Here’s a nice holiday feel-good story for you. It involves Harry Connick, Jr. living up to the fantasies most of us have always had about him and speaking glowingly of his wife, Jill Goodacre Connick. We rarely talk about Jill and Harry on here because they aren’t controversial in the least. They’ve just gone about their lives and raised their three daughters. Two years ago, Jill and Harry went public with Jill’s battle with breast cancer and how they had handled all those challenges as a family. It was very relatable for anyone who’s been in that position and, fortunately, had a good ending. Harry’s syndicated talk show only lasted two-seasons but he still records and does plenty of stage work. As a matter of fact, it was at the opening of his latest show, Harry Connick Jr.: A Celebration of Cole Porter, that we got this headline and the header photo of Harry, Jill and their daughters, Georgia, Sarah and Charlotte. Harry was asked what the secret to their relationship’s success was and Harry said he’d simply married his best friend.
Forever love. Harry Connick Jr. opened up about his 25-year marriage to Jill Goodacre and revealed their secret for success.
“I married my best friend and I married a woman who I look up to infinitely,” Connick, 52, told Us Weekly exclusively on Thursday, December 12, on opening night of the Harry Connick Jr.: A Celebration of Cole Porter in New York City.
He added, “We have the same values so it’s easy for us to try and impart those on our children.”
The New Orleans native frequently posts photos of himself and his wife on social media, including a snap in August that he captioned, “’…for you and I have a guardian angel on high with nothing to do’ #truelove.”
His love and support, that has continued throughout their two-decade romance, was put to the test in October 2012 when Goodacre was diagnosed with breast cancer.
The mom of three had two surgeries and underwent radiation before entering remission. Through it all, the Will & Grace alum admitted he was “in awe” of his wife, especially since her cancer battle brought up sad memories for him — his mother died of ovarian cancer when he was 13.
“You were probably stronger than I was, I think. You set the tone for how we were going to deal with it,” he said on the show. “I am so in awe of your bravery.”
See? Come on, now – that made you “aw” just a little, didn’t it? I actually think my heart melted slightly more when he said he looked up to Jill than when he called her his best friend, but they were both good answers. The part I like best is how much they defied my expectations. I’m close to Harry and Jill in age. I remember when they came on the scene, he in the music world and she as a Victoria Secret model. They were both white hot in their respective fields and, in case you hadn’t noticed, very attractive. Harry was out there making us swoon and Jill was pinned on teenagers’ walls throughout the country. They were such the Hot It couple, I thought they’d just burn too bright and fizzle out. But here they are, 27 years after their first date, happier and stronger than ever. Virtually scandal-free, adult kids who faced a moment of crisis and came out the other side. I don’t think there’s a secret here, I think it’s just good old-fashioned love, like Harry’s been singing about for thirty years.
Speaking of Harry’s singing, did anyone read this story from Harry’s This Morning Interview? Last month, Harry told a story about singing poorly in front of his idol, Frank Sinatra, back in the 90s. He felt so bad about botching one of Sinatra’s signature tunes that when Harry saw him at an elevator, he went up to apologize. Sinatra didn’t even acknowledge Harry but instead grabbed Jill, told her she was beautiful and kissed her on her lips without permission. And that, my little elves, is why you never want to meet your heroes. Except Harry and Jill, I think we might be safe there.
Photo credit: WENN Photos and Instagram
They are a lovely couple and good for them for having a strong relationship.
Her face has changed a lot over the years. Not sure if due to cancer treatments or something else but she looks very different. Glad she is better now.
Her face!!! Why why why women do this to themselves? Don’t they see it looks awful and scary. This is so sad…
I read that she took Tamoxifen during her bout with cancer and it caused puffiness and weight gain. I think we are seeing a lot of that in her face. She has spoken on how the weight gain caused depression and crippled her self-confidence. I’m cutting her slack on her face and glad she is on the road to health.
I read that too and I cannot remember where…but yeah, I don’t think it’s fillers. They are the cutest little family!
I read that too. This woman has been through a lot and I wont make comments about her body and face. Weight gain from illness is hard enough without people dissecting you for it.
Two of my best friends have battled breast cancer in the last few years and were on the same medication. The same has happened with them–it puffed their faces and has made them very self-conscious.
The puffiness is very long lasting. I have a friend who is a breast cancer survivor and still needs the occasional infusion treatments when her counts get low. She has that puffiness and probably will for the rest of her life. But like she said, she’s here, alive, and relatively healthy, so who cares about a puffy face?
She’s probably on tamoxifen or some other hormone suppressant for a long time and it does cause facial and abdominal bloating.
I don’t think it’s fillers. I think it’s weight gain and age related sagging in her face. I have a very angular, skinny face and even I have some sagging under my chin at 43. Her face looks the same, just fuller.
My sister in law survived cancer and it puffed a lot of the face and body. I can assure Jill looks exactly the same, just post treatment, I remember when they were dating back in the day. I think she looks radiant and her man seems so doting. And Lord their children are each just beautiful!!!
I too am thinking it has to do with weight gain….I have serious issues with depression and gained a lot of weight due to some of the anti-depressants I was on. I was so devastated by this as I had a long battle with anorexia in my twenties that I fought to recover from. I worked with my therapist to wean myself off them and be put on other meds, which did not have these side effects, and I have been slowly losing this weight! So I would definitely cut her some slack! She had a battle with cancer and had to undergo treatment for that – with God knows what side effects.
