Lebron and Savannah James, Ron and Cheryl Howard, Patrick and Brittany Mahomes.Photo:Savannah James/ Instagram; Ron Galella/Ron Galella Collection via Getty; Patrick Mahomes/ Instagram
Savannah James/ Instagram; Ron Galella/Ron Galella Collection via Getty; Patrick Mahomes/ Instagram
High school romances might not always have a happy ending, but for these famous couples, their teenage love stories have stood the test of time.FromLebron and Savannah James' Outback Steakhouse beginnings, toRalph Macchio and Phyllis Fierro’s meeting over an array of snack food in his grandma’s basement, here are the stories behind these famous couples and their long-lasting love.
High school romances might not always have a happy ending, but for these famous couples, their teenage love stories have stood the test of time.
FromLebron and Savannah James' Outback Steakhouse beginnings, toRalph Macchio and Phyllis Fierro’s meeting over an array of snack food in his grandma’s basement, here are the stories behind these famous couples and their long-lasting love.
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Lebron & Savannah James
Lebron and Savannah James.Savannah James/ Instagram; Phillip Faraone/Getty
Savannah James/ Instagram; Phillip Faraone/Getty
Lebron and Savannah Jamesfirst met as teenagers when they were students at rival high schools — Savannah was a sophomore, Lebron was a year older. They had their first solo date at an Outback Steakhouse and well,the rest is history.
“A person like myself always needs a great sidekick and a person you can rely on no matter the circumstances,” Lebron toldHarper’s Bazaarin 2010. “And she’s that. She’s got my back and I love her for that."
02of 21Bono & Ali HewsonBono and Ali Hewson.Independent News and Media/Getty; Paul Morigi/GettyForBonoand his wife of more than 40 years,Ali Hewson, their love story dates back to before they were even teenagers when they met at Mount Temple Comprehensive School. The two began dating in high school and got married in August 1982.“He was my first real boyfriend,” Hewson toldThe Telegraphin 2008. “It was 1976 that we got together — the same year that the band formed. I saw their first gig in our school gym.“The two share four children together: daughters Jordan and Eve and sons Elijah and John.
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Bono & Ali Hewson
Bono and Ali Hewson.Independent News and Media/Getty; Paul Morigi/Getty
Independent News and Media/Getty; Paul Morigi/Getty
ForBonoand his wife of more than 40 years,Ali Hewson, their love story dates back to before they were even teenagers when they met at Mount Temple Comprehensive School. The two began dating in high school and got married in August 1982.
“He was my first real boyfriend,” Hewson toldThe Telegraphin 2008. “It was 1976 that we got together — the same year that the band formed. I saw their first gig in our school gym.”
The two share four children together: daughters Jordan and Eve and sons Elijah and John.
03of 21Patrick & Brittany MahomesPatrick and Brittany Mahomes.Patrick Mahomes/ Instagram; Frazer Harrison/GettyBefore becoming one of the NFL’s hottest couples,Patrick and Brittany Mahomeswere students together at Whitehouse High School in Texas where their romance began — the two even went to prom together in 2013. The Mahomes got married in 2022 and are parents to daughterSterling Skyeand son"Bronze” Lavon Mahomes III.
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Patrick & Brittany Mahomes
Patrick and Brittany Mahomes.Patrick Mahomes/ Instagram; Frazer Harrison/Getty
Patrick Mahomes/ Instagram; Frazer Harrison/Getty
Before becoming one of the NFL’s hottest couples,Patrick and Brittany Mahomeswere students together at Whitehouse High School in Texas where their romance began — the two even went to prom together in 2013. The Mahomes got married in 2022 and are parents to daughterSterling Skyeand son"Bronze” Lavon Mahomes III.
