In show business circles, staying married is like winning the lottery. Yet, here are stories of celeb couples who not only defied the divorce rate in Hollywood, but met as kids, survived adolescence together, and continue to enjoy a long and happy marriage.
Bono Says It Wasn't Love at First Sight
"It wasn't love at first sight for her", he clarifies with a smile. “She’s working up to that,” the U2 frontman adds jokingly. The couple met at school when Ali Hewson was 12 and Bono (Paul Hewson) was 13. But they didn’t start dating officially until they were both 15.
They married in 1982, just after the release of October. The lovebirds met in 1973 and have several decades of marriage and four children together.
They Are More in Love Than Ever
Bono told Dublin Live news, “Ali and I are probably more in love now than when we got together.” He praised their relationship saying, “I don’t think it is given much credit, but when people work through their problems and stay together—Ordinary Love is that.” Referring to the song, he added that he hopes it is interesting to write genuine love songs, songs that are about more than the initial passion. His song “Sweetest Thing” was famously inspired by Ali.
Ali is a businesswoman and a long-time anti-nuclear advocate. She contributed to a documentary film about the Chernobyl disaster and has been a patron of Chernobyl Children’s Project International since 1994.
Ron Howard and Cheryl Alley
“I felt really lucky when we met. It’s crazy". Showbiz couple Ron and Cheryl Howard married in 1975, and Howard knows the secret to a happy marriage.
When asked how they've managed to stand the test of time, Ron says, “You have to learn to communicate and have difficult conversations in constructive ways.”
They Met in High School
The couple met at John Burroughs High School in Burbank. “I met her, and there was never anybody else.” They married in 1975 and have four children, all in show business.
They’re also proud of their five grandchildren.
This Couple First Met in Grade School!
Lauren Akins and Thomas Rhett knew each other in the first grade. When they were 13, they went to church camp together, and when they were both 15, they started dating.
While they did not date long, this meant-to-be couple could not say goodbye and decided to be best friends instead. They stayed best friends until they married at age 22. Now, they have three biological daughters, as well as an adopted one from Uganda.
Both Had Serious Relationships in Between
“I almost married someone else, and she did too,” Thomas explained during a CBS This Morning interview. It was Lauren’s dad who intervened. Thomas’ future father-in-law told him, under no uncertain terms, “If you don’t come over here tonight and tell Lauren how you feel about her, then I’m going to tell her how you feel about her.”
As soon as Lauren broke her engagement, Thomas said he went for it. He “moved in for the kill,” he said. Adding, “We kissed and that was it. We dated for probably six months, and we got engaged.”She’s been an inspiration for his hit songs “Marry Me” and “Die a Happy Man.” The chart-topping country tunes share their special love story. Thomas says, “We love to let people in on our lives and be an example of what it means to be in love.”
Snoop Dogg Is Smitten With His High School Sweetheart
Shante Taylor and Cordozar Calvin Broadus Jr. were teenagers when they met. They became boyfriend-girlfriend and went to prom together long before Snoop Dogg rapped himself a hip hop fortune.
They married in 1997, which means they have more than two decades together under their belt. Their first son arrived in 1994, and they now share three children.
Through Thick and Thin
The couple met in 1990 and stuck by each other, for the most part. The high school sweethearts have had some ups and downs. They also faced divorce in 2004. Snoop served the papers for “irreconcilable differences.” All that came to a close when Snoop surprised Shante and renewed their vows in 2008 in front of 200 guests.
When MTV asked Snoop about the divorce, he said, “I was trying to get a divorce, but I went back home, and I fell back in love with my wife and kids.” He also revealed how he got into that situation in the first place. “A lot of times you get cloudy. This music industry is a mother, and it’ll take your vision and blur it. But God is good, so I understand that I need my wife and my kids in my life—so I threw the papers away.”
Marie Osmond and Steve Craig Met in the 80s
The showbiz diva married Steve Craig in 1982. He was a Brigham Young basketball star who went on to play professional ball in the NBA. But their marriage only lasted three years.
At the time, Osmond said that she'd never met anyone who she respected and loved more than Steve.
The Couple Remarried in 2011
With one marriage and seven kids in between, Marie Osmond and Steve Craig re-tied the knot. They were involved in a secret relationship for two years before the wedding pictures came out. Marie wore the same wedding gown she wore when they first exchanged vows. She also showed off both rings.
