Joel Madden Admits Going to Marriage Therapy With Wife, Nicole Richie
Plenty of married couples would agree that marriage takes a lot of work. Sometimes, the right kind of outside intervention is needed to resolve problems between couples.
Many might be surprised to learn that Joel Madden and his wife, Nicole Richie, have been together for 17 years—a feat that many couples who are in the limelight fail to achieve.
The 44-year-old Good Charlotte vocalist candidly shared how he and his socialite wife, Nicole, have beaten the odds during The Drew Barrymore Show. While speaking to host, Drew Barrymore, he said that their lasting relationship is all thanks to Nicole and their therapy sessions.
Drew is a personal friend of Joel and Nicole. When she complimented the couple’s openness to working on their marriage, Joel smilingly revealed that they had gone to therapy. I don’t think we pretend to be perfect either… I think we’re all human,” he added.
It was a perfect example of a wedded couple doing what they needed to do and how intervention can help promote understanding between two people. During Drew’s chat with Joel, the vocalist further commended his in-laws, Lionel Richie and Brenda Harvey-Richie, for raising Nicole with so much class and integrity.
He then expressed appreciation for his wife’s successful transition into motherhood and for being an incredible mother to their children—15-year-old Harlow and 14-year-old Sparrow.
Joel began, “We got lucky with our kids. They’re easy. I always tell my kids, you make it so easy to be a dad. They’re just good kids. They really are. They’re great. And I think they’re like their mom.”
Further praising his wife from the show Simple Life, Joel continued, “The more you know her, the more you love her. It takes time to get to know her. But she’s just classy.”
He also acknowledged Cameron Diaz, his twin brother’s wife, and Drew as being equally intense. “I have a lot of respect for women who have had to work in a really tough industry. All of you just are really strong, amazing, powerful women. And I think we’re better men because we’re around all of you,” Joel stated.
Joel and Nicole are proof that marriage can work with the right mindset and commitment. Recall that during Nicole’s appearance in Oprah: Where Are They Now? in 2014, she revealed that she and Joel had been partners from day one.
The socialite explained, “And from the second we found out we were going to be parents together, we looked at each other and said, ‘Okay, both of our parents are divorced. We both have had ups and downs with our parents, and we don’t have a strong example of what a healthy family life is. But, we’re recognizing that now, so let’s work at it, and let’s go through this together as a team.”
Joel and Nicole met at a party in 2006 when Nicole was 25 and Joel was 27. Though Nicole initially brushed Joel off, he eventually won her over. The couple will be celebrating their 13th marriage anniversary this December.
