Top 9:
Cynthia
Linda
Olivia
Maureen
Barbara
Pattie
Nancy
Heather
Yoko
Maureen
Barbara
Pattie
Nancy
Heather
Yoko
Cynthia Powell Lennon
I suppose I can say Cynthia is my favorite wife… not really sure why though… I think it's mainly because her marriage to John is underrated and not as popular as his marriage to Yoko is. John kept his love story with Cynthia close to the vest, private, and eventually dismissed it as an obligation as she was pregnant when they married- but so was Maureen, Linda, and Yoko. Aside from that, I do think there is something of value in their love story. Cynthia knew John as a college student before fame came in and literally took John away when they should have solidify their marriage and parenthood, but what else could have been done? There's no handbook on how to manage fame and marriage during their time together and John and Cynthia were winging it as they go. Cynthia was supportive to her husband's career, no matter what he wanted to do, and preferred to be in the background. However, Cynthia was talented in her own right: she too was an artist and a good singer, but John didn't support her career ambitions: maybe it was their way of growing up in the 1940s/1950s when men brought home the bacon while the women stayed home to look after the children. Cynthia certainly proved her talents, but unfortunately John's shadow overcasted it. On April 1, 2015, I was at home in my mother's house tending to my social media before getting ready for work. I saw her son's Instagram of his mother and candles… I honestly didn't know what was up but at first thought it was sweet. But then I saw a comment about her death. After doing further digging while praying it wasn't true but a bad April Fool's joke, it was true. My heart sank and for a long time, it stayed on my mind. Like Maureen and Linda, I grieved for Cynthia and my heart went out to Julian. She died of lung cancer; after witnessing my grandmother dying of the terrible cancer, it is a tough thing to go through. A death sentence. I don't know anybody who survived lung cancer- if there are, it's a few number of survival.
Maureen Cox Starkey
When I was a teenager (in the 1990s), I was fascinated by the way Maureen was always photographed wearing eyeliner and even tried to copy her look by always wearing eyeliner. To this day, it is my main go-to when wearing makeup, that and lipstick with a little bit of blush. I remember hearing about her death in January of 1995 by my mom who read about it in People magazine- it was night time and Mom was listening to music; she stopped it, told me Maureen died, then turned back the music. Of course, that raised a number of questions: since when? Of what? Does Ringo know about it? I wanted that People magazine! Since it was bedtime and a school night, I went to bed with those questions swirling in my head. After Mom went to bed, I snuck to where the magazine was and read to find out if any of my questions were answered… December 30th, 1994. Leukemia. Not only Ringo knew about her death, he was there. I went to sleep but her death weighed heavily on my mind for a long time. She was only 48, still young. She had a young daughter almost 8 years of age, instantly I felt so sad for Augusta. Her son Zak tried to save his mother by donated bone marrow and blood cells. Not long later, I found out that her daughter Lee nursed her mother. I don't know what her son Jason did but I have no doubt that he helped and was there. My respect for Ringo definitely reached a higher level for being at his ex-wife’s side through her illness up to the end. Maureen knew Ringo when he was a struggling poor musician and was with him when he made it big and famous. Sadly their marriage didn't last after the Beatles’ break-up: many factors like a troubling readjustment to life after being in a popular band for 8 years to now suddenly solo and had to reinvent a career, drinking, drugs, infidelity on both sides, midlife crises… it was a lot to handle for their marriage. However, Ringo and Maureen managed to forgive and reinvent their relationship as friends, parents, and still be part of the family; Ringo even considers Augusta as part of his family and is friends with Maureen's husband/widower Isaac Tigrett. Maureen was a Beatles fan whose dreams came true when a Beatle asked her out for a date and kept Ringo’s home roots down to earth by calling him Richie (his wife Barbara calls him that, too).