Craig bought the original ring from an estate in France, and the new one sparkles with an eight-carat Asher diamond. Osmond was 51 when she remarried. Struggling with depression and the death of her 18-year-old child, it was Craig who was at her side helping her cope.
Heather Morris and Taylor Hubbell
The pair were high school sweethearts and began dating seriously when Taylor Hubbell returned from playing basketball in college at the University of Louisiana.
Hubbell reached out to Heather Morris on MySpace, and they reunited.
Morris Played Brittany Pierce on 'Glee'
In a turn of coincidence, Morris’ character, Brittany, married her high school sweetheart in the final season of the series. In 2015, that same year, the couple married in real life.
They share two sons, Elijah, who was 17 months old when they wed, and Owen, who was born in 2016. Glee’s last airing was March 20, 2015. The couple's wedding was hailed as a 'Glee' reunion party.
Tyler Posey’s High School Romance Sadly Came to an End
They were together for 10 years. As pre-teens in junior high school, the darlings fell in love. When the 'Teen Wolf' star first met Seana Gorlick, he knew he loved her. “Since I was 11. I couldn’t really put it into words when I was that young, but I always had this really strong connection to her.” The lovebirds continued to date through middle school and into high school. Posey romantically proposed to Seana in 2013, on a Hawaiian vacation. He called it “the coolest thing in the world,” but later that year, they called it off.
Some sources say the break-up made him very sad, but he prefers that the circumstances be kept private. Others say he realized he wasn’t ready to start a family and wasn’t ready to commit.
Tragedy Strikes
Months after the engagement fell apart, Posey’s mother died. “She was my best friend,” Posey says, talking to People in 2016 about his abysmally bad year. He called it the hardest year of his life. “She was the glue that held our family together.” Losing his mom was like losing his entire family. Struggling with depression, he said, “Whenever I have too much down time, I start to get sad.” Season 5 of 'Teen Wolf' was dedicated to the memory of his mother.
Times have been bad, but, who knows, maybe the preteen romance will reignite, and the story will take a happy turn again.
Jon Bon Jovi Met His Future Wife in 1980
Jon Bon Jovi has been married to his high school love Dorothea Hurley since 1989. Right in the middle of his Jersey Syndicate Tour, the two eloped and tied the knot. The couple hopped on a commuter plane, flew to Las Vegas, and were married with the cabbie as the witness. They did not even stay the night.
They were wed at the world-famous Graceland Wedding Chapel, made famous after the Bon Jovi couple graced its nuptial altar. The secret marriage caused an apoplexy of angst when news got out that the 27-year-old heartthrob summarily ended his bachelorhood. The backlash against his bride was intense, but they got through it. The couple share four children, one daughter and three sons.
Bon Jovi's “syrupy” Love Songs Are About His Wife
Bon Jovi claims to be the "crazy visionary" of the relationship, while his wife is the glue that keeps everything together.
They're obviously doing something right because staying married for over 30 years is hard enough. But doing it in Hollywood seems virtually impossible!
Max Handelman and Elizabeth Banks Met in College
According to the couple, they fell in love with each other on the first day of college. After dating for ten whole years, they finally tied the knot. Max Handelman caught Elizabeth Banks completely off guard with a surprise proposal. On July 5, 2003, they were wed at the beautiful Graystone Mansion in Beverly Hills. They have two sons.
When they met at the University of Pennsylvania in 1993, they were both attending a frat party. Things were wrapping up. “The house had run out of beer so the party was pretty much over,” Handelman said in 2010. The lights came on and the fraternity brothers were kicking people out. And that’s when he first caught a glimpse of Elizabeth Banks. He walked over with a buddy and started a conversation.
The College Sweethearts Are Still Sharing Conversations
Talking with HuffPost, Banks shared, “I do think people grow together or they grow apart. We definitely grew together. We were constantly making decisions that kept us close.”
They joined talents as producers and now own a company called Brownstone Productions, which they launched in 2002. They’re responsible for all three 'Perfect Pitch' movies. Before launching the media company, Handelman worked on Wall Street in finance, sinking 80 hours a week into the career. Now things are perfect. “Forming the company really was about trying to combine our professional and personal goals,” Banks said. And it worked.
LeBron James and Savannah Brinson Met in High School
They both attended high school in Akron, Ohio. Savannah Brinson was a cheerleader and played softball on one of Akron’s high school teams. LeBron James dominated the court (and the football field) at a rival high school.
