Patti LaBelle was in a long-term marriage with her former manager, Armstead Edwards, but when that relationship wasn't working out for them anymore, she moved on.
Love is ageless and some women truly embrace that philosophy. They want to have a fulfiling life until the end of their time and they want it all, a great career, children, and a loving partner who is committed to them. Even if they found love once they don't believe it can't happen again to them, no matter how old they are.
Singer, songwriter, actress, and businesswoman Patti LaBelle was married for more than 30 years to her former manager, Armstead Edwards. This independent woman proposed to him after rejecting him three times because she wasn't ready then.
"[He] asked me to marry him three times, and I said no," she revealed, according to Huffington Post. "The fourth time, I asked him. He said, ‘Let me give it a few days.’ So he gave it a few days, and he said yes."
The If Only You Knew singer has been an independent person from the start of her career and when she realized that she was no longer happy in her marriage, she bid adieu to the relationship, despite being together for 30 years, in 2003. For many people, the sheer history itself would have stopped them from making the decision.
"We were together for 32 years and we realized that we couldn't live together anymore," she said, as per OprahMag. "We never fought in 32 years, thank God. We even got along when we didn't get along. But then we realized we had to leave each other. But we're cool, now. It's like he's one of my best friends."
The 76-year-old is still open to finding love and she is not shy about saying it. "I still have time to find a husband,” she said. She also clarified, "I don’t want a boyfriend. I want a husband."
According to the New York Post, the Godmother of Soul said, "I have a wonderful life. My life is so good that a lot of men admire me and they try to look at me like that and I say, 'Bye Felicia, Bye.'" She declared that she was single and even knows what she would wear if she got married again. "When it happens, it will be a Zang [Toi] dress and he’ll wear a Zang [Toi] tux — whoever he is," she said. The fashion designer is her best friend and has been dressing her for 15 years.
The two-time Grammy winner, who has had a 60-year-long career, is believed to be dating drummer Eric Seats, who is 30 years younger than her. Perhaps, this zeal for life she's been feeling, is connected to the youthful man in her life. "She tried to keep it quiet, but everyone around her has figured things out now. She's completely smitten with him and they spend so much time together," a source told the Daily Mail.
They met when the 76-year-old had hired him to be her drummer more than half a decade ago. "It wasn't long before he was helping her heal her broken heart," the source revealed. "He made her feel at ease and she loved that he had such a vast experience working in the music business."
As a dedicated partner, he moved across the country for her and she was appreciative of that. "Patti was so happy he moved to Philly with her. She loves having him with her all the time. She even has a big portrait of the two of them up on her wall in her bedroom," told the source.
Surprisingly, her partner is a year younger than her eldest child, who is not very happy about the couple. However, the two-time Grammy award winner is happy. "Everything they do now, they do it together. She hasn't seemed this happy in years. Apparently those who know him, say he's always dated older women," said a source.
The Black actress shared a little piece of advice last year and it's inspiring to hear her say, "Never stop trying. I’m 75 and it seems like the older I get, the better things that happen to me and the younger I feel."
References:
https://www.huffpost.com/entry/patti-labelle-husband-divorce_n_569910dde4b0ce4964242767
https://www.oprahmag.com/entertainment/a29035974/patti-labelle-wants-husband/
https://nypost.com/2019/09/11/new-york-fashion-week-patti-labelle-wants-a-husband/
