The Three Wives Of Paul Simon: Inside The Tumultuous Marriages To A Star Wars Icon And His Enduring Musical Muse

Paul Simon, the legendary singer-songwriter whose career spans over six decades, has had a private life as complex and celebrated as his music, marked by three distinct and high-profile marriages. As of late 2025, his enduring union with fellow musician Edie Brickell stands as a testament to finding lasting love, a journey that followed a quiet first marriage and a famously tumultuous relationship with a Hollywood icon. This article delves into the full history of Paul Simon's wives, providing an up-to-date look at the women who have shaped his life and, in many cases, his timeless discography. The current date is December 18, 2025, and Paul Simon’s longest and most stable marriage is to Edie Brickell, a partnership that has lasted over three decades, produced three children, and weathered public scrutiny. Their story, along with the intense, short-lived marriage to Carrie Fisher and his foundational first marriage to Peggy Harper, paints a complete picture of the emotional landscape behind one of music's greatest poets.

Paul Simon: A Complete Biographical Profile

The following is a list of key biographical details for Paul Simon, outlining his personal and professional milestones, including his three marriages and four children:

• Full Name: Paul Frederic Simon
• Date of Birth: October 13, 1941
• Place of Birth: Newark, New Jersey, U.S.
• Occupation: Singer-songwriter, Musician, Record Producer
• Genre: Folk, Folk Rock, Worldbeat, Pop
• Associated Acts: Simon & Garfunkel, The Everly Brothers
• Awards: 16 Grammy Awards (including three for Album of the Year), Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award, Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee (twice)
• First Marriage: Peggy Harper (m. 1969; div. 1975)
• Second Marriage: Carrie Fisher (m. August 1983; div. July 1984)
• Current Spouse: Edie Brickell (m. May 30, 1992–present)
• Children:
  • Harper Simon (b. 1972, with Peggy Harper)
  • Adrian Edward Simon (b. December 1992, with Edie Brickell)
  • Lulu Simon (b. ~1994, with Edie Brickell)
  • Gabriel Elijah Simon (b. May 1998, with Edie Brickell)

First Love: The Quiet Marriage to Peggy Harper

Paul Simon’s first wife, Peggy Harper, remains the most private of his spouses, yet her influence is deeply woven into the fabric of his early solo career. The pair met in Los Angeles during a recording session and were married in 1969.

Their union was relatively short-lived, concluding in a divorce in 1975. Despite its brevity, the marriage produced Paul Simon’s first child, Harper Simon, a musician in his own right, born in 1972.

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The emotional fallout from the end of this relationship is widely believed to have inspired one of Paul Simon’s most famous and commercially successful songs, "50 Ways to Leave Your Lover." The track, with its narrative about a strained relationship and the need for an exit strategy, topped the charts in 1975, marking a pivotal moment in his post-Simon & Garfunkel career.

While Peggy Harper has largely maintained a life outside the public eye, her role as Paul Simon’s first wife and the mother of Harper Simon is a foundational chapter in his personal story.

The Whirlwind Romance: Paul Simon and Carrie Fisher

The relationship between Paul Simon and actress Carrie Fisher—famous for her role as Princess Leia in the *Star Wars* saga—was a quintessential celebrity romance of the 1970s and 80s, characterized by intense highs and extreme lows.

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Their on-again, off-again romance spanned approximately 12 years in total. They first met in the mid-1970s and dated intermittently before finally marrying in August 1983.

The marriage, however, was short-lived, lasting less than a year before they divorced in July 1984. Despite the divorce, they continued to date and travel together for years afterward, a testament to their deep, albeit complicated, connection.

Paul Simon later described the relationship as a "whirlwind," complicated by both his own commitment struggles and Fisher’s well-documented battles with addiction and mental health issues. The intensity of their bond was chronicled in detail in the 2012 biography *Paul Simon: The Life* by Peter Ames Carlin.

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The emotional landscape of this turbulent period is widely reflected in Simon's 1983 album, *Hearts and Bones*, which was released just before their marriage ended. Songs like "Hearts and Bones" and "Train in the Distance" are often cited as musical reflections on the complexities and challenges of their passionate yet volatile union.

Edie Brickell: The Enduring Decades-Long Union and Recent Updates

Paul Simon met his third and current wife, singer-songwriter Edie Brickell, backstage at a *Saturday Night Live* taping in 1988, where her band, Edie Brickell & New Bohemians, was performing. Simon was immediately smitten, describing the moment he saw her as falling in love.

The pair married on May 30, 1992, and their relationship has proven to be his most enduring, lasting over 30 years. They share three children: Adrian Edward, Lulu, and Gabriel Elijah.

A Partnership That Withstood Public Scrutiny

While their marriage has been a private affair, it did face a brief period of intense public scrutiny in 2014. The couple was arrested in New Canaan, Connecticut, on disorderly conduct charges following a domestic dispute at their home. Both parties described the incident as a rare argument that escalated, and they appeared in court holding hands. Prosecutors ultimately dropped the charges, stating there was no need for further action.

This incident, though a public setback, was a temporary blip in their long-term commitment, and the couple has since returned to a quiet, collaborative life.

Collaborative Creativity and Shared Entities

Their shared passion for music continues to be a cornerstone of their relationship. Edie Brickell is a Grammy-winning artist in her own right, known for her unique blend of folk and rock.

In recent years, the couple has quietly collaborated on new music. In a demonstration of their ongoing creative partnership, Paul Simon released a new song in late 2018, a duet with Edie Brickell titled “Bad Dream,” showcasing their harmonizing talents and shared musical entities. Their enduring relationship, built on mutual respect and a shared artistic life, continues to thrive, proving that third time was truly the charm for the legendary musician.