04of 21Ralph Macchio & Phyllis FierroRalph Macchio and Phyllis Fierro.Ron Galella/Ron Galella Collection via Getty; Sean Zanni/GettyWhenRalph Macchiofirst met his now-wife,Phyllis Fierro, more than three decades ago, the two were in his grandma’s basement for a cousin’s birthday party.“This is 1970 or whatever, so this is Cheez Doodles, 7Up, Tootsie Rolls, probably the Ruffles with onion dip,” he told PEOPLE. “She was a friend of my cousin, and we just smiled and talked and danced a little. Probably the Hustle!“The two got married in 1987 are now parents to two children, Julia and Daniel.“I would have to say my wife is my best friend,” Macchio saidin an interviewwithOne on One withJohn Teshin 1992. “There’s no doubt.“He continued, “There’s just no one else I would even think about wanting to be with. From a very early time, I just knew this was the woman I wanted to marry and spend my life with. It’s corny, but it’s true.”
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Ralph Macchio & Phyllis Fierro
Ralph Macchio and Phyllis Fierro.Ron Galella/Ron Galella Collection via Getty; Sean Zanni/Getty
Ron Galella/Ron Galella Collection via Getty; Sean Zanni/Getty
WhenRalph Macchiofirst met his now-wife,Phyllis Fierro, more than three decades ago, the two were in his grandma’s basement for a cousin’s birthday party.
“This is 1970 or whatever, so this is Cheez Doodles, 7Up, Tootsie Rolls, probably the Ruffles with onion dip,” he told PEOPLE. “She was a friend of my cousin, and we just smiled and talked and danced a little. Probably the Hustle!”
The two got married in 1987 are now parents to two children, Julia and Daniel.
“I would have to say my wife is my best friend,” Macchio saidin an interviewwithOne on One withJohn Teshin 1992. “There’s no doubt.”
He continued, “There’s just no one else I would even think about wanting to be with. From a very early time, I just knew this was the woman I wanted to marry and spend my life with. It’s corny, but it’s true.”
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Thomas Rhett & Lauren Akins
Thomas Rhett and Lauren Akins.Thomas Rhett/ Instagram; Taylor Hill/FilmMagic
Thomas Rhett/ Instagram; Taylor Hill/FilmMagic
Forget high school,Thomas Rhett and Lauren Akinshave known each other since elementary school. While the pair did not start seriously dating until later on, Rhett said when they went to camp together in sixth grade he “already knew I was in love with her.”
“I’d loved that girl since high school, andI told her fatherhow I felt. He said, ‘If you don’t tell her, I’m going to,’ " Rhett recalled. “It was a totalRyan Goslingmoment. I said to her, ‘I just want to kiss you one time. If you don’t feel anything, we can go back to being friends.’ "
The two were married in May 2012 and are nowparents to four daughters: Willa Gray, Ada James, Lennon Love and Lillie Carolina.
06of 21Snoop Dogg & Shante BroadusSnoop Dogg and Shante Broadus.Frederick M. Brown/Getty; Gilbert Flores/Variety via GettySnoop Dogg and his wife, Shante Broadus have known each other since high school and as he described, “I feel like that was true love at first sight.“When talking about his decades-long relationship with Broadus, who began managing the rapper in 2021,he told Hoda Kotb and Jenna Bush Hager, “I think because we were both young and we were both willing to sacrifice for each other. She knew what my dreams and goals was, and at the same time, I knew what hers were.“The couple, who married in 1997, share sons Corde and Cordell and daughter Cori. Snoop is also dad to a son, Julian, from a different relationship.
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Snoop Dogg & Shante Broadus
Snoop Dogg and Shante Broadus.Frederick M. Brown/Getty; Gilbert Flores/Variety via Getty
Frederick M. Brown/Getty; Gilbert Flores/Variety via Getty
Snoop Dogg and his wife, Shante Broadus have known each other since high school and as he described, “I feel like that was true love at first sight.”
When talking about his decades-long relationship with Broadus, who began managing the rapper in 2021,he told Hoda Kotb and Jenna Bush Hager, “I think because we were both young and we were both willing to sacrifice for each other. She knew what my dreams and goals was, and at the same time, I knew what hers were.”
The couple, who married in 1997, share sons Corde and Cordell and daughter Cori. Snoop is also dad to a son, Julian, from a different relationship.
07of 21Kendrick Lamar & Whitney AlfordKendrick Lamar and Whitney Alford at the 60th Annual GRAMMY Awards in 2018.Kevin Mazur/GettyKendrick Lamarand his fiancéeWhitney Alfordmet as teenagers when they were both students at Centennial High School. They were friends first before they became a couple, and have been together ever since.“She’s been here since day 1,” Lamar toldNew York Times Magazinein 2014. The private couple have been engaged since 2015 and share two children — a daughter, Uzi, and son, Enoch.
