Renowned singer, songwriter, and guitarist Jon Bon Jovi has managed to keep his family life relatively private despite his celebrity status.

Married to his high school sweetheart, Dorothea, for over 30 years, the couple has four children together: Jesse, 28, Romeo Jon, 19, Stephanie Rose, 30, and Jake, 21.

Their heartwarming relationship has spanned more than four decades. Let’s take a look at their sweet love story.

Jon and Dorothea (now both 61) tied the knot on April 29, 1989, just as Jon was rising to fame with the number one album New Jersey and a chart-topping single. The proposal happened spontaneously when Jon suggested eloping during their stay at the St. James Club, he told Men’s Health in 2010. Despite initially being rather reluctant, Dorothea eventually agreed, and they got married at the Graceland Wedding Chapel in Las Vegas.

While news of any marriage is usually met with excitement and happiness, this wasn’t necessarily the case when Jon and Dorothea got hitched. In fact, many of Jon’s fans were upset, because they couldn’t seem to fathom the idea that their idol was no longer a single man. Even Jon’s manager disapproved, considering it a career misstep. However, the newlyweds stood firm and stayed committed to each other.

“America wasn’t happy on that Monday when they found out about the wedding, and a lot of people tried to ruin a beautiful thing. They tried to cheat us out of that moment,” Jon told The Mirror in 2018.

Despite the initial resistance, Jon and Dorothea have stayed together and have built a close-knit family over the years. The rock star has previously said that the longevity of their union has simply been down to “mutual respect”, per People.

Both having grown up together, the couple not only like each other but also share a strong bond. Dorothea, recognizing Jon’s potential early on, and Jon himself, attribute their successful marriage to hard work and a commitment to avoiding the pitfalls of celebrity life.

Jon Bon Jovi finds true happiness in doing right by his family and contributing positively to the world. While enjoying fame and success, he remains cautious not to succumb to the challenges that other celebrities face. In 2024, he will be named MusiCares Person of the Year, in recognition of his influence in the music industry.