Yoko Ono Lennon
Not my favorite wife. Her singing is unbearable, I don't really understand her art, and her attitude towards Cynthia and especially Julian is unforgivable. I can take infidelity, a husband leaving his wife for another woman. I don't like it but it happens to everyone, then and today, I can accept and move on. However, I do not like the way John and Yoko handled it and it certainly would have been handled better. John was a coward and had Cynthia find out about his newfound love in the newspapers in another country and I do not doubt that Yoko whispered in John's ear saying nasty things about Cynthia so he wouldn't have a change of heart. I believe Yoko was jealous of Cynthia; in Yoko's mind, John's life didn't start until he fell in love with her. Whatever production Yoko has been involved with about John's life, Cynthia would be lucky to get a passing mention and the impression of being a forgotten footnote. Olivia never did that with Pattie- she was a part of George’s life and Olivia acknowledges that: Pattie's appearance on Living in the Material World a documentary about George was much more larger than Cynthia's appearance on John Lennon: Imagine documentary, with interview and home movies, photographs, and press footage. The most unforgivable part is Yoko's involvement in John's distance relationship with Julian. I think I will save that for another separate entry here on my blog because the subject is not only difficult but I could go on and on in a rant. To continue on with the subject matter, That being said, the older she gets, probably started after George's death in 2001, the more Yoko understands the concept of family; The Beatles are a second family after the personal first. I also often wonder that if her daughter hadn't been kidnapped by her father, would things be different between John and Julian? It took until the 1990s for Yoko to be reunited with her daughter. Guess I will never know.
When I was a teenager (in the 1990s), I was fascinated by the way Maureen was always photographed wearing eyeliner and even tried to copy her look by always wearing eyeliner. To this day, it is my main go-to when wearing makeup, that and lipstick with a little bit of blush. I remember hearing about her death in January of 1995 by my mom who read about it in People magazine- it was night time and Mom was listening to music; she stopped it, told me Maureen died, then turned back the music. Of course, that raised a number of questions: since when? Of what? Does Ringo know about it? I wanted that People magazine! Since it was bedtime and a school night, I went to bed with those questions swirling in my head. After Mom went to bed, I snuck to where the magazine was and read to find out if any of my questions were answered… December 30th, 1994. Leukemia. Not only Ringo knew about her death, he was there. I went to sleep but her death weighed heavily on my mind for a long time. She was only 48, still young. She had a young daughter almost 8 years of age, instantly I felt so sad for Augusta. Her son Zak tried to save his mother by donated bone marrow and blood cells. Not long later, I found out that her daughter Lee nursed her mother. I don't know what her son Jason did but I have no doubt that he helped and was there. My respect for Ringo definitely reached a higher level for being at his ex-wife’s side through her illness up to the end. Maureen knew Ringo when he was a struggling poor musician and was with him when he made it big and famous. Sadly their marriage didn't last after the Beatles’ break-up: many factors like a troubling readjustment to life after being in a popular band for 8 years to now suddenly solo and had to reinvent a career, drinking, drugs, infidelity on both sides, midlife crises… it was a lot to handle for their marriage. However, Ringo and Maureen managed to forgive and reinvent their relationship as friends, parents, and still be part of the family; Ringo even considers Augusta as part of his family and is friends with Maureen's husband/widower Isaac Tigrett. Maureen was a Beatles fan whose dreams came true when a Beatle asked her out for a date and kept Ringo’s home roots down to earth by calling him Richie (his wife Barbara calls him that, too).
Pattie Boyd Harrison
Pattie was, and still is, a beauty. It's easy to see why both George Harrison and Eric Clapton fell in love with her. A model who became a muse of a couple of classic songs that frequently gets radio play. Not a bad way to go. I do feel sorry for her not to experience motherhood, she tried but unable to have child and neither husband was willing to adopt (pity!). She also has great respect and a friendly relationship with Olivia, George's second wife.
I got to meet Pattie twice: first time was at the 2008 Beatles’ Fest in Las Vegas and the second time in 2016 during her Behind the Lens photo presentation tour.
