Bono shares secret to 40-year relationship with wife Ali Hewson
Bono has given a sweet insight into his marriage to Ali Hewson, as he shared the secret to their "special" 40-year relationship.
The singer, 62, opened up about the longevity of their union while on stage at the New Yorker Festival, during an interview about his upcoming book Surrender.
As reported by People magazine, the Irish rock star was prompted to give some marital advice after a question from a newlywed audience member at the event in New York.
He noted that it's "quite mad getting married" but that "if you ask me seriously, friendship can outpace romantic love".
Bono continued: "Friendship is what myself and Ali have. When you have romantic love and friendship, that's really something special."
He explained: "Any time either of us got lost, the other would...be there to get the other one home, and I'm so grateful.
"And 40 years is a powerful number for me. That's a powerful number for Ali. And it was brilliant when we got to 40, and we went, 'let's not f*** this up now.'"
The star met Hewson, 61, when they were both 12 years old and attending Mount Temple Comprehensive School in Dublin.
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According to the Irish Mirror, romance struck when Bono walked her to the bus stop one day, and he became her boyfriend when he was 16 and she was 15.
They married – aged 22 and 21 respectively – in 1982 at the Old Guinness Church of Ireland in Raheny, and celebrated their 40th wedding anniversary back in August of this year.
The couple, who live between Ireland, France and the United States, share four children together – daughter Jordan, 33, daughter Eve, 31, son Elijah, 23, and son John, 21.
However, they are not the only celebrity pair to enjoy a long union - despite the stereotype that even the most loved-up showbiz partnerships don't always last.
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There's famously Dolly Parton who married her husband Carl Dean back in 1966 – meaning they have been married for an incredible 56 years.
Denzel and Pauletta Washington have been together for 45 years, while Keith Richards and Patti Hansen have been married for 43 years.
Ringo Starr and Barbara Bach tied the knot 41 years go, while Ricky Gervais and Jane Fallon have been dating for four decades.
And almost at the 40-year mark are Goldie Hawn and Kurt Russell who have been happily dating since 1983.
