Pick a Day

Music History Events: Breakups and Divorces

December 27, 1940 Al Jolson and Ruby Keeler divorce after a dozen years of marriage.

December 28, 2021 Dr. Dre's divorce is settled, with the rapper/producer agreeing to pay his ex wife, Nicole Plotzker-Young, $100 million. They were married from 1996-2020.

September 14, 2017 Fergie and actor Josh Duhamel announce their separation after eight years of marriage. The pair, who share a 4-year-old son, Axl, secretly split months earlier.

July 15, 2016 In what they famously describe as a "conscious uncoupling," Chris Martin (of Coldplay) and Gwyneth Paltrow officially divorce after 13 years of marriage.

April 8, 2016 Gavin Rossdale and Gwen Stefani are officially divorced after 14 years of marriage. They share three sons: Kingston, Zuma, and Apollo.

January 23, 2015 Pop singer Mandy Moore and alt rocker Ryan Adams announce their split after nearly six years of marriage, with Moore filing the divorce proceedings. She later accuses him of psychologically abusive behavior that derailed her music career.

December 12, 2014 Nick Cannon files for divorce from Mariah Carey. The pair married in 2008 and had two children, twins Monroe and Moroccan.

July 29, 2014 After 36 years of marriage, Neil Young files for divorce from his second wife, Pegi.

July 2, 2014 On her website, Jewel announces she will be divorcing husband Ty Murray after almost six years of marriage.

June 16, 2014 Jennifer Lopez and Marc Anthony divorce. They married in 2004 and welcomed twins Maximilian and Emme in 2008.

April 4, 2014 Richard Marx and Cynthia Rhodes announce the end of their 25-year marriage that included the birth of three sons. The pair met in 1983 when both were working on the film Staying Alive (Marx on the soundtrack, Rhodes as a dancer).

February 24, 2014 Robin Thicke and Paula Patton announce their separation after nine years of marriage. A few months later, Thicke releases his album Paula, where he pours his heart out over the split.

November 10, 2012 No longer an item: Justin Bieber and Selena Gomez. The pair announce their breakup after dating for about a year. Bieber plays an acoustic version of "Cry Me A River" at his show in Boston. A decade earlier, Justin Timberlake wrote the song about his split with Britney Spears.

August 3, 2012 Stevie Wonder announces that he will be divorcing Kai Millard Morris, his second wife of eleven years. The couple reveal that they've been living separately for two years and cite the boring "irreconcilable differences" as the reason for the split.

January 22, 2012 Seal and Heidi Klum, who got married in 2005 and had four kids together, announce they are separating.

June 10, 2011 Jack White and British model Karen Elson throw a "divorce party" to celebrate their amicable breakup. White was previously married to his White Stripes bandmate Meg White.

June 9, 2010 Shania Twain's divorce from producer Robert "Mutt" Lange is finalized. The couple announced the split in 2008.

November 7, 2006 Two months after giving birth to her second child, Britney Spears files for divorce from Kevin Federline, whom she married in 2004.

June 30, 2006 Jessica Simpson and Nick Lachey divorce after three years of marriage.

August 11, 2004 Vanessa Williams and her basketball-player husband Rick Fox get divorced.

December 17, 2001 Garth Brooks and Sandy Mahl divorce after 15 years of marriage. They share three daughters: Taylor, August, and Allie.

August 9, 1993 Lionel Richie finally divorces his first wife Brenda Harvey, who was his college sweetheart. After carrying on a secret relationship with Diane Alexander since 1986, it was only a matter of time. Richie married Alexander on December 21, 1995 and fathered two children, Miles Brockman and Sophia, before the pair split in 2004.

March 4, 1990 Bill Wyman of the Rolling Stones announces his judicial separation from his bride of nine months, the former Mandy Smith. When they wed, he was 52 and she was 18.

March 26, 1987 Elton John admits that his marriage to Renate Blauel is in trouble, releasing a statement (through his publicist) that reads: "In order to put an end to further speculation, Elton and Renate jointly wish it to be known that they have for many months lived apart whilst each of them has been considering the future of their marriage." The couple married on Valentine's Day, 1984; their divorce is finalized on November 17, 1988.

June 30, 1977 Bob Dylan and his wife of 11 years, Sara, finalize their divorce. She is given custody of their five children.

July 2, 1976 A battered Tina Turner leaves husband Ike in Dallas, Texas, after one final blowout. She files for divorce later in the month.