Savannah dated James when he was a local hero and was by his side for the rise to becoming a national basketball icon and one of the highest-paid athletes in the world. Ironically, he thought he wasn’t going to be much more than a local sports hero. Their first date was at Outback Steakhouse. Now, they have three children, two sons and a daughter.
LeBron Proposed on His 27th Birthday
It was New Year’s Eve 2011. LeBron said he felt super nervous as if it was a finals game. Savannah calmed his nerves when she said “yes” to life with her high school sweetheart, and the $300,000 diamond ring he presented. A celebrity wedding in 2013, with Beyoncé performing “Crazy in Love”. The elegant reception went on like a rock festival. There were three days of scheduled entertainment and celebrations.
Now, the couple shares two expansive multi-million-dollar mansions, one at home in Akron and one in the L.A. area, as well as the NBA champion’s multi-million-dollar net worth.
They Married in 1979, on Friday the 13th
The future comedian said they chose the 13th because that was the number of his high school jersey. Jeff Daniels and Kathleen Treado met as teenagers in Chelsea, Michigan. After high school, they attended the University of Michigan.
The lovebirds both adored the high school drama department where they performed many musicals and plays. 'Fiddler on the Roof' was one. Daniels reportedly said the whole town was in love with him on the stage.
Daniels Got Serious About Acting and Dropped Out
His university presented him with an Honorary Doctorate in Fine Arts in 2009. He is perhaps most loved for his role opposite Jim Carrey in "Dumb and Dumber" (1994). Ironically, his agent tried to warn him against Carrey’s project, threatening it would ruin his career. It looks like Daniels got the last laugh.
Daniels had moved out to Hollywood to pursue his acting career. When he returned to Michigan, Kathleen reminisces the time when he “came over and sat on my porch swing with me for five hours.” Kathleen was able to raise her kids as a low-profile mom, in spite of their famous actor dad. They have three now-grown children: Benjamin, Lucas, and Nellie.
LL Cool J Married His “Candy Girl.”
The 1983 chart-topping song is just as relevant today as it was when LL Cool J (James Todd Smith) wrote it for Simone Smith. “You are my world / Look so sweet / You’re a special treat / Candy girl / All I want to say / I need your love / Each and every day.” In a sweet Instagram post, she said “I’ll be your candy girl forever.” We say, ‘Awww!’
The sweet lovebirds met as teens when their friend set them up. That was in the 80s. Now Simone and Cool J have three daughters. They have been married since 1995.
The Couple Overcame a Terrible Trial
The couple faced harrowing adversity in 2004. A lump on Simone’s leg came back malignant. She was diagnosed with a rare form of bone cancer. Staying true to vows, “in sickness and health,” LL Cool J opened up with Oprah and said, “You don’t abandon someone in that foxhole, you know.”
The rapper explained, “You got to be there in that foxhole with them. So I made some decisions professionally and decided to be by Simone’s side during that period.” Simone says they are closer than ever after the experience.
Samuel L. Jackson and LaTanya Richardson
These longtime lovebirds met in college in 1974. Samuel L. Jackson was at Morehouse, active in Civil Rights and the Black Power movements, and LaTanya Richardson was at Spelman.
They have been together for over 40 years. The showbiz couple married in 1980 and have one daughter, Zoe. She was born in 1982 and is also in the entertainment business as a producer.
They're Still Going Strong!
Marvel Comic has been keeping the prolific actor, who brings us Nick Fury, very busy. His wife is busy too. LaTanya has made appearances in Grey’s Anatomy and in films, "Sleepless in Seattle" and "Fried Green Tomatoes", and she was nominated for a Tony for a 2014 stage production of "A Raisin in the Sun," with Denzel Washington.
After winning a Lifetime Achievement Award at the BET awards, Jackson thanked his wife for saving his life and making him who he is.
These Two Actor-Comedians Met at Northwestern
After they graduated, they were both picked up by NBC for SNL. It was great, except it wasn’t. Julia was “pretty miserable” with the gig and said the show was ruled by male chauvinists. “It was very political and very male-centric. Very.” she shared with 'Good Housekeeping'.
When Jay Leno asked Julia Louis-Dreyfus the secret to her long relationship with Brad Hall, she told him she “found the right guy.” She said she “knew almost immediately.” The couple married in 1987.
