David Foster has a bit of a reputation. If you’ve followed his career for more than five minutes, you know he’s the "Hitman"—the guy behind every power ballad that ever made you cry in a grocery store. But mention david foster spouse in a room full of pop culture junkies, and the conversation shifts from his 16 Grammys to his five weddings.
It’s easy to look at the numbers and judge. People do it all the time. They see a 76-year-old man married to a woman half his age and they make assumptions. But the reality of David Foster’s romantic history isn't just a list of names; it’s a weirdly fascinating roadmap of Hollywood evolution.
The Current Chapter: Katharine McPhee
Right now, in 2026, David is still very much married to Katharine McPhee. They’ve been together for years now, which honestly seems to surprise the skeptics who focused solely on their 34-year age gap. They first met back in 2006 on the set of American Idol. She was a contestant; he was the big-shot mentor.
It wasn't some scandalous, immediate spark. In fact, David actually played piano at Katharine’s first wedding to Nick Cokas in 2008. Talk about a "long game" that wasn't even a game. They were just friends for over a decade before things turned romantic around 2017.
🔗 Read more: Jason Itzler Net Worth: What Really Happened to the King of All Pimps
By June 2019, they tied the knot in London. Now, they have a son named Rennie, born in 2021, who is apparently already a drumming prodigy. They tour together constantly. If you catch their "An Intimate Evening with David Foster and Katharine McPhee" show, you’ll see them poking fun at their own age difference. It’s self-aware. It’s kind of sweet.
Honestly, she seems to be the one who finally figured out how to keep the "runner" from running. David famously admitted in his documentary, Off the Record, that when things get tough in a relationship, his instinct is to bolt. Katharine’s response? She just chases him down.
Looking Back: The Four Who Came Before
You can’t really understand his current marriage without looking at the trail he left behind. David doesn't just date; he marries. He’s a serial monogamist who seems to treat marriage like a studio session—he wants it to be perfect, and if the "track" isn't working, he moves on to a new project.
B.J. Cook (1972–1981): This was the early days. B.J. was a singer, and they were in a band called Skylark together. She was actually older than him. They had a daughter, Amy, but as David’s career exploded, the marriage imploded. B.J. once said they were a "great team, but a lousy couple."
✨ Don't miss: Pics Shania Twain: Why the Queen of Country Pop Still Rules Your Feed
Rebecca Dyer (1982–1986): This one was short. Rebecca was a model, and they had three daughters: Sara, Erin, and Jordan. If you’ve seen the show Barely Famous, you know these daughters are hilarious and have plenty of "trauma" jokes about their dad’s rotating door of wives. David admits he walked out on this marriage because he fell for someone else.
Linda Thompson (1991–2005): This was his longest run. Linda is a legend in her own right—Elvis Presley’s ex-girlfriend and the former wife of Caitlyn (then Bruce) Jenner. This marriage made David the stepfather to Brandon and Brody Jenner. They wrote massive hits together, including "I Have Nothing." It ended when David reportedly felt the "reality TV" bug starting to bite the family.
Yolanda Hadid (2011–2017): This is the one most modern fans remember. Through Yolanda, David became the stepfather to Gigi, Bella, and Anwar Hadid. This era was defined by The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills. David hated it. He didn't want to be a "househusband" on camera. Between Yolanda’s battle with Lyme disease and the pressures of the show, the marriage collapsed in 2015.
Why Does He Keep Doing It?
It’s a fair question. Why five?
Some people think it's an ego thing. Others think he’s just a romantic who believes in the "happily ever after" even when the data suggests otherwise. His daughters have been pretty vocal about the "scar tissue" left behind by his frequent exits.
But there’s a nuance here that gets missed. David Foster is a perfectionist. In the studio, he will make a singer do 50 takes of a single line to get it right. He seems to apply that same terrifyingly high standard to his personal life. If the harmony is off, he stops the recording.
What's different with Katharine? Maybe it's the music. They are both performers. They live on the road. They speak the same language of chords and melodies. Or maybe, at 76, the "runner" has just finally run out of steam and found someone who makes him want to stay in the room.
What You Can Learn From the "Hitman’s" History
If there’s any takeaway from the saga of david foster spouse updates, it’s that life isn't a linear path.
- Age is a factor, but not the only one. While the public obsesses over the 34-year gap, the couple focuses on their shared career. Having a common "mission" or passion often outweighs the differences in birth years.
- Patterns repeat until you break them. David admitted his pattern was to leave when things got hard. Acknowledging that (even on camera) was his first step toward doing something different with Katharine.
- Blended families are complicated. David has daughters who are older than his current wife. Navigating that takes a level of humor and lack of ego that most people struggle with.
If you're curious about their current dynamic, the best thing to do is watch their live performances. You can see the shift from "mentor and student" to "equal partners." They aren't trying to hide the oddity of their situation; they’re leaning into it.
The next time you hear a David Foster song, remember that the guy who wrote those lyrics about eternal love has spent fifty years trying to figure out what that actually looks like in practice. It turns out, for him, it took five tries and a lot of high-notes to find the right arrangement.
✨ Don't miss: Is Frank Sloup on the Brady List? What Really Happened With the Fridays with Frank Star
Next Steps for the Curious:
If you want to see the dynamic for yourself, check out the 2020 documentary David Foster: Off the Record. It's a surprisingly raw look at his failures and successes. Alternatively, look up the tour dates for their 2026 "Intimate Evening" show—it’s essentially a live-action version of their marriage, told through the songs that made him famous.