Pattie was, and still is, a beauty. It's easy to see why both George Harrison and Eric Clapton fell in love with her. A model who became a muse of a couple of classic songs that frequently gets radio play. Not a bad way to go. I do feel sorry for her not to experience motherhood, she tried but unable to have child and neither husband was willing to adopt (pity!). She also has great respect and a friendly relationship with Olivia, George's second wife.
I got to meet Pattie twice: first time was at the 2008 Beatles’ Fest in Las Vegas and the second time in 2016 during her Behind the Lens photo presentation tour.
Linda Eastman McCartney
Our birthdays were a day apart. We both loved to cook- except she was vegetarian and I do eat meat. We love taking pictures except she made a career out of it while mine is more of a hobby yet a dream career. I think we have the same music talent except Linda had a musician husband while I have my car as the concert venue. However, unlike Linda, I don't have the balls to perform on tour with my singing and music skills. With all respect to Jane Asher, Linda’s photography career woven into Paul's music career as a team player. Not to compare but can't help but notice that Jane’s career as an actress wasn't able to blend into Paul's career other than as a muse. Maybe Jane would have appeared in a music video but that's all she could really have done. Meanwhile, Linda's photos were used for the cover of Paul's solo albums and inner sleeve notes, calendars, and throwback trend for social media. Paul is a type for wanting his lady nearby- Linda, Heather, and now Nancy, unlike Jane who had her own career to tour to act onstage or filming locations to be away for a few months. As for her music career, I don't think she sang as bad as most people think she did. No, her singing isn't perfect- Linda would be the first one to admit that. She was only there for love. Linda wasn't the only “untalented” musician, we also had Sonny Bono who had a couple of number 1 hits and he was loved by many as Sonny and Cher. John had his best friend from art college, Stuart Sutcliffe, couldn't play bass. He would have his back to the audience so they wouldn't notice his wrong notes- that used to irritate Paul, ironically. Maybe Paul realized why John wanted Stuart in the Beatles when he insisted to have Linda in his band Wings. Linda did learn as Wings went on and later in Paul's touring band until 1993- still not the greatest but able to stand there and keep to the beat. I don't think I would've lasted that long.
I was 16 years old when news came of Linda's death. My mom and I were in the drive-thru at Taco Bell before going to my Aunt's home for a little casual gathering. We heard on the radio and immediately thought of Paul and their children. When we arrived, we told the family about Linda’s death. It was a sad day.
P. S. I am not at all against Jane Asher, I deeply appreciate and admire her and respect her past relationship with Paul.
Our birthdays were a day apart. We both loved to cook- except she was vegetarian and I do eat meat. We love taking pictures except she made a career out of it while mine is more of a hobby yet a dream career. I think we have the same music talent except Linda had a musician husband while I have my car as the concert venue. However, unlike Linda, I don't have the balls to perform on tour with my singing and music skills. With all respect to Jane Asher, Linda’s photography career woven into Paul's music career as a team player. Not to compare but can't help but notice that Jane’s career as an actress wasn't able to blend into Paul's career other than as a muse. Maybe Jane would have appeared in a music video but that's all she could really have done. Meanwhile, Linda's photos were used for the cover of Paul's solo albums and inner sleeve notes, calendars, and throwback trend for social media. Paul is a type for wanting his lady nearby- Linda, Heather, and now Nancy, unlike Jane who had her own career to tour to act onstage or filming locations to be away for a few months. As for her music career, I don't think she sang as bad as most people think she did. No, her singing isn't perfect- Linda would be the first one to admit that. She was only there for love. Linda wasn't the only “untalented” musician, we also had Sonny Bono who had a couple of number 1 hits and he was loved by many as Sonny and Cher. John had his best friend from art college, Stuart Sutcliffe, couldn't play bass. He would have his back to the audience so they wouldn't notice his wrong notes- that used to irritate Paul, ironically. Maybe Paul realized why John wanted Stuart in the Beatles when he insisted to have Linda in his band Wings. Linda did learn as Wings went on and later in Paul's touring band until 1993- still not the greatest but able to stand there and keep to the beat. I don't think I would've lasted that long.
