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Neil Diamond has been married to spouse Katie McNeil since April 21, 2012, however the pair didn’t begin out on romantic phrases.
The Grammy winner first met his partner in 2007, when McNeil was working with Diamond’s supervisor, Irving Azoff. Having grown up listening to hits resembling “Holly Holy,” “Candy Caroline” and “Without end in Blue Denims,” McNeil satisfied her boss to let her work on the singer’s account, and the pair fell in love over the course of a yr. “A part of me mentioned, ‘Don’t get entangled; he’s a shopper,’ ” McNeil informed Parade in June 2012. “There are plenty of problems for lots of causes. However our chemistry grew into one thing that couldn’t be denied.”
In September 2011, Diamond introduced their engagement by way of Twitter, writing, “Excellent news coming from sunny LA/ and also you’re the primary I need to inform/ Katie & I simply received engaged/ and I hope you would like us effectively.” Added Diamond: “I’m lovestruck.”
Since tying the knot, the couple, who celebrated their 10-year anniversary in 2022, has weathered Diamond’s Parkinson’s prognosis, which he shared with followers in 2018 whereas saying his retirement from live performance touring. “A peaceful has moved in, and the hurricane of my life, and issues have gotten very quiet,” Diamond informed CBS Sunday Morning in March 2023 of life after performing. “And, I prefer it. I discover that I like myself higher. I am simpler on individuals. I am simpler on myself.”
The “America” singer, who was awarded the Songwriter’s Corridor of Fame Johnny Mercer Award in 2018 for his contributions to music over his decades-long profession, additionally likes being married. “I don’t need to finish this complete fabulous journey alone,” he informed Parade in 2012. “I would like somebody by my facet who I really like and who loves me. I’ve lastly discovered any person who’s as much as the duty of being my spouse, as a result of I’m very … excessive upkeep.” He added: “I feel I’m most likely the luckiest man on the face of the earth.”
So who’s Neil Diamond’s spouse? Right here’s every part to learn about Katie McNeil and her relationship with the songwriter.
She is a expertise supervisor
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Along with co-managing her husband, McNeil has a powerful resume that features work with bands resembling Gun ‘N Roses (she invited DJ Ashba to audition), Mötley Crüe, for whom she govt producedMötley Crüe: Carnival of Sins, Coronary heart, for whom she govt produced Coronary heart: Alive in Seattle, and extra.
Diamond initially had little interest in relationship her
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Previous to falling in love, McNeil and Diamond’s relationship was all enterprise. Because the “Candy Caroline” singer recounted to The Telegraph in December 2012, McNeil lobbied with Azoff to handle his account. “I suppose as a result of she beloved my music a lot or she thought it was a feather in her cap to be in control of Neil Diamond. I want to assume it was the primary one,” he mentioned.
In line with Diamond, he initially had no romantic designs on the music producer. “I used to be not notably interested by Katie, I used to be interested by my work,” he defined.
After working collectively for a yr, nevertheless, Diamond started to see her in one other mild. “We sort of fell in love, slowly,” he mentioned. ‘She wove her manner into my coronary heart and I feel she’s an ideal particular person. I noticed that I used to be in love together with her.”
She is 29 years youthful than Diamond
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Diamond and McNeil are practically 30 years aside, however the years don’t matter to the twosome. “I undoubtedly don’t really feel like I’m 71. I really feel like I did after I was between 30 and 40. The physique ages. The thoughts doesn’t,” Diamond informed Parade in 2012.
McNeil, nevertheless, was hesitant about their age hole initially, telling the publication, “I’d be on the cellphone with [my mom] saying, ‘He’s actually fantastic — if solely he had been 30 years youthful!’ ” She didn’t really feel it as soon as they had been a pair, although. “Once we’re collectively, I really feel like we’re the identical age,” she shared.
She’s a actuality star vet
In 2007, McNeil starred on the VH1 sequence Mission: Man Band, which introduced 4 band members from beforehand profitable teams (Bryan Adams of Colour Me Badd, Wealthy Cronin of LFO, Jeff Timmons of 98 Levels and Chris Kirkpatrick of *NSYNC) collectively to type a brand new supergroup known as Sureshot.
McNeil served as their supervisor on the present, regardless of not being a fan of their style. “I used to be not, , into the entire boy band factor,” she admitted on the sequence.
She drove Diamond residence in her marriage ceremony costume
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PEOPLE solely confirmed that Diamond and McNeil had tied the knot on the Beverly Hills Resort in L.A. in April 2012. “It was nice to have household there that I have not seen in years … and to fulfill the brand new Irish facet of the Diamond household,” the musician shared on the time.
Following the reception, which noticed “all hell” breaking free on the dance flooring, as Diamond later tweeted, McNeil informed PEOPLE that the pair skipped their scheduled limo. “As a substitute, I drove us residence in my marriage ceremony robe, which barely match within the little sports activities automobile — the lace was piled on Neil’s lap within the passenger seat,” she mentioned.
She executive-produced a TV documentary about her husband
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Along with managing music acts, McNeil has additionally carried out behind-the-scenes TV work.
In 2009, she took the reins on her then-boyfriend’s 2009 tv documentary, Neil Diamond: Sizzling August Night time/NYC, serving as its govt producer, in accordance with the Los Angeles Instances.
She is a stepmom to Neil’s 4 youngsters
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Whereas McNeil and Diamond should not have youngsters collectively, McNeil is a “proud stepmom” to his 4 youngsters from his two earlier marriages to Jayne Posner (whom he was married to from 1963 to 1967) and Marcia Murphey (whom he was married to from 1969 to 1995): Marjorie and Elyn with Posner, and Jesse and Micah with Murphey.
McNeil beforehand shared a photograph on Twitter in November 2020, writing, “The tremendous proficient Jesse Diamond! #proudstepmom (The Diamond males are killing it.)”
They share a number of pets
Diamond and McNeil are mother and father to a number of animals. In line with The Telegraph, the couple shared two rescue canines, Shamrock and Pokey, in addition to a cat named Brigitte, as of 2012.
McNeil gave followers a tragic replace in 2020 when she introduced that Shamrock had died. “Our stunning pup Shamrock ‘Shammy’ Diamond died in our arms yesterday,” she tweeted on the time. “He beloved meals, tennis balls and barking on the rubbish truck. He will probably be missed. We love you Shammy.”
She’s an equestrian
In line with the West Australian, McNeil is an achieved equestrian.
Diamond informed Categorical in 2012 that McNeil even bonded with the late Queen Elizabeth II over her love for steeds after the singer was invited to carry out on the annual Royal Selection Present.
“We had a pleasant chat, however she actually needed to talk to my spouse about horses,” Diamond mentioned of his interplay with the late monarch, who died in September 2022.
He added: “They did speak, and had a pleasant dialog. I did chat with Prince Philip for a little bit bit.”
She impressed his 2014 music “Artwork of Love”
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When Diamond recorded 2014’s Melody Street, he had his spouse in thoughts as a muse — notably when it got here to the observe “Artwork of Love,” which he spent 5 years engaged on.
“I had a girl I used to be in love with within the image,” he informed the Information Corp Australia Community. “And simply being together with her and having her round me impressed me to stick with it.”