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Kendrick Lamar & Whitney Alford
Kendrick Lamar and Whitney Alford at the 60th Annual GRAMMY Awards in 2018.Kevin Mazur/Getty
Kendrick Lamarand his fiancéeWhitney Alfordmet as teenagers when they were both students at Centennial High School. They were friends first before they became a couple, and have been together ever since.
“She’s been here since day 1,” Lamar toldNew York Times Magazinein 2014. The private couple have been engaged since 2015 and share two children — a daughter, Uzi, and son, Enoch.
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Jon Bon Jovi & Dorothea Bongiovi
Jon Bon Jovi and Dorothea Bongiovi.Vinnie Zuffante/Michael Ochs Archives/Getty; Theo Wargo/Getty
Vinnie Zuffante/Michael Ochs Archives/Getty; Theo Wargo/Getty
Jon Bon JoviandDorothea Bongioviare a New Jersey couple through and through — having met at Sayreville War Memorial High School in the Garden State.
“She let me cheat off her in history,” he told PEOPLE in 2020. “I was immediately drawn to her from the minute I saw her and that never changed.”
“We had the No. 1 album, the No. 1 single, and we were playing three nights at the Forum in L.A.,” he toldMen’s Healthin 2010. “I turned to Dorothea and said, ‘I got an idea. Why don’t we go right now?’ She said, ‘You’re out of your mind.’ I said, ‘Come on. What’s better than this, right now, this moment?’ And so we ran off to Las Vegas. Didn’t tell a soul.”
09of 21Ron & Cheryl HowardRon and Cheryl Howard.Ron Galella/Ron Galella Collection via Getty; Gareth Cattermole/GettyThoughRon Howardwas just five years old when he first stepped into the spotlight after being cast onThe Andy Griffith Show, his life really changed when he met his wife of nearly 50 years while they were still in high school. The pair hadtheir first date in 1970and married in 1975.“I met her, andthere was never anybody else,” Ron told PEOPLE in 2019 shortly after they celebrated their 44th anniversary. “She’s unbelievably supportive and always has been. Our compatibility has endured through all kinds of experiences.“The two are theproud parents of four kids, Bryce, twins Paige and Jocelyn and son Reed. They welcomed their sixth grandchild in April 2020.
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Ron & Cheryl Howard
Ron and Cheryl Howard.Ron Galella/Ron Galella Collection via Getty; Gareth Cattermole/Getty
Ron Galella/Ron Galella Collection via Getty; Gareth Cattermole/Getty
ThoughRon Howardwas just five years old when he first stepped into the spotlight after being cast onThe Andy Griffith Show, his life really changed when he met his wife of nearly 50 years while they were still in high school. The pair hadtheir first date in 1970and married in 1975.
“I met her, andthere was never anybody else,” Ron told PEOPLE in 2019 shortly after they celebrated their 44th anniversary. “She’s unbelievably supportive and always has been. Our compatibility has endured through all kinds of experiences.”
The two are theproud parents of four kids, Bryce, twins Paige and Jocelyn and son Reed. They welcomed their sixth grandchild in April 2020.
10of 21Jeff Daniels & Kathleen TreadoJeff Daniels and Kathleen Treado.Evan Agostini/Liaison; Bruce Glikas/WireImageJeff Danielsand Kathleen Treado married in 1979 after they began dating in high school. The pair, who share three children together, made the decision to pick up and move back to their home state of Michigan from New York City in 1986 where they had relocated in the late 1970s as Daniels pursued his acting career.“It was a very dramatic move in 1986 to move to Michigan, but that was to keep the family number one. And that worked,“Daniels told PEOPLE in 2019.“Kathleen’s permanent. The family’s permanent,” he continued. “Careers are job to job, you’re hot, you’re not.”