A Happy Family
They have been married for more than 30 years and have two sons, Henry and Charlie. In 2017, the family was faced with terrible news. “1 in 8 women get breast cancer,” Julia quipped on social media, “Today, I’m the one.”
It was Brad who stood by her as she beat the disease. In 2017, she had a message to share: “Hey cancer, ‘F--- you!’”
These Two Met Back in the Eighties
As students at the University of Washington, Rainn Wilson and Holiday Wilson took the same art class, and haven’t turned back since. The very loving and supportive pair are beyond #relationshipgoals, their bond is completely hands-on.
“I edit all her stories. She helps me on all of my auditions. We have a very collaborative relationship,” Rainn shared with The Seattle Times in 2006.
‘She Believed in Me More Than I Ever Believed in Me.’
At the time, they were scraping to get by, and he was driving a truck working for a moving company. Her support certainly paid off. 'The Office' would not be the same show without Rainn Wilson.
The duo married in 1995. Together they share one son, Walter.
Mark Zuckerberg and Priscilla Chan Met in the Bathroom Line
The two were at a Harvard party, held at the Alpha Epsilon Pi house, his fraternity, and he struck up a conversation with his wife-to-be. Romantically, Mark Zuckerberg proposed, “I’m going to get kicked out in three days, so we need to go on a date quickly.” If you watched the movie, you know the Facebook founder feared the university was expelling him for launching the prank website 'Facemash'.
As it turned out, he dropped out. The two went on that date, fell in love, and famously became collaborators for the media giant. That’s when Priscilla Chan realized their time together would need to be scheduled and managed. There would be one weekly date and a minimum of 100 minutes of face time. He agreed. “When you’re doing a partnership like this, it’s important to set aside time for your personal partnership.”
‘The Social Network’ Is About Mark and Priscilla’s Story
“Without Facemash, I wouldn’t have met Priscilla,” Zuckerberg confessed. “She’s the most important person in my life, so you could say it was the most important thing I built in my time here.”
The couple married in 2012 and they now have two daughters — Maxima and August.
Timothy Olyphant Adores His Wife
Gushing over his wife Alexis Knief, the "Hitman" star goes on to say, she’s like “life support when it comes to balancing his roles as an actor, a father and a husband.”
The pair are college sweethearts. They met in 1990 at USC and then married a year later. They share three children, Grace, Henry, and Vivian.
Their Love Is Still Strong
Olyphant revealed to Woman’s Health Magazine in 2011, “You have to be with the right person, and you both have to be willing to do the work, day in and day out, to make it happen.”
The Emmy-nominated actor was also asked how being a father of three kids changed him. “It f---ing exhausts you! That’s how it changes you!” The adoring couple has been together for several decades, and their love is burning as strong as ever.
These High School Sweethearts Had a Long Run
Sarah Palin and Todd Palin were seniors at a Wasilla, Alaska, high school when they met. They have lived in Wasilla since then. She went on to govern the state and become a vice presidential running mate.
Sarah Palin was elected governor in 2006 and ran alongside John McCain in 2008.
'Time' Named the Couple One of Their 100 Most Influential
Soon after the couple celebrated their 31st wedding anniversary, Sarah received an email from her husband’s lawyer—it was a divorce filing.
After reading the correspondence, Palin needed time to recover. After all, decades of marriage, five kids, and several grandchildren don't exactly have a "we're over" energy. The divorce, however, was finalized in less than a year.
Joey Fatone and Kelly Baldwin
The N Sync performer, Joey Fatone hooked up with screenwriter Kelly Baldwin in 1993 when they were both still in high school. Two years later, when Fatone joined the band, it made things hard on their relationship, which changed into an on-and-off base.
For a while, rumors said that Fatone was even dating singer Pink. The two, however, quashed these, saying they were just friends.
Love Finds a Way
Fatone and Baldwin found their way back to each other eventually and made things official in a 2004 ceremony, which was attended by all members of the boyband. The couple has two daughters, Briahna and Kloey.
Fun fact: Fatone's bandmate and best friend, Lance Bass, serves as his daughters' godfather.
Catelynn Lowell and Tyler Baltierra Were 15 When They Met
Teen Mom OG contestants Catelynn Lowell and Tyler Baltierra were barely even teens when they met. By 16, she and Tyler were expecting a child. She signed up for the MTV reality program 16 & Pregnant. Viewers followed their journey as they decided to give the baby away for adoption. The couple became engaged on the show when Tyler surprised Catelynn with a proposal. She said, “Yes.”
