The Enduring Story of George Foreman and Adrienne Calhoun

In Shorts: 

• Adrienne Calhoun was George Foreman’s first wife. When Foreman married Adrienne Calhoun in 1971, the 1953-born woman became part of their lives. Their marriage changed the great boxer’s life.
• George Edward Foreman, a former boxer, businessman, clergyman, and novelist, married Andrea Skeete. Two heavyweight world titles and an Olympic gold. The fourth wife of George Foreman is Andrea.
• Adrienne Calhoun heavily supported George Foreman early in his career. Calhoun quietly overcame the hurdles of marrying a sports legend while Foreman rose in boxing.

The two-time world heavyweight champion George Foreman was a ladies’ man. He married five women. The boxer was married intermittently. George Foreman’s ex-wives were Adrienne Calhoun, Cynthia Lewis, Sharon Goodson, and Andrea Skeete. He married Mary Joan Martelly. Surprisingly, the boxer has 12 kids. Many of you may not know George’s ex-wives or current wife like you know the boxer. Let’s start the article now.

George Foreman Bio

Foreman’s First Ex-Wife, Adrienne Calhoun

They met on a blind date on August 29, 1970. A man friend of Adrienne introduced us to the former boxer. The ex-couple married in 1971 after 18 months of dating. Michi Foreman and George were their other children. Adrienne felt she would be married forever because her parents were divorced. However, George wanted to be a world champion and play.

Author Cynthia Lewis Foreman

George Foreman married Cynthia Lewis in 1977, his second wife. Two of her novels are published. Her book “You Can Run… But You Can’t Hide: The Secret Diary of My Life with George Foreman” is on Good Reads. The unpublished book “Bruised But Not Broken: The Cynthia Foreman Story” recounts a woman’s rehabilitation from childhood trauma. George left her in 1979 after a short, miserable marriage. George also disputed Jasmine Christina Foreman’s claims of being his daughter in 2002. It came from his marriage to Cynthia. Blood tests showed he wasn’t her father.

Low-key divorce and settlement

Unfortunately, Adrienne and George divorced amicably in 2002 after 16 years. While the reasons were hidden, George’s born-again Christianity and Adrienne’s spiritual path may have diverged. Adrienne was entitled to $12.5 million based on George’s financial wealth and child and spousal support under California law. The deal granted Adrienne primary physical custody of their five kids and three girls, including their Texas and California houses and assets. This kept the kids together while George worked and married again.

Post-George Foreman life

Adrienne raised her eight children in California as a single mother after divorcing George Foreman. Nearly ten years ago, she quietly divorced George. Adrienne seemed happy with her huge family and private life. Despite their brief engagement, Adrienne Calhoun supported George Foreman during his boxing return as his wife, business counselor, and mother to their numerous children.

In 2019, Adrienne Calhoun died.

Everyone knows death is inevitable. Unfortunately, Adrienne Raye Foreman-Jones, alias Calhoun, died of natural causes on December 9, 2019. She had three days till her 73rd birthday. Her spouse Beniver Jones, her partner for almost twenty years, Brian Herron, her cousin Delroy Calhoun, her eldest brother, and daughter Michi, whom she shared with the former boxer, survive her. At 621 Elwood Ave N Minneapolis, Zion Baptist Church, her family church, hosted Calhoun’s farewell event on December 21. People loved her when she was alive.

What is the starting point for Calhoun and their ex-husband George Foreman?

Calhoun’s friend set them up on a blind date on August 29, 1970, even though she had a boyfriend. The matchmaker stated Foreman was in town and needed a date. Calhoun agreed since her boyfriend was a nobody. Some know what happened next: the ex-pair hit it off. After 18 months together, they married in December 1971.

Proposal for Second Marriage

Calhoun was upset because she believed she would be married forever, but she forgave her ex-husband. George asked her to marry him again three years later, but she said, “Are you kidding?” she knew he would divorce her again from that time. Foreman told a buddy after she declined his proposal.

Meet The Daughter of Adrienne Calhoun

Her daughter Michi sings and performs. She was born in Houston, Texas, in January 1983. Based on her father’s life, her painting was included in the TV movie Relatively Speaking: George Foreman. In addition to performing arts, she is an activist for education for all. Calhoun and Foreman remained friends after parting ways. She called her ex-husband whenever she had daughter issues. Despite their failed marriage, Adrienne’s life went out nicely. She married Beniver Jones, her second husband, and lived with him for life.

Andrea Skeete and George Foreman’s Daughter, Freeda Foreman, Suicided

George Foreman and Andrea Skeete married in 1982. They have two children, Freeda and George Foreman III. After three years, their marriage ended in 1985. The family was devastated when Freeda Foreman died on March 9, 2019, in Houston, Texas. Andrea and her family suffered. Andrea also told reporters about her daughter’s death. Her expression showed anguish as she discussed Freeda Foreman. Freeda Foreman’s two daughters with Eric Carr are Andrea’s grandchildren. Andrea is the great-grandmother of three gorgeous kids.