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Jeff Daniels & Kathleen Treado
Jeff Daniels and Kathleen Treado.Evan Agostini/Liaison; Bruce Glikas/WireImage
Evan Agostini/Liaison; Bruce Glikas/WireImage
Jeff Danielsand Kathleen Treado married in 1979 after they began dating in high school. The pair, who share three children together, made the decision to pick up and move back to their home state of Michigan from New York City in 1986 where they had relocated in the late 1970s as Daniels pursued his acting career.
“It was a very dramatic move in 1986 to move to Michigan, but that was to keep the family number one. And that worked,“Daniels told PEOPLE in 2019.
“Kathleen’s permanent. The family’s permanent,” he continued. “Careers are job to job, you’re hot, you’re not.”
11of 21Lindsay Arnold & Samuel Lightner CusickLindsay Arnold and Samuel Lightner Cusick.Lindsay Arnold / Instagram; Barry King/GettyDancing with the StarsalumnaLindsay Arnoldmet her now husband, Samuel Lightner Cusick, at just 16 years old.“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!,”Arnold told PEOPLEof her husband, whom she wed in 2015.The pair now share two daughters,SageandJune, whom they welcomed in 2020 and 2023 respectively.
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Lindsay Arnold & Samuel Lightner Cusick
Lindsay Arnold and Samuel Lightner Cusick.Lindsay Arnold / Instagram; Barry King/Getty
Lindsay Arnold / Instagram; Barry King/Getty
Dancing with the StarsalumnaLindsay Arnoldmet her now husband, Samuel Lightner Cusick, at just 16 years old.
“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!,”Arnold told PEOPLEof her husband, whom she wed in 2015.
The pair now share two daughters,SageandJune, whom they welcomed in 2020 and 2023 respectively.
12of 21Trevor & Melissa LawrenceTrevor and Marissa Lawrence.Marissa Lawrence/ Instagram; Alberto E. Rodriguez/GettyTrevor Lawrenceand his wife,Marissa, have been together since 2016 when the pair was still in high school. In 2020, the couple got engaged in a very fitting setting: the middle of Clemson Memorial Stadium. The following year, they tied the knot.To celebrate their second anniversary, Marissa took toInstagramto share a sweet tribute.“Your love is the greatest gift I could ask for. It is patient, kind, considerate, understanding, silly, selfless, graceful… I can go on and on… You are the best husband and partner!” she wrote. “It’s you + me forever. Here’s to 80 more.”
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Trevor & Melissa Lawrence
Trevor and Marissa Lawrence.Marissa Lawrence/ Instagram; Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty
Marissa Lawrence/ Instagram; Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty
Trevor Lawrenceand his wife,Marissa, have been together since 2016 when the pair was still in high school. In 2020, the couple got engaged in a very fitting setting: the middle of Clemson Memorial Stadium. The following year, they tied the knot.
To celebrate their second anniversary, Marissa took toInstagramto share a sweet tribute.
“Your love is the greatest gift I could ask for. It is patient, kind, considerate, understanding, silly, selfless, graceful… I can go on and on… You are the best husband and partner!” she wrote. “It’s you + me forever. Here’s to 80 more.”
13of 21LL Cool J & Simone I. SmithLL Cool J and Simone Smith.John Ferguson/Mirrorpix/Getty; Leon Bennett/GettyLl Cool JandSimone I. Smithwere just teenagers when they “fell deep in love.”The pair first met in 1987 through a mutual friend and dated for eight years before tying the knot in 1995. In addition to being mom and dad to their four children, son Najee and daughters Italia, Samaria and Nina, LL Cool J and Smith are also grandparents.In January 2023, Smith posted athrowback photoof the young couple back in the day captioned: “When I was 17 and he was 19 we fell deep in love growing up in Queens!”
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LL Cool J & Simone I. Smith
LL Cool J and Simone Smith.John Ferguson/Mirrorpix/Getty; Leon Bennett/Getty
John Ferguson/Mirrorpix/Getty; Leon Bennett/Getty
Ll Cool JandSimone I. Smithwere just teenagers when they “fell deep in love.”
The pair first met in 1987 through a mutual friend and dated for eight years before tying the knot in 1995. In addition to being mom and dad to their four children, son Najee and daughters Italia, Samaria and Nina, LL Cool J and Smith are also grandparents.