The show captured the on-again-off-again drama of the young couple’s relationship. When Catelynn was 22, the couple announced their second pregnancy.
The Teen Love Duo Married in 2015
They welcomed their third child in 2019. Since then, ups and downs, moving out and divorce rumors riding the waves of their relationship have found them announcing, that after attending couple’s therapy in the past, they are “in a good place.”
The reality star couple wrote a tell-all called 'Conquering Chaos'.
Sam and Lindsay Fell for Each Other in High School
Samuel Cusick and Lindsay Arnold fell in love in high school. When they met, it was a very sweet sixteen.
Lindsay had this to say, “I could never have imagined that when I was 16 years old, I would have met the man I would marry and who would be my partner—yesterday, today and tomorrow!”
They Married in Their Hometown
The couple married in their hometown, at the Salt Lake City Temple, in 2015. The ceremony was low-key, but the reception hosted 400 guests for dinner!
The TV personality says of her hubby, “[he] always knows exactly what to do or say to make me laugh.” Lindsay goes on to say, “Dancing with the Stars can be a stressful job, but Sam always reminds me to enjoy myself and have fun.” The adorable couple is quite simply head over heels with each other.
Taylor Hanson and Natalie Hanson Met at a Teen Fashion Show
Others say they met at a Hanson concert. What we know is that they got together as teens and fell wildly in love with each other. By the time Natalie was 18, the adoring couple welcomed their first child into the world. They had just married several months earlier. All this happened in 2002. Now they have a grand total of six children!
Endearing fans of Nat and Taylor just call them 'Naylor'.
One Big Happy Family
Taylor and his bee-bop brothers, Isaac and Zac (the Hanson Brothers), hail from Oklahoma. If you have never heard the song, “MMMBop” is Hanson’s big smash hit. It came out in 1997. When Entertainment Weekly caught up with the teen band ten years later to see what had changed, they found Corona or Newcastle was preferred backstage (they’re legal!).
Natalie’s mommy blog “Nat On The Wall” was a popular way for fans to follow up on their favorite musicians.
MLB superstar Mariano Rivera Met His First Love in Elementary School
Clara Rivera and Mariano Rivera knew each other in grade school and began dating later. In 1991, the couple tied the knot in their Panamanian hometown. The New York Yankees pitcher played 19 seasons with the team. With the Yanks, he’s a five-time World Series champ.
He came to MLB from a small fishing village in Panama. The Riveras lived in Panama until 2000. They moved to New York so Mr. Rivera could pursue his baseball dream. He began pitching for Iona College in New Rochelle.
Eli Manning and Abby McGrew Met at the University of Mississippi
It was 2002, and Eli Manning was the star quarterback for football powerhouse Ole Miss. He was a junior, and McGrew was a freshman.
College sweetheart Abby McGrew was at every game cheering on her unstoppable quarterback. When it came time for the NFL Draft, her boyfriend was the number one pick for the New York Giants.
Destined to Be Together
Abby had just moved to N.Y.C. as a fashion account executive. That same year, in 2004, the Giants signed Manning to the team as a quarterback. The couple coincidentally ended up in the Big Apple together! The lovebirds tied the knot in 2008. They celebrated a spring wedding in Los Cabos, Mexico. They also celebrated Manning’s first Super Bowl win. After 16 solid years with the Giants, Manning retired.
The Mannings have four children. Dad is outnumbered. The couple has three daughters and a son. The latter was born on Super Bowl Sunday. An exciting day at the Manning household!
Courtney Love and Kurt Cobain
Courtney Love, who is most well known as the partner of Kurt Cobain and lead singer of Hole, is no stranger to the negative attention that comes with being famous. Though she's settled down over the years, some of her more controversial moments include flashing David Letterman while being interviewed on "The Late Show," and throwing a shoe at Maddona at the 1995 VMAs.
Kurt Cobain, on his part, is known for his music, and his music only (we don't want to hear any negative things about him). His tragic passing turned the phenomenon he was into a ledge that will keep on pleasuring our ears and inspiring us for many years to come.
The Crazy Couple
Love and Cobain started dating when they were both in their late teens and became one of Hollywood's most tragic love stories. They were the crazy couple, who got married in Hawaii with the groom wearing his pajamas.
They were inseparable and despite the stories (the tabloids didn't think twice before publishing), they hung on until the end.