Three-Decade Marriage to Mary Joan Martelly

The third time is the charm, but the great boxer got it the fifth time. After divorcing Andrea Skeete, George Foreman married Mary Joan Martelly in 1985. The couple has five children: Natalie, Leola, George VI, George IV, and George V. After four wives, George discovered his soulmate. George and Mary Joan have been together for almost 30 years.

 Andrea Skeete’s Career

Andrea Skeete’s career remains unknown since she rarely appeared in the media. However, about her husband George Edward’s career:

Former boxer, entrepreneur, clergyman, and author George Edward Foreman is American. From 1967 until 1997, he competed. Two heavy-weight world titles and an Olympic gold. After a rough childhood, George tried amateur boxing and won the 1968 Summer Olympics heavyweight title. He defeated unbeaten Joe Frazier in the second round to win the heavyweight world title in 1973. After two successful championship defenses, he lost to Muhammad Ali in his professional debut in the 1974 Rumble in the Jungle. After failing Jimmy Young in 1977, George retired, not winning another title.

Instead of defending the WBA championship, he handed it up after defeating Axel Schulz. On June 28, 1995, Foreman relinquished the IBF championship. He was the oldest world heavyweight champion at 46 years, 169 days. He was the second-oldest boxer in any weight class behind Bernard Hopkins and the most senior heavyweight champion. He is also the oldest heavyweight boxing world champion. He retired at 48 in 1997 with 76 victories (68 knockouts), five losses, and no draws.

Marriage Odyssey: George Foreman

After his divorce from Adrienne Calhoun, George Foreman had many marriages, adding to his complex personal life.

1. Cynthia Lewis

Foreman’s second marriage in 1977 produced Georgetta. The marriage was short, and they divorced in 1979.

2. Goodson Sharon

Goodson’s third marriage to her lasted less than a year, and his personal life is unknown. No children were born to the couple.

3. Freeda

Foreman’s subsequent marriage, which occurred the same year as his divorce from Goodson, resulted in two children: Freeda and George Foreman III. They divorced in 1985.

4. Martelly

Martelly Foreman’s next and longest marriage started in 1985. Though Martelly keeps a quiet profile, the couple has five children: Leola, Natalie, George IV, George V, and George VI.

Note: Despite marital difficulties, Adrienne Calhoun was vital to Foreman’s quest. Her private life was kept from the media; therefore, her professional past is unclear. Calhoun is most known as George Foreman’s first wife, Olympic gold medalist, and fighter. 2016, Adrienne Calhoun passed away, leaving a legacy as George Foreman’s first wife and a boxing icon’s first lady. Despite their brief marriage, she helped shape Foreman’s early years via separation and reunion. Their capacity to set aside their disagreements and be friends shows their deep relationship.

Legacy Of George Foreman

From 1967 until 1997, George Foreman became the oldest heavyweight champion and won an Olympic gold medal. His commercial and literary successes matched his two heavyweight world titles, leaving a tremendous legacy. Foreman has a $300 million net worth, mirroring his boxing prowess. Adrienne Calhoun is crucial to the plot as we explore Foreman’s relationships and shape him. Her 2016 death ended a chapter and left a legacy beyond her brief marriage to a boxing great.

Conclusion

The enigmatic Adrienne Calhoun was a loving spouse to George Foreman throughout his second wave of championship glory in the 1990s and a caring mother to their eight children when their marriage ended. Her early hardships made her cautious and realistic, complementing George’s bombastic and risk-taking style over 16 years together. Though forgotten, intelligent study shows Adrienne’s essential effect on world heavyweight champion George Foreman’s career in and out of the arena.

FAQs

1. Do you know Adrienne Calhoun’s love story with George Foreman?

Adrienne Calhoun and George Foreman met on a blind date on August 29, 1970. They married in 1971 after 18 months of dating after a friend introduced them. After her parents split, Adrienne believed in eternal marriage, but George’s desire to become a world champion led to their breakup.

2. Say Something About Cynthia Lewis Foreman: Marriage, Memoir, Dispute

In 1977, George wed Cynthia Lewis Foreman, his second wife. Cynthia’s published and unpublished memoirs detail her life with George. Short and unpleasant, their marriage terminated in 1979. In 2002, George disputed Jasmine Christina Foreman’s paternity claims, which blood testing disproved.

3. What Do You Know About Adrienne Calhoun’s Low-Key Divorce and Settlement?

Adrienne and George split peacefully in 2002 after 16 years. The causes are unknown, but George’s born-again Christianity and Adrienne’s spiritual journey diverged. Adrienne got a $12.5 million settlement with primary custody of their children and spousal maintenance, keeping family unity in Texas and California.