THE Dukes of Hazzard star John Schneider has married Dee Dee Sorvino 17 months after his wife Alicia Allain died from breast cancer.
They tied the knot in Las Vegas on Wednesday, their publicist confirmed, adding the “surprise” ceremony was held in “the back of a white convertible that was once owned by” R&B superstar Usher.
6
Dee Dee, 55, said “I do” to John, 64, almost two years after the death of her husband, the Goodfellas star Paul Sorvino.
Paul died from natural causes, with Dee Dee by his side, at the age of 83.
“Just when we thought our happiest days were forever behind us … we happened!” a joint statement from the newlyweds read.
Their Vegas wedding will be followed by an official ceremony on August 1 at the Hollywood Museum, where they first met in person.
Read More on John Schneider
The museum’s president and founder Donelle Dadigan said she “felt it would be appropriate” to host the ceremony, adding, “We are looking forward to celebrating Dee Dee and John, and their love for each other.”
This is John’s fourth marriage. He was previously married to former Miss America and news presenter Tawny Little from 1983 until 1986.
John, who is best known for portraying Bo Duke on the hit CBS series Dukes of Hazard, married actor Elly Castle in 1993. She filed for divorce in 2014, citing irreconcilable differences.
John, who is also a chart-topping country music star, has four children with Elly, including one biological daughter Karis.
They also share daughters Mandy and Leah, and son Chase, who Elly had from a previous relationship.
John married actress and producer Alicia “before God” in July 2019, shortly after she was diagnosed with breast cancer.
They tied the knot amid John’s ongoing divorce battle with Elly before they were legally wed several months in September 2019.
Alicia died in February 2023, as John penned an emotional farewell note in her memory.
“This is a time of unimaginable sorrow for me,” he wrote in a Facebook post. “Grief is much too small a word. I’ve heard it said that ‘with great love comes great sorrow.’ I had no idea what that meant until now. Alicia was the fuel that ran my biggest dreams.
“The inspiration behind every creative thought. The very fabric of my soul. The glue that held me together. I miss her more than any words could possibly describe,” his note read.
6
A MIRACLE
In May, John described his new relationship with Dee Dee as “a miracle,” adding he “can honestly say I didn’t want it” before she came into his life.
Speaking on Grace Begins, The Podcast, he told hosts Cathy Cardenas and Catherine Sutherland, “God sent a widower to a widow and a widow to a widower who [gets] it, who understands. Because I tell you what, I was ready to give it up, all of it – everything.”
“Then just when I thought the very notion of dating or holding another hand was repulsive, I met this one, that crazy Dame over there,” he gestured towards Dee Dee.
Since appearing on The Dukes of Hazzard, John has competed on celebrity reality shows such as Dancing with the Stars and The Masked Singer.
In an interview with People, John revealed he signed up for the singing competition because “it was one of the shows that Alicia really wanted me to do.”
“I fully expected one day for Alicia to be there to help … so when that opportunity came, I just had to kind of look toward heaven and kind of laugh because, of course, she still runs things but further away. And then, when they said, ‘We’d kind of like you to be a Donut.’
“Every Saturday, Alicia would go down to our local donut store, get me a bag of apple fritters. And I would eat one, only one, but donuts had been part of my life.
“For a long time, they were part of Alicia’s and I’s marriage and relationship. So again, they said, ‘Donut,’ and I just had to look up at the sky and go, ‘Well, of course. This is you. It’s got to be you,'” added.
He said the show gave him the opportunity to “grieve and let people know that it’s okay” adding, “Grieving is something you’ve got to do. And I liked that the Donut grieving actually is helping people who are on the same road.”
6
6
6