Jon Bon Jovi Says of 37-Year Marriage: 'I Got it Right The First Time'
Jon Bon Jovi has a lot to be grateful for these days.
The Rock and Roll Hall of Famer is enjoying life after a harrowing four-year period where he wasn't sure if he would ever sing again. He was diagnosed with vocal cord atrophy and had a plastic implant placed on the outside of the vocal cords to push the muscles together and help them close properly.
Today, he has recovered and can take on his biggest challenge in years, a nine-date stand at New York's Madison Square Garden beginning in July 2026, followed by dates in Edinburgh, Dublin, and London. The entertainer is embracing a new chapter and reflecting on the challenges that tested both his career and his resilience.
However, the one constant in his life has been his wife, of 37 years, Dorothea Bongiovi. He told PEOPLE Magazine, "My wife Dorothea. I got it right the first time."
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"I am so lucky. It will be 37 years now. Together 46. It's been a long time. It's awesome, just great."
Dorothea was recently awarded the James Beard Foundation Award for Trailblazer of the Year for her creation of the Soul Kitchen. The honor recognizes her ongoing commitment to fighting food insecurity and supporting communities in need.
"Giving back was always important, but doing it through food, which we realized many years ago, you didn't need a scientist to find a cure. [Dorothea] created the model of the restaurants. We have four and are about to do a fifth," Bon Jovi explained.
"Her great dream is that we go out of business. But unfortunately, we never well,: he explained.
"It's thriving and we are expanding into different areas. Getting housing, getting expungements...45 people's criminal records were expunged because of the Soul Kitchen."
"Getting them off the street on Code Blue nights, where we pay for a warming center. We've built 1000 units of affordable housing. That's all because of the foundation, which led to the kitchens, which led to other things," the entertainer added.
Jon Bon Jovi concluded, "All the kitchen and the second phase of it was all Dorothea. So, to be able to celebrate her this way is going to be a wonderful treat for her."
The couple is parents to Stephanie, Jessie, Jake, and Romeo, and grandparents of two. Bon Jovi released their 16th studio album, Forever, on June 7, 2024.
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This story was originally published June 17, 2026 at 8:08 AM.