Katie McNeil Diamond and Neil Diamond at the Broadway opening night of ‘A Beautiful Noise, The Neil Diamond Musical’ in 2022.Photo:Image Press/Shutterstock
Image Press/Shutterstock
Neil Diamondhas been married to wife Katie McNeil since April 21, 2012, but the pair didn’t start out on romantic terms.
The Grammy winnerfirst met his spouse in 2007, when McNeil was working with Diamond’s manager, Irving Azoff. Having grown up listening to hits such as “Holly Holy,” “Sweet Caroline” and “Forever in Blue Jeans,” McNeil convinced her boss to let her work on the singer’s account, and the pair fell in love over the course of a year. “Part of me said, ‘Don’t get involved; he’s a client,’ ” McNeil toldParadein June 2012. “There are a lot of complications for a lot of reasons. But our chemistry grew into something that couldn’t be denied.”
In September 2011, Diamond announced their engagementvia Twitter(now X), writing, “Good news coming from sunny LA/ and you’re the first I want to tell/ Katie & I just got engaged/ and I hope you wish us well.” Added Diamond: “I’m lovestruck.”
Since tying the knot, the couple, whocelebrated their 10-year anniversaryin 2022, have weathered Diamond’sParkinson’s diagnosis, which he shared with fans in 2018 while announcing his retirement from concert touring. “A calm has moved in, and the hurricane of my life, and things have gotten very quiet,” Diamond toldCBS Sunday Morningin March 2023 of life after performing. “And, I like it. I find that I like myself better. I’m easier on people. I’m easier on myself.”
So who is Neil Diamond’s wife? Here’s everything to know about Katie McNeil and her relationship with the songwriter.
She is a talent manager
Neil Diamond and Katie McNeil Diamond at his Hollywood Walk of Fame ceremony in 2012.Chelsea Lauren/WireImage
Chelsea Lauren/WireImage
In addition to co-managing her husband, McNeil has an impressive résumé that includes work with bands such as Gun ‘N Roses (sheinvited DJ Ashba to audition), Mötley Crüe, for whom sheexecutive producedMötley Crüe: Carnival of Sins, Heart, for whom she executive producedHeart: Alive in Seattle, and more.
Diamond initially had no interest in dating her
Neil Diamond and Katie McNeil at the 56th annual GRAMMY Awards Pre-GRAMMY Gala in 2014.Michael Kovac/WireImage
Michael Kovac/WireImage
Prior to falling in love, McNeil and Diamond’s relationship was all business. As the “Sweet Caroline” singer recounted toThe Telegraphin December 2012, McNeil lobbied with Azoff to manage his account. “I guess because she loved my music so much or she thought it was a feather in her cap to be in charge of Neil Diamond. I would like to think it was the first one,” he said.
According to Diamond, he initially had no romantic feelings toward the music producer. “I was not particularly interested in Katie, I was interested in my work,” he explained.
After working together for a year, however, Diamond began to see her in another light. “We kind of fell in love, slowly,” he said. “She wove her way into my heart and I think she’s a great person. I realized that I was in love with her.”
She is 29 years younger than Diamond
Neil Diamond and Katie McNeil Diamond at the 2012 Billboard Touring Awards Reception.Gary Gershoff/WireImage
Gary Gershoff/WireImage
Diamond and McNeil are nearly 30 years apart, but the years don’t matter to the twosome. “I definitely don’t feel like I’m 71. I feel like I did when I was between 30 and 40. The body ages. The mind doesn’t,” Diamond toldParadein 2012.
McNeil, however, was hesitant about their age gap initially, telling the publication, “I’d be on the phone with [my mom] saying, ‘He’s really wonderful — if only he were 30 years younger!’ ” She didn’t feel it once they were a couple, though. “When we’re together, I feel like we’re the same age,” she shared.
She’s a reality star vet
In 2007, McNeil starred on the VH1 seriesMission: Man Band, which brought four band members from previously successful groups (Bryan Adamsof Color Me Badd, Rich Cronin of LFO,Jeff Timmonsof98 DegreesandChris Kirkpatrickof *NSYNC) together to form a new supergroup called Sureshot.
McNeil served as their manager on the show, despite not being a fan of their genre. “I was not, you know, into the wholeboy bandthing,” she admitted on the series.
She drove Diamond home in her wedding dress
Neil Diamond and Katie McNeil at the Carousel of Hope Ball in 2012.Matt Baron/BEI/Shutterstock
Matt Baron/BEI/Shutterstock
PEOPLE exclusively confirmed that Diamond and McNeil had tied the knot at the Beverly Hills Hotel in L.A. in April 2012. “It was great to have family there that I haven’t seen in years … and to meet the new Irish side of the Diamond family,” the musician shared at the time.
eil Diamond and Katie McNeil at the 34th Kennedy Center Honors in 2011.Paul Morigi/WireImage
Paul Morigi/WireImage
In 2009, she took the reins on her then-boyfriend’s 2009 television documentary,Neil Diamond: Hot August Night/NYC, serving as its executive producer, according to theLos Angeles Times.
She is a stepmom to Neil’s 4 kids
Neil Diamond and Katie McNeil at the ‘Jack and Jill’ Premiere in 2011.Mike Nelson/EPA/Shutterstock
Mike Nelson/EPA/Shutterstock
While McNeil and Diamond do not have children together, McNeil is a “proud stepmom” to his four children from his two previous 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 previously shared a photo on Twitter in November 2020, writing, “The super talented Jesse Diamond! #proudstepmom (The Diamond men are killing it.)”
They share several pets
Diamond and McNeil are parents to several animals. According toThe Telegraph, the couple shared two rescue dogs, Shamrock and Pokey, as well as a cat named Brigitte, as of 2012.
McNeil gave fans a sad update in 2020 when she announced that Shamrock had died. “Our beautiful pup Shamrock ‘Shammy’ Diamond died in our arms yesterday,” shetweetedat the time. “He loved food, tennis balls and barking at the garbage truck. He will be missed. We love you Shammy.”
She’s an equestrian
According to theWest Australian, McNeil is an accomplished equestrian.
Diamond toldExpressin 2012 that McNeil even bonded with the lateQueen Elizabeth IIover her love for steeds after the singer was invited to perform at the annual Royal Variety Show.
“We had a nice chat, but she really wanted to chat to my wife about horses,” Diamond said of his interaction with the late monarch, whodied in September 2022.
He added: “They did talk, and had a nice conversation. I did chat withPrince Philipfor a little bit.”
She inspired his 2014 song “Art of Love”
Neil Diamond and Katie McNeil at the Capitol Records 75th Anniversary Gala in 2016.Broadimage/Shutterstock
Broadimage/Shutterstock
When Diamond recorded 2014’sMelody Road, he had his wife in mind as a muse — particularly when it came to the track “Art of Love,” which he spent five years working on.
“I had a woman I was in love with in the picture,” he told theNews Corp Australia Network. “And just being with her and having her around me inspired me to stay with it.”
source: people.com