Emmanuel Macron and Brigitte Trogneux
In May of 2017, Emmanuel Macron, 39, was named President-Elect of France, making his wife, Brigitte Trogneux, 64, the First Lady. The couple met when Macron was only 15 years old and Trogneux was a teacher at his high school. He immediately fell in love with her, and soon wanted to marry her.
Once he was of age, Trogneux divorced her husband and married Macron just one year later with her adult children’s blessing. She told Paris Match Magazine, “Love took everything in its path and led me to divorce".
Viva La France
It was impossible to resist him,” The 24 year age gap doesn’t seem to affect the couple one bit. “Without her, I wouldn’t be me,” Macron said. Now, we know they are not considered high school in the traditional sense of things, but this is a unique story, so we had to add this to the list.
And besides, who said both parts must be in high school to be named a high school sweetheart? One is plenty for us.
Kobe Bryant, Vanessa Laine, and Snoop Doggy Dog
Basketball legend, Kobe Bryant, met Vanessa when she was still in high school. She was an extra in a Snoop Dogg music video that he had come to see. When their relationship came to light, her high school days were overrun by the paparazzi.
Kobe Bryant's prom date was no other than Brandy, R&B star. If only she had known what a legend Kobe would turn into, she probably would have made that prom night last a bit longer.
Love on the Court
Even though their relationship was not approved by the older generation (on both sides), the couple tied the knot in 2001, the bride was 19 and the groom was 22.
They have four daughters, named Natalia, Gianna, Bianka, and Capri. Sadly, their relationship came to a tragic end when Kobe and their daughter, Gianna, passed in a helicopter crash.
Alan and Denise Jackson
Now, this is one for the books! This pair met back in high school and stuck it through thick and thin. They married in 1979, and six years later, they moved to Nashville to pursue Alan’s dream. Denise, however, was the rock who held fast and helped him get his start in country music.
At the time, she was working as a flight attendant and met Glen Campbell, who took an interest in Denise’s musically ambitious husband – as a result, the country legend helped Alan to land a record deal with Arista Records.
Country Road Take Us Home
Fast forward and the couple have three daughters. They separated at one point, but amazingly got back together, and have stuck by each other ever since. So, what's that secret of an over 40-year love story?
Well, according to them (as one said in an interview), when you acknowledge the fact that love is stronger than anything else, you just let it win.
Willie Robertson and Korie
Willie Robertson met Korie all the way back when they were making arts and crafts at a summer camp in third grade. They didn’t exactly fall in love right away, but they did date later on in junior high. They stayed together throughout middle school and high school and even attended their senior prom together.
She was 18 and he was 19 when they went to the dance and waited a few more years before settling down and starting their own family.
Young Love
So since then, the couple has been through a bit. Korie has had her own share of Hollywood life with her appearance on Duck Dynasty and a few other low-budget TV movies, but decided to stick to writing as she has publishes a few books too.
The couple has been married for more than 20 years and still look madly in love with every appearance they have. The summer camp they attended as kids presumably did something good.
Drew Doughty and Nicole Arruda
Most everyone loves the story of high school sweethearts who managed to stay together long after graduation. An alternate captain for the Los Angeles Kings and defenseman Drew Doughty met his wife (Nicole Arruda) while the two were in high school.
The two stuck together through thick and thin and eventually, in 2018 they tied the knot. We must admire these two for sticking strong together in the face of publicity and its good friend paparazzi.
Some Love on the Hockey Rink
The couple spends most of their time in Los Angeles but are still loyal Canadians and keep family first. Doughty has said that no matter what happens on the ice, coming home to the family always lifts him up.
The pair share two kids and Doughty confessed that he enjoys being a father and that Arruda makes fatherhood a wonderful experience for him. That also includes times when he loses a tooth (or two) on the ice.
Musicians Paul Wall and Crystal Wall
Paul Wall, a rapper, songwriter, D.J., and actor from Houston began dating Crystal when they were both 21, although the lovebirds met in high school. They dated for several years and now they have a strong marriage and two children.
They attribute a mutual love of music as the thing that makes their relationship great. Crystal is a fitness instructor and a country music singer and although their musical preferences are on different sides of the spectrum, they manage to bridge over and keep strong.
That's the Way We Do It
Paul has talked about feeling tensions because his wife is black. Living in Texas, prejudice is expected, but he says he experiences even more dirty looks and snide comments traveling to the east coast.