I was 16 years old when news came of Linda's death. My mom and I were in the drive-thru at Taco Bell before going to my Aunt's home for a little casual gathering. We heard on the radio and immediately thought of Paul and their children. When we arrived, we told the family about Linda’s death. It was a sad day.
P. S. I am not at all against Jane Asher, I deeply appreciate and admire her and respect her past relationship with Paul.
Not my favorite wife. Her singing is unbearable, I don't really understand her art, and her attitude towards Cynthia and especially Julian is unforgivable. I can take infidelity, a husband leaving his wife for another woman. I don't like it but it happens to everyone, then and today, I can accept and move on. However, I do not like the way John and Yoko handled it and it certainly would have been handled better. John was a coward and had Cynthia find out about his newfound love in the newspapers in another country and I do not doubt that Yoko whispered in John's ear saying nasty things about Cynthia so he wouldn't have a change of heart. I believe Yoko was jealous of Cynthia; in Yoko's mind, John's life didn't start until he fell in love with her. Whatever production Yoko has been involved with about John's life, Cynthia would be lucky to get a passing mention and the impression of being a forgotten footnote. Olivia never did that with Pattie- she was a part of George’s life and Olivia acknowledges that: Pattie's appearance on Living in the Material World a documentary about George was much more larger than Cynthia's appearance on John Lennon: Imagine documentary, with interview and home movies, photographs, and press footage. The most unforgivable part is Yoko's involvement in John's distance relationship with Julian. I think I will save that for another separate entry here on my blog because the subject is not only difficult but I could go on and on in a rant. To continue on with the subject matter, That being said, the older she gets, probably started after George's death in 2001, the more Yoko understands the concept of family; The Beatles are a second family after the personal first. I also often wonder that if her daughter hadn't been kidnapped by her father, would things be different between John and Julian? It took until the 1990s for Yoko to be reunited with her daughter. Guess I will never know.
Olivia Arias Harrison
As I mentioned in Yoko's description, Olivia acknowledges Pattie's place in George's life unlike Yoko, who doesn't with Cynthia. I have always liked Olivia, and I admire her strength and heroism of saving George's life when they were attacked and attempted murder. She is doing a great job on George's legacy, remaining true to his memory and keeping up with technology (although more of their son Dhani’s doing). I admire Olivia for her charity work, especially involving children and doing something to help rather than doing talk, raise awareness, and do nothing to show for it. Olivia shows for it, especially Romania and Bangladesh, India. Olivia stuck by George through thick and thin, taking care of him and their homes, and being her own person, treasuring her Mexican and American roots.
Barbara Goldbach Starkey
Barbara is certainly beautiful but I can't say she's a greatest actress; I think Jane was and still is a dedicated actress by being on stage, television, and movies. Barbara stuck with movies, very few television (she did audition for Charlie's Angels), and, as far as I know, never did stage plays. Maybe she would have if she didn't marry Ringo and allowed her career to fade away; honestly I don't think Barbara's heart was in it as she originally started out as a model and got into acting after someone suggested it to her. That being said, Barbara and Ringo do have a love story. They have the longest Beatle marriage (granted, if Linda had lived, she and Paul would still be married and looking forward to their 50th wedding anniversary) and happy to be together inseparable. They blended their children from previous marriages (3 from Ringo, 2 from Barbara) and friendly with their exes who are now both gone- Maureen in 1994 and Augusto Gregorini in 2017- Ringo was at Maureen's side and Barbara attended Augusto’s funeral. Ringo and Barbara stuck together from drinking and doing drugs, going to rehab together, going on tour, traveling, being a family and being in love and devotion.
