Award winning musician Neil Young has filed for divorce from his wife, Pegi Young, after nearly 40 years of marriage. The couple’s divorce comes as a shock to fans, especially those who have been following Mr. Young’s performance schedule; he and Pegi were supposed to be performing together on September 13 in Raleigh, North Carolina; however, Pegi’s name has been removed from the line up.
The pair first met while Pegi was working as a waitress, not far from Neil’s home in California and Neil tells the story of their first encounter in his 1992 song, Unknown Legend: “She used to work in a diner, never saw a woman look finer. I used to order just to watch her float across the floor.” The Youngs were married in August 1977 and have two children together, Ben and Amber Jean. Ben, who is nonverbal and suffers from cerebral palsy, was the inspiration behind the famous Bridge School for for children with speech impairments and physical disabilities, each year the couple holds a charity event to raise money for the school. Each year, the couple holds a charity concert to raise money for the school, the Bridge School Benefit, features an all-star line which usually includes Neil Young.
Throughout their relationship the couple has also collaborated musically. Pegi joined Neil’s show as a back up singer in the 90s and even performed with him at the 1994 Academy Awards; Pegi has even had a career of her own, releasing several solo albums and headlining her own tours. Other than Unknown Legend, Pegi has also been the inspiration for some of Neil’s most famous songs, including “Once and Angel” and “Such A Woman.”
Neil Young once said that, “without Pegi, I’m an island without an ocean,” and now it seems as though the water around him will be gone for good. Hopefully the couple will be able to settle things amicably and continue to be inspired to do good things and to make good music.
The couple’s divorce hearing is scheduled to take take place on December 12, 2014.
(Photo by Frazer Harrison/Getty Images)
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