#2 Jerry Lee Lewis And Myra Gale Brown
We’re going from royal history to rock and roll history, though it is probably not as prevalent in the minds of people who were not following the story back in the day. Jerry Lee Lewis was known back at the height of his career for three things: his musical skills when it came to the piano, for rock and roll, and because he married Myra Gale Brown. The fact that the two married was a huge scandal and controversial enough that it almost buried Lewis’ career.
Not only was Lewis related to Myra, as they were first cousins, but she was only thirteen years old! It may seem like something people did back in the 1800s, but the two tied the knot back in 1958, which is not that far back in time. The news broke when Lewis was in the UK on tour, and it shook everyone.
This was Lewis’ third marriage (despite the fact that he was just twenty-two), and both he and his manager tried to lie and say that Myra was fifteen, two years older than her actual age. It didn’t stick with the public, and the media had a field day with the story, calling him a “cradle-snatcher,” and even the police got involved as they went to check on the child bride!
This brought about the cancellation of his tour and a famous interview where the two denied that they faced any backlash for their marriage (and the fact that they’re blood-related). Moreover, they never disclosed when they actually married and why they were back in the U.S. so soon.
4 thoughts on “9 Famous People Who Were Related and Still Got Married”
It has been documented that Jefferson and his slave Hemmings were in love. It is not fair to say he abused her. She was half sister to his former wife.
Any couple related or not, also is at risk of having a child with genetic conditions or health problems! Although taboo in some cultures, marriage between first cousins is accepted in many cultures around the world. The vast majority of children of first cousins are healthy and do not have problems due to their parents’ relatedness. It is important to keep in mind that even for an unrelated couple, there is an approximately 2-3% chance that their child is born with a birth defect, genetic syndrome, or disability.
The risk for children of first cousins is increased over this background, by about 3%. ( Not enough to forbid or look down upon )
The above information is from the “Genetic Awareness Project”
Another note of fact: Mary and Joseph were first cousins…. and though Jesus supposedly was immaculately conceived his siblings were definitely born of Mary and Joseph. If G-d sanctioned their marriage then who are we to say that such marriages are taboo?
You missed another famous couple who were cousins. FDR and Eleanor Roosevelt..
The outlaw Jesse James married his first cousin, Zerelda Mimms. She tended to his wounds from the Civil War.