Inside Barbra Streisand and James Brolin’s 26-Year Marriage: From a Blind Date to True Love
They found love in their 50s and are still going strong in their 80s!
Barbra Streisand has been a pop culture icon for six decades, and over the years, the multitalented singer, actress and director’s personal life has drawn nearly as much attention as her professional accomplishments. At 82, Babs can still get people talking like no one else, as evidenced by the discourse around her 970-page 2023 memoir, My Name Is Barbra.
Streisand had many highly-publicized relationships back in the day, but in 1998, the star, then in her 50s, tied the knot with her second husband, actor and director James Brolin, and the couple has been happily married ever since then. Here’s a look at the diva’s love life and some of the sweetest moments in her marriage.
Barbra Streisand’s early relationships
In 1963, Barbra Streisand married future M*A*S*H and The Long Goodbye actor Elliott Gould. Both Streisand and Gould were rising stars at the time, and they became a ’60s power couple. In 1966, she gave birth to her only child, Jason (now a singer and actor), but she divorced Gould just five years later in 1971.
Following her divorce, Streisand dated an eclectic lineup of men, including Canadian Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau, film producer Jon Peters, Baskin-Robbins heir and musician Richard Baskin, Miami Vice star Don Johnson and tennis champion Andre Agassi.
Barbra Streisand and James Brolin’s Hollywood romance
After years of tabloid-ready relationships, Streisand had a blind date that changed her life. In 1996, when she was 54, she was set up with James Brolin, then 56, at a dinner party hosted by their mutual friends. Sparks flew, and in July of 1998 they got married—and Streisand even serenaded Brolin with two new love songs at the ceremony!
Both Streisand and Brolin were previously divorced and had children from their previous marriages. They embraced their blended family and now have four grandchildren, and Brolin’s oldest son, Marvel movie star Josh Brolin, affectionately referred to Streisand as a “very typical Jewish grandmother,” saying, “She is really into it and I love that she is into it . . . It’s awesome.”
In her memoir, Streisand described what initially drew her to Brolin: “It was unusual for me to get this close to someone so quickly. But Jim wasn’t intimidated by me. In fact, he was very supportive and said, ‘I want to empower you.’” After so many years of relationship drama, Streisand finally found her ideal match.
An unlikely source of inspiration for Aerosmith
Streisand and Brolin’s marriage isn’t just a lasting source of inspiration for finding love over 50—it also inspired a famous song. One of the most intriguing reveals in Streisand’s memoir was the fact that the hit 1998 Aerosmith power ballad “I Don’t Want to Miss a Thing” was based on their marriage.
Streisand recalled how in bed with Brolin one night, he said, “I don’t want to fall asleep.” When she asked why, he replied, “‘Cause I’ll miss you.’” She went on to share this anecdote in a 1997 20/20 interview with Barbara Walters. Songwriter Diane Warren watched the interview and was drawn to Streisand’s story, ultimately using the exchange as the inspiration for “I Don’t Want to Miss a Thing,” leading listeners everywhere to be moved by Streisand and Brolin’s relationship without even realizing it.
Looking back at the line years later, Streisand wrote, “What a beautiful, poetic thing to say . . . And it captured a moment of complete bliss . . . physical, emotional, spiritual.” As for the Aerosmith song, she said, “It was so gratifying to see so many people responding to Jim’s words. Well, no wonder . . . so did I!”
Barbra Streisand’s marriage advice
26 years after they married, Streisand and Brolin are happy as ever. When asked for her marriage advice, the singer said, “The secret is to listen carefully. I think to be a good actor, you have to listen. To be a good person, you have to listen. To be a good marriage partner, you have to listen. Hear the other person. Agree to disagree.” These words of wisdom have served her well, and they can even apply to those of us who aren’t legendary divas.
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