Jon Bon Jovi defends marriage after Michael Strahan says relationship ‘had to be tough’ for ‘s*x symbol’ star

Jon Bon Jovi is opening up about his 35-year marriage to his wife, Dorothea Hurley.

Michael Strahan has called out the rocker in a new interview and said that it must have been difficult because Jon is a “sex symbol.”

Michael Strahan said that it must have been hard for Jon Bon Jovi to be married because he was such a sex symbol and was so young.
Credit: ABC News

Jon said that was nonsense and he wouldn’t have jeopardized anything, because despite him being Jon Bon Jovi, it wouldn’t been unwise.
Credit: ABC News

Jon has been married to Dorothea Hurley since 1989 when they had an impromptu wedding in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Credit: PA

Jon, 62, sat down with Michael, 52, for an ABC News special.

He expanded on information that was in his Hulu documentary, Thank You, Goodnight, as his band, Bon Jovi, celebrated their 40th anniversary.

After going through archives in Jon’s basement, Michael asked the Bon Jovi frontman what was the earliest recording that he had.

Jon said that he had some tapes that pre-dated the band and there was a song called Bobby’s Girl.

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“My friend Bobby’s girl was Dorothea. I wrote this right out of high school,” he said.

Michael tapped him on the shoulder excitedly because Dorothea Hurley is his now-wife of 35 years.

The two laughed and then sat down to talk more about his career and relationship.

Jon said that he and Dorothea went to the same high school, grew up in the same town, and had the same group of friends, so they were bound to meet.

‘THAT’S NONSENSE’

Being in one of the biggest bands of the 1980s and a “sex symbol,” according to Michael, he figured that Jon and Dorothea’s relationship had to be tough, but Jon defended his marriage.

“It had to be tough on a relationship. You were young,” the Good Morning America host said.

Who is Jon Bon Jovi’s wife, Dorothea Hurley?

“That’s nonsense,” Jon shot back.

“But, you’re a sex symbol,” Michael said.

“I got away with murder. I’m a rock ‘n roll star. I’m not a saint,” the rock band legend admitted.

“You know, I’m not saying there weren’t 100 girls in my life. I’m Jon Bon Jovi.”

Jon went on to say though that it would have been unwise for him to jeopardize anything just because he had a bit of narcissism in him.

‘IT’S JUST NOT WORTH IT!’

Jon continued by saying, “What kind of excesses does a man need that’s going to fuel that fire? It’s just not worth it.”

Michael said that Jon mentioned Dorothea is the glue that holds everything together.

“There is no doubt in my mind that the world revolves because of her, because of what she did to keep the kids right, what she does to keep me right, what we do together to keep it right. No doubt about it,” Jon defended.

John and Dorothea Bongiovi’s Relationship Timeline

Jon us the front man of one of the biggest rock bands in the world, but his relationship with his wife tends to stay under the radar. Here’s Jon and Dorothea’s love story.

The couple met at Sayreville War Memorial High School and began dating in 1980, three years before Bon Jovi formed

Jon and Dorothea briefly split in 1985

During that time, he dated Diane Lane for five months

Jon and Dorothea reconciled shortly after and dated up until 1989

During the band’s New Jersey Syndicate Tour, they spontaneously got married in 1989 in Las Vegas, Nevada

They welcomed their first child and only daughter – Stephanie Rose – in May 1993

Dorothea gives birth to their first son – Jesse James Louis – in February 1995

In 2002, Jon almost missed the birth of his third child – Jacob “Jake” Hurley – because he was on tour in New Orleans

They welcomed their fourth and final child – Romeo – in 2004

Jon credited Dorothea in 2016 for helping him through the departure of Richie Sambora from the band

In 2024, Dorothea accompanied Jon to the MusiCares Person of the Year gala and later the premiere of his Hulu documentary, Thank You, Goodnight

The rocker said that Dorothea isn’t shy to call him out on something, but they are both there when the other falls.

“No matter where I went in my career – the ups or the downs – we did it together,” he said.

Bon Jovi formed in 1983 and Dorothea had been there since before the inception.

The high school sweethearts got married in 1989 in Las Vegas, Nevada.

The couple shares four children together – Stephanie, 30; Jesse, 29; Jake, 22; and Romeo Bongiovi, 20.

Jon said that he is a rockstar, not a saint, so he had 100s of girls around him, but he thought it would’ve been unwise to jeopardize his relationship.
Credit: Getty

The couple shares four children together – (from left) Jesse, Jacob, Stephanie, and Romeo (not pictured) Bongiovi.
Credit: Getty

Jon told Michael that Dorothea is the glue that holds everything together and has been there for him through the ups and downs.
Credit: ABC News
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