We would have expected that in the 21st century these matters would no longer be, Paul has said. And despite that, and with all that it brings, Paul and Crystal are as stronger as ever.
Michael J. Fox and Tracy Pollan
Michael J. Fox rose to fame on our television screens going as far back as 1976. For you millennials, he’s the guy who plays Marty McFly in the "Back to the Future" trilogy.
Anyway, we’re here to talk about love, something which Michael J. Fox and his darling wife Tracy Pollan have loads to give to one another.
Together for Ever
The pair got together in the 80s, first meeting while Pollan was shooting "Family Ties", and yes, she was in her late teens. But it wasn’t until two years later on the set of "Bright Lights, Big City" that they started to get to know each other better.
Fast forward three decades and Fox and Pollan are still together, especially through crucial years up to today, with Fox's medical condition.
Jeffrey Atkins (Ja Rule) Aisha Atkins
Jeffrey Atkins (Ja Rule) and his wife Aisha Atkins have seen the beautiful and the beastly side of marriage, including accusations of all kinds against Mr. Rule. However, when love is thicker than any accusation, it wins, and the two have been together for over 20 years.
They met in high school and believe that after what they have been through, nothing can break them apart.
Strong Strong Love
Ja Rule had a very difficult upbringing, and he had said that he is reliving his childhood through his kids. He also stated that family values are always a top priority for him.
Now how many of you met your sweetheart in 8th great and stayed together to tell us all about it?
Carli Lloyd and Brian Hollins
We don't have so many sportswomen on this list, so it is an honor to include Carli Lloyd and her long-lasting high school sweetheart Brian Hollins. They have been together for more than two decades and believe that nothing will ever come between them.
Carli Lloyd plays on the national soccer team and Brian is one of the best golfers in the land. Two athletes can only aim at the top, and that includes their love life.
And We Have a Gold Medal
They grew up in New Jersey, with a field of grass separating between their family homes. He would watch Carli play soccer as a girl, not realizing he has already fallen for her.
Modern technology is what helps these two keep in touch when there are world cups to consider, and we ask out selves, how would this have worked back in 1970?
Jelena and Novak Djokovic
Jelena and Novak Djokovic have known each other ever since they were in high school. He met Jelena and for him, it was love at first sight. For her? Not so much. But cupid was diligent and she realized what was going on in her heart eventually.
Novak would eventually become a world-renowned Serbian tennis player. He never dreamed he would marry his childhood friend.
The Love Story of a Tenis Player
The two started dating in 2005 and got engaged eight years after. A few months after the engagement, Novak married Jelena while she was pregnant with their first child. The long-distance relationship did not suit the two, so Jelena started to accompany Novak on his tennis tournaments.
In 2015, she gave birth to a baby boy named Stefan followed by a baby girl named Tara in September of 2017. Today, they are continuously building their family and appear to be very happy with the company of each other.
Mitt and Ann Romney
There is not much we have to say (or write) about Mitt Romney. We all know him. His wife Ann and Mitt met in grade school and he was the one who turned politics into a passion.
In their early twenties, before they both studied in France, however, they weren't allowed to meet very often (supervision of the 1960s) so they had to wait with their love affair for 1970 when they married.
Presidential Love Affair
Mitt and Ann Romney go all the way back to their school years. Anne was barely out of her graduation ceremony and she already found herself engaged. Since then, they have not said their final word. They have five children and no less than 18 grandchildren.
Romney has become one of American most familiar politicians. He was the governor of Massachusetts, he ran for the presidency in 2012 (and lost), and amongst all that he finds time to write, and provide business consultation.
Sheletta Chapital and Anthony Mackie
The real-life love life of the Marvel star is nothing like you see on screen. Falcon married his school sweetheart. Not his high school love, but his grade school girlfriend.
Now, how sweet is that? If we could have gone back in time and told them that they would end up together and have four kids, we are not sure they would have believed us.
Who Would Have Thought They Would Have Four Kids
They had a quiet and out of the camera's eye wedding. They shared a house in New Orleans and had two boys, but things were about to change for the grade school lovers.
Unfortunately, the sparks and glitter didn't shine for long and in 2018 they decided to call it quits. Sheletta Chapital and Anthony Mackie divorced and went their separate ways.
