This 91-Year-Old Music Legend Lost Two Daughters, Then Found Love with a Woman Years His Junior – Who Is He

One daughter died tragically and the other shortly after, devastating the family. But despite it all, this music icon was able to find new joy, a renewed spotlight, and love again with a woman much younger.

In the span of six months, he buried two daughters. The first died in an accident. The second, still a student, passed before she ever had the chance to share the stage with her famous father — a dream they both had.

Remarkably, decades later, at 91, this legend is still standing under stage lights and has his wife — nearly 30 years younger than him — at his side. Take a closer look at his inspiring journey over the years.

From Chart-Topping Success to Heartbreaking Loss

He had a sound that set him apart and became a legendary singer that climbed the charts again and again as the frontman of a group that defined an era.

His voice carried more than 35 singles into the Billboard Hot 100's top 40. Tracks like "Sherry," "December, 1963 (Oh, What a Night)," and the disco-flavored anthem "Grease" weren't just hits — they became the soundtrack of a generation.

But beyond the music, his life was marked by trials that no stage could prepare him for. One of those challenges began quietly in the late 1960s when he noticed something was wrong — his hearing was slipping.

Sadly, in 1980, the "December, 1963 (Oh, What a Night)" singer experienced a loss that no amount of medical expertise could fix.

The singer was diagnosed with otosclerosis, a condition involving the hardening of bones in the middle ear. It affected both ears and drastically limited his ability to hear. For 10 years, he continued working without proper treatment.

It was a slow, silent decline that threatened to derail his career. The turning point came when he met Dr. Victor Goodhill, a Los Angeles-based ear specialist who changed everything. Using bone grafts from UCLA's bone bank, the surgeon crafted new stapes bones for each ear.

After the first procedure, hearing in one ear jumped from roughly 35 percent to 98 percent. A year later, the second ear was restored to 87 percent. He recalled:

"Dr. Victor Goodhill did the surgery and it saved my life. [...] That was a moment of truth for me."

Sadly, in 1980, the "December, 1963 (Oh, What a Night)" singer experienced a loss that no amount of medical expertise could fix. That year, his stepdaughter, Celia, died in a car accident.

Then, just six months later, his biological daughter, Francine, died of a drug overdose. She had been gearing up to start singing with her father, according to her sister, Antonia. "We were still grieving Celia's death," Antonia recalled, "but Francine was in a good place."

Now, in his 90s, he's found himself entering a new era of his life.

Her sudden passing devastated the family. It was a wound that lingered — and one that was later portrayed in a wrenching scene in "Jersey Boys," the Broadway musical and film adaptation about his life, where an actor playing the singer received the tragic news while on the road.

"The first time I saw that, it was incredibly difficult, and for many times after that," he admitted, tearing up. "That lives with you forever. She died a long time ago, but I often imagine what it would be like if she were alive. She had a wonderful voice."

Years later, when asked about the quiet periods in his career, the singer didn't just talk about fame or fortune. He also spoke about the loss that reshaped him. He shared:

"Of course, losing a kid was a very, very tough experience. It's not something you ever, ever get over. It's just not supposed to be that way."

Still Standing – Love, Legacy, and Life at 90

This legendary singer is none other than Frankie Valli, the unmistakable falsetto behind the Four Seasons. His voice had carried generations through heartbreak, youth, and memory. Now, in his 90s, he's found himself entering a new era of his life.

In June 2023, he married Jackie Jacobs, 29 years his junior, in an intimate Las Vegas ceremony, proving that even after great personal loss and decades of fame, it was still possible to begin again.

"It's terrific to have found love once again at this stage of my life," Frankie revealed. The ceremony was private, just the two of them, held at the Westgate Hotel.

However, in 2024, he sparked conversation online when videos of recent performances went viral.

As "Can't Take My Eyes Off Of You," his 1967 gold-certified hit, played softly in the background, he sang the song into his new bride's ear. The moment was personal, romantic, and unmistakably his. Jackie, 60 at the time, wore a white bridal gown with her hair styled in soft curls and dainty silver earrings.

The famous singer stood beside her in a navy suit and white collared shirt, accented by a simple gold chain. The simplicity of the event underscored its meaning — not showmanship, but genuine connection.

Their journey together began years earlier. Jackie, a Maryland native and former CBS marketing executive, first met Frankie in 2007. They crossed paths at a restaurant in Los Angeles, where he joined her group of friends for dinner. She recalled:

"We kept in touch by phone until he called me and asked for a date in late 2015. And we've been together ever since."

"They might have almost a 30 year age gap, but love finds a way regardless," one netizen commented. Another shared, "She does not look 60," while a third added, "Does it really matter what reason they are together."

This was not Frankie's first walk down the aisle but it was perhaps his most understated. In 1958, he married Mary Delgado, who already had daughter Celia. Together, the couple had two more daughters — Antonia and Francine.

His second marriage, to MaryAnn Hannagan, lasted from 1974 until 1982. Two years later, he wed Randy Clohessy, with whom he had three sons — Francesco, and twins Emilio and Brando. However, that union ended in 2004 after 20 years.

But no matter what, through each chapter, Frankie remained devoted to music. Even in his ninth decade, he continued to tour, perform, and connect with audiences. However, in 2024, he sparked conversation online when videos of recent performances went viral.

In one clip, he appeared out of sync with the choreography during "December 1963 (Oh What a Night)." In another, he seemed to miss lyrics during "Bye, Bye, Baby (Baby, Goodbye)," prompting speculation about lip-syncing.

Rather than shy away from the commentary, Frankie addressed it directly in a statement. "I know there has been a lot of stuff on the internet about me lately so I wanted to clear the air," he shared. "I am blessed to be 90 years old and still be doing what I love to do and as long as I am able, and audiences want to come see me, I am going to be out there performing as I always have. I absolutely love what I do."

He emphasized that the Four Seasons' signature sound had always relied on layered arrangements. "I sing, I have singers who sing, great arrangements...everything," he explained. "We use our 60 years of experience so we sound like the records."

As for the public concern? "I get a chuckle from the comments wondering if someone is forcing me to go on stage. Nobody has ever made me do anything I didn't want to do," Frankie revealed.

Nonetheless, his enduring presence on stage has been matched with a wave of long-overdue recognition in recent years. In May 2024, he received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame for his work with the Four Seasons. He was joined by his wife and twin sons.

It was a family moment that underscored the legacy he had built not just in music, but at home. Just months later, in February 2025, Frankie attended the Grammy Awards red carpet — this time not as a nominee, but as a recipient of a Lifetime Achievement Award.

The honor was part of the Recording Academy's Special Merit Awards in Los Angeles. "I'm really feeling terrific about all of this," Frankie said. Standing beside Jackie, he reflected on the long journey to that moment:

"I waited a long time. And I mean, I went for about seven or eight years in a row. [They said,] 'You're getting it this year, you're getting it this year.'"

His career has been punctuated by Grammy nominations dating back to 1962, including nods for Best New Artist, Best Rock & Roll Recording, and recognition for "Big Girls Don't Cry" and "Can't Take My Eyes Off You."

His work on the "Grease" soundtrack earned further accolades in 1979. But none of those nominations had translated into a win — until now. However, the Lifetime Achievement Award was more than just a tribute to his past.

His recent award was an acknowledgment of persistence, artistry, and the passion that had carried him through personal tragedy, public scrutiny, and a relentless touring schedule.

Referencing the line from "Jersey Boys," he said, "I'm like that bunny on TV, that just keeps going and going and going. Chasing the music." At 91, he isn't interested in farewells. He was still standing, still singing, and still embracing the moments that life and love continue to offer.