Heather Mills McCartney
Heather is popular for being not the favorite- probably the worst of all in the opinion of the Beatles’ and Paul McCartney fan community. But, since this is strictly my opinion and my blog, I honestly don't feel that way. I do understand why: Heather has been accused of being a gold-digger, taking advantage of Paul while he was grieving for Linda, for being outspoken, loving the spotlight and fame, and got herself millions from the divorce settlement. In my opinion, Paul was, and still is, a big boy. I think he could at least spot a gold-digger a mile away after 50+ years of being famous. There is a few things that I do admire Heather for: I do think she is strong and refuses to give up any life challenge thrown at her way. She did overcome many obstacles. It must not be easy to have a mentally and physically abusive father, a mother that abandoned her children to get away from her husband instead of taking the children with her. Money was tight and her father committed fraud. Despite reuniting with her mother, she butted heads with her mother's lover and lived life out on the streets. She became a model, then lost her lower half leg after collided with a speeding police motorcycle. She had to face the media and fans of being Paul's partner- the biggest difficult challenge of all. It must be difficult to fill a position that was once held by Linda for 30 years. I wouldn't want to do that. I do admire Heather as someone who helped Paul through the mourning of Linda, and to help him back on his feet to tour again. I am sure he would've done that regardless but perhaps later than sooner. I also admire Heather as a mother to Beatrice. For someone who has been accused of loving the spotlight all on her and sparking up publicity, she is determined to keep Beatrice private. She doesn't parade Beatrice everywhere in public and even finding paparazzi photos comes in far and few in between. I admire Heather for reinventing herself as a vegan food industry business woman and a snow speed racer, determined to go in the Guinness Book of Records and the Winter Paralympics. Especially to the McCartney fans, Heather is the ultimate blacksheep and pretends she doesn't exist.
I did communicate with Heather twice on her Facebook and once on Instagram and she was very kind to me. The first time I wished her a happy birthday through message and she replied back thanking me. The second time I made a comment on one of her pictures relating to V-Bites, saying that I love her polenta pizzas from her Love Bites cookbook and make them often, she replied by agreeing with me. A similar comment and response on Instagram. Those are my experiences with Heather… my philosophy motto is Be nice to me, I will be nice to you. I did not expect any reply back and was genuinely surprised when I did.
Nancy Shevell McCartney
Nancy gets frequently compared to Heather and Linda in the media. Most fans usually pretend that Heather doesn't exist and claim that Paul has two wives rather than three. It is clear that Nancy and Linda are a lot alike: both from New England part of the United States (Linda in New York, Nancy in New Jersey), both lived in New York City and had homes in the Hamptons, Jewish, both were born in well-to-do wealth, both battled breast cancer, both opt for the privacy quiet life although Linda reluctantly has done interviews and photo shoots while Nancy turns down the offers… I do believe Heather does like the quiet life too but also loves the limelight the same. Nancy has done one interview before meeting Paul and it's rare to get a sound bite from her that majority of the fans doesn't know what she sounds like. Another thing that Nancy and Linda have in common is that they both had their parents stick together till death did them part, unlike Heather’s family which had abuse involved. I do like Nancy- his children adores her, even ex-wife Heather likes her! Paul does seem to be in love and very happy too. The only gripe I have is that she is a Republican… actually I normally don't care but knowing that her family (father, sister, son, including ex-husband) are rooting for President Donald Trump, the most disgusting vile man on Earth (to be fair, I hated Trump long before he became President).
Beautifully written Jeannette - and love that you share your personal memories of what all these remarkable women have meant to you
ReplyDeleteI see that now!! So I comment it :)
ReplyDeleteIt's a lovely post, I've really enjoyed reading it :)
I'd like you to post, one day, maybe your top5 or top 10 favourite Beatle Girls of all time (1950s, 1960s, 2010s... wives, girlfriends, groupies), because the wives and some girlfriends, and the ones from the 1960s and from today's are very well known, but I'm pretty sure there are more interesting girls there. And, of course, all of them were just more than mere Beatle Girls ;)