In January 2023, Smith posted athrowback photoof the young couple back in the day captioned: “When I was 17 and he was 19 we fell deep in love growing up in Queens!”
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Catelynn Lowell & Tyler Baltierra
Catelynn Lowell and Tyler Baltierra.Catelynn Lowell/ Instagram
Catelynn Lowell/ Instagram
15of 21Heather Morris & Taylor HubbellHeather Morris & Taylor Hubbell.Gregg DeGuire/FilmMagic; Heather Morris/ InstagramHeather Morriswed herhigh school sweetheart, Taylor Hubbell, in 2015.To celebrate their eight-year anniversary, the Glee star paid tribute to her husband with a sweet post shared on Instagram.“Happy 8 years to my partner and soul mate@hubbell_woodshop,” she wrote. “I don’t think I have to write something long and sappy cuz we both know how deeply our love runs, but in case you didn’t know…I would gladly ride on the edge of a steep mountaintop for you in which case causes me a panic attack and I have to out my head between my legs and meditate till it’s over..but once it is I’d lift my head and squeeze your hand because you guided me through the whole time and will always remain my constant ❤️❤️❤️”The couple share two children, Elijah and Owen.
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Heather Morris & Taylor Hubbell
Heather Morris & Taylor Hubbell.Gregg DeGuire/FilmMagic; Heather Morris/ Instagram
Gregg DeGuire/FilmMagic; Heather Morris/ Instagram
Heather Morriswed herhigh school sweetheart, Taylor Hubbell, in 2015.
To celebrate their eight-year anniversary, the Glee star paid tribute to her husband with a sweet post shared on Instagram.
“Happy 8 years to my partner and soul mate@hubbell_woodshop,” she wrote. “I don’t think I have to write something long and sappy cuz we both know how deeply our love runs, but in case you didn’t know…I would gladly ride on the edge of a steep mountaintop for you in which case causes me a panic attack and I have to out my head between my legs and meditate till it’s over..but once it is I’d lift my head and squeeze your hand because you guided me through the whole time and will always remain my constant ❤️❤️❤️”
The couple share two children, Elijah and Owen.
16of 21Tristan Mack Wilds & Christina HammondTristian Mack Wilds and Christina Hammond.Christina Hammond/ Instagram; Leigh Vogel/GettyAfter more than 15 years together,Tristan “Mack” Wilds married his high school sweetheart Christina Hammondin 2021.“At different times in our lives, we’re shown fairy tales don’t come true. This one came true for me,” the 90210 actor toldE! Newsof their special day.“Our love story is my favorite love story. I am living out my dream of being married to the love of my life,” Hammond added.
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Tristan Mack Wilds & Christina Hammond
Tristian Mack Wilds and Christina Hammond.Christina Hammond/ Instagram; Leigh Vogel/Getty
Christina Hammond/ Instagram; Leigh Vogel/Getty
After more than 15 years together,Tristan “Mack” Wilds married his high school sweetheart Christina Hammondin 2021.
“At different times in our lives, we’re shown fairy tales don’t come true. This one came true for me,” the 90210 actor toldE! Newsof their special day.
“Our love story is my favorite love story. I am living out my dream of being married to the love of my life,” Hammond added.
17of 21Novak & Jelena DjokovicNovak and Jelena Djokovic.Michael Steele/Getty; Clive Brunskill/GettyBeforetying the knotin 2014,JelenaandNovakfirst met in high school in their home country of Serbia. After dating for eight years, the two got engaged in Monte Carlo in 2013 and married the following year.The pair welcomed their first child,Stefan Djokovic, in 2014 before the triobecame a family of four in 2017with the birth of their daughter, Tara Djokovic.
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Novak & Jelena Djokovic
Novak and Jelena Djokovic.Michael Steele/Getty; Clive Brunskill/Getty
Michael Steele/Getty; Clive Brunskill/Getty
Beforetying the knotin 2014,JelenaandNovakfirst met in high school in their home country of Serbia. After dating for eight years, the two got engaged in Monte Carlo in 2013 and married the following year.
The pair welcomed their first child,Stefan Djokovic, in 2014 before the triobecame a family of four in 2017with the birth of their daughter, Tara Djokovic.