I think she looks beautiful
Yes, she does.
I think she looks beautiful too. I hadn’t seen a pic of her in years and upon seeing her here, I thought wow, her face hasn’t changed. She always had a soft, roundish face, Anyway I’m glad she is doing well. They are such a cute couple.
Why do women do this to themselves? I don’t really think that cancer gives you a choice. 🙄🙄🙄
Why do women do everything necessary to beat cancer? Can we not comment on her face, but celebrate her survival? Good grief.
Thank you! Definitely made me ‘aw’ and we need these stories right now.
However, I also came her to say that as a 40-something Brit I know who he is of course but my only cultural reference for her is when Chandler got stuck in an ATM vestibule with her during a power cut in an early episode of Friends.
Yeah, that was a funny episode. Especially when he calls his friends, Monica answers and doesn’t understand what he’s saying. Then Joey picks up the phone and goes, he’s in an atm vestibule with jill goodacre!
I feel like I knew of her well before him from my years of reading Glamor and Mademoiselle and other fashion mags, lol. She’s been a model for ages and she always struck me as uniquely beautiful.
I remember that episode, but I knew of her before then. She was a pretty well known model at the time. She did a lot of Victoria’s Secret work. I remember when she and Harry first started dating. I was young at the time but even at 14/15 I was a celebrity gossip lover! Lol.
I remember them dating too because I was obsessed with Harry in high school. My mum took me to see him for my 18th birthday. He’s a very talented musician and incredibly charismatic performer. See him if you can!
THAT’S HER????? Wow. I wouldn’t have put those together.
Actually now that I look at her face more, I do see it.
aww, he has been one of my favs all these years, I’m glad to know, he sounds like he has as much depth and soul as I’d thought. beautiful inside and out. I don’t know much about her, but sounds same for her. glad she’s better.
asdujhtroiwf. They’re so sweet. It’s so nice to see a marriage last this long in hollywood.
We hit our 15 years since we started dating today haha.
When my mother in law was diagnosed with thyroid cancer, my FIL, who is not an emotionally open man whatsoever started all of a sudden doing all these chores that he had NEVER done in his life – without even being asked. He never said anything until after she’d gotten through the operations and the subsequent checkups, but he was scared.
That is sweet. People have very different ways of expressing love, don’t they?
Connick performed at my college when I was a freshman, meaning his was the first concert I ever saw. (Not so much sheltered, as grew up way too poor to attend conccerts even if a performer had ever come near podunk town.)
Have seen him several times since and never fails to impress. One of the best live performers around. If you get a chance to see his show, even if you think you’re not a huge fan, take it. The man is an entertainer.
Oh, and, he gushed about Jill during the show just as much when we saw him perform last year, as he did when they were newlyweds at the time I first saw him perform.
And I know it’s not surprising, given the genetics at play, but my goodness their daughters are flat out stunning.
I’m a sucker for long term, happy relationships. My other half and I have recently celebrated 23 years together, 21 of which have been in marriage, so I’m throwing out the “f*ck yeah” to go along with the “aww” that’s coming out of my mouth.
OMG! Jill Goodacre. The original VS model.
She was/is a real knockout. Sometimes life puts some dents and bruises into you, but I think she looks great and honestly, she’s alive, and that’s all that matters.
Yes, best wishes to them and their beautiful daughters. Jill is a survivor and a fighter. She can be proud of this and I hope she is talking to someone about the devastating and scary effects of a horrible disease. Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!
Yes, best wishes to them and their beautiful daughters. Jill is a survivor and a fighter. She can be proud of this and I hope she is talking to a therapist about the devastating and scary effects of a horrible disease. Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!
LOVE THEM!!
Why is it that men who genuinely love their wives become MORE attractive?! It’s like they’re ok looking but they start talking about their wives or children and you can tell they are happy and grateful to have them in their lives. Then it’s like damn he’s a hottie! 😀
This definitely made me “awww”. And very little makes me “awww” lol. Wishing Jill the best in her recovery.
I saw them together at a pet expo when I still lived on Long Island, just holding hands..walking among the crowd. You couldn’t help but notice her, she is breathtaking.
Glad they are still together & she is regaining her health.
Jill’s mom designed the Sacajewea $1 coin. I’m pretty sure she also designed the Vietnam vet’s memorial in WA DC. Their daughters are beautiful and it’s good to see none went into the business.
She did the sculpture? Cuz the wall was Maya Lin.
Glenna Goodacre created the Vietnam Women’s Memorial.
Beautiful couple with beautiful children. This story made me tear up a bit.
I didn’t know that Harry Connick Jr. was married to the girl from the ATM vestibule on Friends! That’s it, that’s all I’ve got, but I’m glad they’ve been together so long and are so happy.
This was so heartwarming to see and read. I was a huge fan of Harry’s 20+ years ago. Not just for his music and good looks, but he exuded genuineness and a good head on his shoulders even then. I remember Harry and Jill getting together but haven’t thought about them for ages. Their daughters!! My how time flies. Wishing Jill continued wellness. A family’s love and care is immeasurable in that regard.