Alright, gather 'round, folks. I've got a tale to spin about the Jackson family, and it's not about the one you're thinking. No, today we're diving into the marital pool with none other than Jermaine Jackson. Now, you might be wondering, "Why Jermaine? What's so special about him getting married?" Well, my friends, it's all about the age. You see, Jermaine wasn't your average, run-of-the-mill newlywed. Oh no, he was something else entirely.
Enter Jermaine, Stage Left
Now, picture this: it's the late '60s, the Jackson 5 are taking the world by storm, and little Jermaine is right there in the thick of it. But while his brothers are busy moonwalking into our hearts, Jermaine has other plans. He's got his eye on the prize, and no, it's not a shiny new award. It's a ring - a wedding ring.
That's right, folks. Jermaine Jackson, at the ripe old age of... wait for it... 16, decided it was high time he tied the knot. I mean, why wait, right? When you know, you know. And Jermaine knew. He knew he wanted to spend the rest of his life with a lovely lady named Hazel Gordy. Now, Hazel, she was a bit older. A mere 22, if you can believe it. Talk about a May-December romance!
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Love at First Sight
So, how did these two lovebirds meet? Well, it turns out, Hazel was the niece of none other than Berry Gordy, the founder of Motown Records. You know, the place where the Jackson 5 got their start. Small world, huh? I guess you could say it was love at first Motown. Or maybe it was love at first sight. Either way, it was love, and it was serious.
Now, you might be thinking, "Surely, Jermaine's parents had something to say about this. He was just a kid!" And you'd be right. Joe and Katherine Jackson were less than thrilled about their 16-year-old son's sudden desire to settle down. But you know what they say, "Love doesn't wait for anyone." And Jermaine wasn't about to let a little thing like his parents' disapproval stand in his way.
Eloping with the King of Pop
So, what's a teenager in love to do when his parents won't give their blessing? Well, if you're Jermaine Jackson, you elope. And you don't just elope, you do it in style. With a little help from his brother Michael, Jermaine and Hazel tied the knot in a secret ceremony in 1973. Now, I know what you're thinking, "Michael helped? But he was just a kid too!" Well, yes, he was. But Michael was always the rebellious one, the one who marched to the beat of his own drum. And I guess that drum was saying, "Let's elope, y'all!"
The Jacksons at the wedding of Jermaine Jackson and Hazel Gordy
Now, I'm sure you're all dying to know, "How did Joe and Katherine react to the news?" Well, let's just say they weren't exactly dancing in the streets. Joe was so upset, he kicked Jermaine out of the family home. But you know what they say, "Absence makes the heart grow fonder." And maybe, just maybe, it makes the wallet grow thicker, because Jermaine went on to sign a solo deal with Motown not long after. Talk about a silver lining!
Happily Ever After? Not Quite
Now, I'm sure you're all on the edge of your seats, wondering, "Did they live happily ever after?" Well, folks, I hate to break it to you, but this isn't one of those fairy tales. Jermaine and Hazel's marriage didn't last the distance. They divorced in 1988, after 15 years of marriage. But hey, 15 years is still longer than some Hollywood marriages, right?
And what about Jermaine? Well, he went on to have a successful solo career, releasing hits like "Dynamite" and "Let's Get Serious." He also had a few more marriages and a whole lot of kids. In fact, Jermaine has 13 children from four different marriages. That's right, folks. Jermaine Jackson is a father of 13. I guess you could say he's got a whole Jackson 50!
So there you have it, folks. The tale of Jermaine Jackson, the teenage groom who eloped with the King of Pop's help. It's a story that's equal parts sweet, equal parts crazy, and all parts Jackson. And isn't that just the Jackson way?