiness given how many times it has been watched and re-watched by people all over the globe.A quick glance at just a few of the comments left on Facebook and YouTube show how much good the encounter did for people far beyond the Pollone family's hometown.Posters left comments like: “I want to hug him right now” and “So much love and happiness. Merry Christmas Andy!” Others expressed deep emotions with words like: “This is truly the most beautiful thing I have ever seen.”And one recurring theme in the online comments was a sense of gratitude, summed up by one man who said in part: “Made my Christmas. I have watched this over and over. Thank you for posting this.”Is Santa real? No, not in the classic magical man who lives at the North Pole way. But is the magic of Santa Clause real? Yes, and the joy can be powerful to all.