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Alex & Lisa Gaskarth
Alex and Lisa Gaskarth.Lisa Gaskarth/ Instagram; Alex Gaskarth/ Instagram
Lisa Gaskarth/ Instagram; Alex Gaskarth/ Instagram
All Time Low’s frontmanAlex Gaskarth wed his high school sweetheart, Lisa, in 2016 after 12 years together.
19of 21Aaron Judge & Samantha BracksieckAaron Judge and Samantha Bracksieck.Aaron Judge/ Instagram; Mary DeCicco/MLB Photos via GettyNew York Yankees’ Aaron Judge hit a homerun when he met his now-wifeSamantha Bracksieckwhile the two were still in high school. PerBrides, the pair dated on and off as teens. After both attending Fresno State University in California, the pair wed in 2021.
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Aaron Judge & Samantha Bracksieck
Aaron Judge and Samantha Bracksieck.Aaron Judge/ Instagram; Mary DeCicco/MLB Photos via Getty
Aaron Judge/ Instagram; Mary DeCicco/MLB Photos via Getty
New York Yankees’ Aaron Judge hit a homerun when he met his now-wifeSamantha Bracksieckwhile the two were still in high school. PerBrides, the pair dated on and off as teens. After both attending Fresno State University in California, the pair wed in 2021.
20of 21Daddy Yankee & Mireddys GonzálezDaddy Yankee and Mireddys González.Rodrigo Varela/WireImage; Julio Aguilar/GettyDaddy Yankee— real name Ramón Luis Ayala Rodríguez — married his wifeMireddys Gonzálezin 1995 after first meeting in high school.“The mostbeautiful thing I have in my life is my family, without a doubt,” Daddy Yankee toldPeople en Español. “My wife and my children are my treasure, the reason why I work day after day to try that they have a better life, to make a legacy for them, that they do not have the difficulties that I have gone through in this life.“The pair share daughter Jesaaelys and son Jeremy. Daddy Yankee is also has a daughter, Yamilet, from a previous relationship.
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Daddy Yankee & Mireddys González
Daddy Yankee and Mireddys González.Rodrigo Varela/WireImage; Julio Aguilar/Getty
Rodrigo Varela/WireImage; Julio Aguilar/Getty
Daddy Yankee— real name Ramón Luis Ayala Rodríguez — married his wifeMireddys Gonzálezin 1995 after first meeting in high school.
“The mostbeautiful thing I have in my life is my family, without a doubt,” Daddy Yankee toldPeople en Español. “My wife and my children are my treasure, the reason why I work day after day to try that they have a better life, to make a legacy for them, that they do not have the difficulties that I have gone through in this life.”
The pair share daughter Jesaaelys and son Jeremy. Daddy Yankee is also has a daughter, Yamilet, from a previous relationship.
21of 21Witney Carson & Carson McAllisterWitney Carson and Carson McAllister.Witney Carson/ Instagram; David Livingston/GettyDancing with the Stars’Witney Carsonmarried Carson McAllister in 2016 after the pair first began dating in high school. To celebrate their six-year wedding anniversary, Carson paid tribute to her husband in a sweet Instagram post shouting out their long-standing relationship.“Happy six years my high school sweetheart@carson.mcallister🤍 Each day of this life with you just gets better and better. Watching you become a father this year has made my heart explode,”she wrote in part. The pair have two children together, sons Leo, 2, and Jet, 3 months.
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Witney Carson & Carson McAllister
Witney Carson and Carson McAllister.Witney Carson/ Instagram; David Livingston/Getty
Witney Carson/ Instagram; David Livingston/Getty
Dancing with the Stars’Witney Carsonmarried Carson McAllister in 2016 after the pair first began dating in high school. To celebrate their six-year wedding anniversary, Carson paid tribute to her husband in a sweet Instagram post shouting out their long-standing relationship.
“Happy six years my high school sweetheart@carson.mcallister🤍 Each day of this life with you just gets better and better. Watching you become a father this year has made my heart explode,”she wrote in part. The pair have two children together, sons Leo, 2, and Jet, 3 months.
source: people.com