Kendrick Lamar and Whitney Alford
We just can't get enough of love stories that start in high school and keep going for decades. Kendrick Lamar and Whitney Alford are one such story we love to admire. Now, although Whitney is relatively silent, she definitely wears the pants in the house.
She is strong and dominant and exactly what Kendrick needed to support him and push him up the ladder to earn that $18 million he is worth today.
The Love of a LifeTime
The rapper met Whitney Alford when they both attended the Californian high school. Kendrick always saw Whitney as his best friend and not only his lover. He describes her as the closest person to him.
Whitney is also Lamar's makeup artist and his personal manager (talk about a full plate!). What we love about this couple is that Alford was there by her man's side even before he became Kendrick Lamar, and before all the glam and fame.
Clayton Kershaw and Ellen Melson
Clayton Kershaw and Ellen Melson are a couple for the books. They have been together since the age of 15 and nothing has ever come between them. Now think about it. Kind of boring, no?
NO! Now how often does that happen? Besides being professional in everything they do, they have also established an organization of their own, helping children in need.
A Really Early Start
Another interesting fact about these two is that they both wrote a book about the path they have chosen in life and the things that make them stronger together. These two are really inseparable!
For some, being with only one partner in life can seem boring and unadventurous, but for others, if you're lucky enough to find your match at the age of 15, grab on to it and never let it go.
Mike Sorrentino and Lauren Pesce
Mike Sorrentino and Lauren Pesce have gone back and forth and back again for years, we find it sometimes difficult to keep track. If you're asking yourself where do you know Mike from, he was big on the reality show "Jersey Shore". And Lauren? Well, she's a huge blogger and TV presenter, so these two are a match made in heaven.
They met in their late teen years and Lauren had said in one of her interviews, that they are so old, they used to go to Blockbuster when they were dating. The teens of today don't even know what Blockbuster is.
Controlling the Situation
Mike, also nicknamed The Situation, has had his fair share of struggles in life. Some of the demons he has battled include unemployment, substance abuse, and anger management issues.
Lauren, however, knows all about those demons, and, as his wife, kept sticking around to help him through it. The couple serves as the proud parents of a son named Romeo Reign, born in 2021.
Chelsea Clinton and Marc Mezvinsky
Chelsea Clinton, daughter of former US President Bill Clinton had been under the lights since she was a young girl. Being the daughter of one of the most famous political couples in the world didn't give her much of a choice.
She met investment banker and longtime friend husband Marc Mezvinsky way back in 1993 when they were both still in their teens and they married in 2010. The couple had a lavish interfaith ceremony in upstate New York that was rumored to have cost nearly $5 million.
No Politics Please
Chelsea has said that when she first started to date Marc, she kept the most important rule which was — do not talk politics (we find it hard to believe she stood by her word growing up in the household she grew up in).
They have three children and live a relatively modest and personal life together. Want some juicy facts about Marc? He is worth over $15 million, Bill adores him, his father had some legal issues no one talks about and it was his idea to buy the apartment on Maddison Square.
Jack and Kim Johnson
Jack Johnson was born and raised in Oahu, where he got his musical influence. At the early age of eight he picked up his first guitar, and by the age of 12, he had already written his first love song.
Little did he know, that Kim Johnson was a few hundred thousand miles away, waiting for a love song dedicated to her.
Laid Back, Easy Going Kind of Guy
Is meeting in the first week of college considered still high school? If so, we can claim that Jack and Kim Johnson met in their high school years. The couple is known as very generous donators and they have made such significant changes in many lives of underprivileged children around the world.
Jack Johnson is known as the laid-back and easy-going dude of the music industry. He has written numerous love songs, all dedicated to his love, Kim, and says that all of his breakup and broken heart songs are dedicated or influenced by his friend's life stories. A real squash to the heart.
Rick and Kathy Hilton
If we had to list the couples on this list according to wealth, Rick and Kathy Hilton would be placed first. Their name says it all. With hotels and real estate scattered all over the globe, you really go wrong when you marry a Hilton.
Rick and Kathy have been together since their teen days. Their daughter Paris Hilton has had her share of negative publicity, but Rick and Kathy have kept it calm over the years.
The Richest of Them All
Kathy has been known to the public since the early 1980s when she married into one of the richest families around at the time, the Hiltons. It wasn't love at first sight (the diamonds made her blind?), but they have stuck together since.
These days, Rick still manages the estates he owns all over the world and his net worth is presumably more than $350 billion.