Jon Bon Jovi Defends 20-Year-Old Son’s Engagement To Millie Bobby Brown, 19, After Critics Say They’re Too Young To Marry

May 04, 2023

Jon Bon Jovi is a firm believer in love and marriage at any age, as proven by his solid support for his 20-year-old son’s engagement to 19-year-old actress Millie Bobby Brown. In fact, finding true love at a young age may just be an inherited trait as Jon himself married his high school sweetheart, and three of his four children are already engaged!

Jon is a certified rock star. He is best known as a singer, songwriter, and guitarist for the rock band Bon Jovi, which was formed in 1983. Since then, he has released 15 studio albums with his band and some music as a solo artist. 

Jon’s love life is yet another reason to adore this star. During a stop in Los Angeles on the Bon Jovi’ The New Jersey Syndicate Tour in 1989, Jon secretly skirted away to Las Vegas with his high school sweetheart Dorothea Hurley. There, the two eloped and haven’t looked back since.

The pair married at the hands of an Elvis impersonator at the Graceland Wedding Chapel and the couple is still going strong and more in love than ever 32 years later. “We make it work,” Dorothea told PEOPLE. 

However, not everyone was as thrilled. Getting married made fans feel less connected to him as the desirable musician was suddenly completely unavailable. “When I came back from Vegas, my manager was furious,” Jon said. “He was like, ‘America’s boy is now married… that’s not a good career move.’” 

While this celebrity match was heavily criticized at the start, they’ve stayed together through it all. Jon has never regretted eloping with his wonderful wife, and the pair have been together for 34 years. Now, Jon is backing his son as he faces judgment for getting engaged at a young age.

Jon and Dorothea have a beautiful life together and share four children: a daughter named Stephanie, 30, and three sons named Jesse, 28, Jacob, 20, and Romeo Bongiovi, 19. Jon credits his wife for keeping the entire household in check and said:

“She’s the glue. I’m the crazy visionary with all kinds of things flying, and the seams are splitting. She’s the one following me with the glue and the thread and needle, keeping it all together.”

Nowadays, the couple is the perfect epitome of what a happy and successful marriage in Hollywood looks like and is going strong. “Somehow, I became the poster boy for a long married rock star,” Jon added. “But I’ll accept the mantle because I’m so happy.”

With such a beautiful experience being married, it’s no surprise Jon hopes all his children are able to achieve the same success and happiness, including his third son Jacob. Jacob, a model, and his partner, “Stranger Things” actress Brown, made their engagement Instagram official on Apr. 11, 2023. The announcement stirred up controversy in the media due to the relatively young ages of both Jacob and Brown. 

Jon addressed the media storm surrounding his son during an appearance on Andy Cohen’s “Radio Andy” show and, like the doting dad he is, was nothing less than fully supportive. Cohen pointed out the parallels between Jon’s experience finding lasting love with his high school sweetheart and Jacob’s engagement, and asked the rocker, “Do you worry for them that they’re too young?”

Jon responded: “I don’t know if age matters, you know, if you find the right partner and you grow together.” He offered some pearls of wisdom for his kids as well.

“Growing together is wise. … I think that would be my advice, really,” he continued.

Jon also told Cohen on the show that he was proud of and happy for his other children, two of whom also got engaged in the past year.

“I think that all my kids have found the people that they think they can grow together with and we like them all,” he said. When asked if he had watched Brown’s hit show “Stranger Things,” Jon replied “I’ve seen it, of course.” 

“Millie’s wonderful. Her whole family are great. Jake is very, very happy,” Jon remarked. 

Jacob and Brown had been dating since the summer of 2021. Brown revealed their engagement in a stunning Instagram photo of them both embracing each other by the ocean, with her engagement ring fully visible on her left hand. “I’ve loved you three summers now, honey, I want ’em all 🤍” she captioned the post. That same day, Jacob also shared two photos – one of the pair on the same beach and another of him looking deeply into his now fiancée’s eyes. His caption read: “Forever 🤍”

Fans were thrilled by the news and took to the comments to congratulate the couple, as well as offer words of support.

“We all know people who married in their 30s or 40s and the marriage didn’t last. We also know those high school sweetheart 19 year olds who married and stayed married for decades. You can’t predict anything these days. All you can do is wish them the best and be happy for them like a decent human being ❤️,” one comment read, while another user said, “Getting married young means we get to grow up together and experience a fuller life with each other. Tradition may have a stigma but that doesn’t make it any less reliable and trustworthy. I admire you Millie! ❤️”

What are your thoughts on Jon Bon Jovi’s support for his son? Do you feel Jacob and Millie Bobby Brown are too young to get married? Let us know and be sure to pass this along to get your family and friends’ views as well.