Jermaine Jackson‘s name is inseparable from the legendary Jackson 5, yet his personal story reveals a life as dramatic and winding as any Hollywood script. He is a father to seven kids, which underscores his complex, often turbulent journey through relationships and family. From a youthful alliance with Motown royalty to recent headlines about a much younger companion, his marital history has been as eventful as his career on stage.
Of all the Jackson siblings, Jermaine might have the most unconventional romantic path. He has been married three times and also had a significant common-law relationship. These relationships have produced a large and talented family, helping to carry the Jackson legacy into a new generation.
You Might Like: Cameron Diaz on Family First: Her Marriage and Three Children
A Musical Dynasty Begins
Jermaine’s first marriage was to Hazel Gordy, the daughter of Motown mastermind Berry Gordy. They wed in December 1973 when both were only 19 years old and stayed together for 15 years until their divorce in 1988. Together, they had three children: a son, Jermaine La Jaune “Jay” Jackson Jr. (born 1977), a daughter, Autumn Joi Jackson (born 1978), and a son, Jaimy Jermaine Jackson (born 1987). This marriage was a powerful fusion of the Jackson musical talent and the Gordy record industry empire.
However, Jermaine’s emotional story became more complicated when he started a relationship with Margaret Maldonado while still married to Hazel. She became his common-law partner, and together they had two sons: Jeremy Maldonado Jackson (born 1986) and Jourdynn Michael Jackson (born 1989). In 1995, Jermaine married Alejandra Genevieve Oaziaza. This marriage was particularly scandalous as she had been previously in a relationship with his own brother, Randy. Jermaine and Alejandra had two sons, Jaafar Jeremiah Jackson (born 1996) and Jermajesty Jermaine Jackson (born 2000), before their divorce in 2004.
Also See: John Sterling’s Family: The Voice of the Yankees, Cherished at Home
A New Chapter and a New Generation
Jermaine’s third marriage was to Halima Rashid, a Starbucks employee he met in line at a Los Angeles coffee shop in 2004. They were married just five months later in a mosque. This union was short-lived, and Rashid filed for divorce in 2016, citing irreconcilable differences. This marriage produced no kids.
Most recently, Jermaine has been in a relationship with Maday Velazquez, a Cuban model and actress who is approximately 40 years his junior. The couple announced their engagement in 2018 and are reported to have a toddler son, making Jermaine a father once again in his seventies. The Jackson family’s musical legacy continues to thrive through his sons; notably, his son Jaafar was cast to play the role of his uncle, Michael Jackson, in a major biopic, Michael. With a new son, a film on the horizon, and a sprawling network of children and exes, the Jermaine Jackson family saga shows no signs of a final curtain call.
