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In a culture filled with celebrity breakups that flood our feeds, it’s refreshing to celebrate couples who have successfully navigated the storms of a relationship.
RELATED: End of the Road: 24 Famous Couples That Split In 2024
From the glitzy world of Hollywood to the realm of music, these iconic duos have shown that love can not only survive, but flourish under the glaring lights. These are relationships demonstrate that love, respect, and perseverance are the cornerstones of enduring partnerships. While no relationship is perfect, these couples remind us that true love is worth fighting for, even in the spotlight. Whether through shared goals, open communication, or unwavering support, their stories offer timeless lessons on the art of lasting love.
Here’s a look at 20 couples who have been going strong for two decades or more, serving as a signal of hope that real love stands the test of time.
20 Famous Couples Who’ve Been Together 20 Years or More was originally published on ronemajic945.staging.go.ione.nyc
1. Denzel and Pauletta Washington
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The Washingtons jumped the broom in 1983. But that’s after, how John David Washington put it so clearly, Pauletta supported Denzel as he struggled to become an actor. John explained to TODAY, “Before they got married she was on Broadway working. She paid for their first date; she paid the bill; she paid the cab ride.” Adding, “My father taught me to hunt; my mother taught me to love.” What else do we need to say?! We stan for the entire Washington family.
2. Nicole Parker and Boris Kodjoe
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Nicole and Boris met on the set of the TV series ‘Soul Food.’ They have been married since 2005 and have two children. She gave birth to their first child, Sophie, on March 5, 2005. Sophie has spina bifida, which was diagnosed at birth. Parker gave birth to their son Nicolas in October 2006 in Atlanta, Georgia.
3. LL Cool J and Simone Smith
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Way before Love and Hip-Hop, Simone Smith was the O.G. rapper’s girlfriend except with a dose of true love. Simone and LL met when they were only teenagers after being introduced through her cousin. But age didn’t stop this love from blossoming. The couple went on to get married in 1995, have four children and stay united through Simone’s bone cancer diagnosis in 2004.
While we’re at it, we also want to salute two other hip-hop couples who have stood the test of time: Ice Cube and his wife Kim; as well as, Snoop Dogg and Shante Broadus.
4. Spike Lee and Tonya Lewis Lee
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Spike and Tonya met at the Congressional Black Caucus Weekend in Washington, D.C. They have been married since 1993 and have two kids. Spike and Tonya have two children — a daughter Satchel born in 1994 and a son named Jackson born in 1997.
5. Larenz and Tomasina Tate
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Larenz and Tomasina were married on November 30, 2006 but before jumping the broom, dated for several years. The pair reportedly were introduced at Jamie Foxx’s party. The Tate’s now have 4 children.
6. Morris Chestnut and Pam Byse
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It can’t be easy being married to a certified heartthrob. Women and men have been fawning over Morris since first seeing him on screen in 1991 in Boyz n the Hood. Pam shut it down just four years later and Morris says he knew she was the one for a very special reason. He told Essence, “And when I met my wife, there were a lot of qualities I was paying attention to. I knew that she would be a great mother just for how she cared for her nephew and her family. She respected her mother and she respected her family and those were some of the initial qualities that I saw that I thought would make her a great partner.”
7. Ice Cube and Kim Jackson
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The two met while Woodruff was in college. Ice Cube approached her first but she wasn’t feeling it. But now the couple has 4 kids together and have been married since 1992.
8. Omar and Keisha Epps
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Omar and Keisha’s secret sauce to marital joy has been fine-tuned over many years of practice. Omar would think of Keisha as “the one who got away” for a long time after their 1992 romance ended, even though they had only dated for a short time. He was in a relationship that resulted in the 1999 birth of his eldest daughter, Aiyanna, and another that he had with Love & Basketball co-star Sanaa Lathan.
Omar and Keisha’s paths would eventually cross romantically again, and they welcomed their first child, a daughter named K’marie, in 2004. This occurred in the early 2000s. Their wedding took place in 2006. They were blessed with a son, Amir, in 2007, marking their second child.
9. Sheryl Lee Ralph and Senator Vincent James
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Sheryl Lee Ralph has been married to Pennsylvania State Senator Vincent Hughes since July 30, 2005. The pair began dating after meeting through a mutual friend in the early 2000s and tied the knot in 2005.
10. Viola Davis and Julius Tennon
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Viola and Julius got married on June 23, 2003. They held two small weddings, the first in their condo with 15 people and the second in Rhode Island with approximately 100 guests.
Davis and Tennon met in 1999 on the set of the CBS drama series City of Angels.
11. Beyoncé and Jay-Z
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Beyoncé and Jay have been through a lot together over the past two decades. The fiercely private couple has been the subject of many stories and speculations about their relationship, including a hidden wedding, infidelity, smash collaborations, and parenting adventures. The pair wed in 2008 and despite all the talk, are still husband and wife.
12. Oprah Winfrey and Stedman Graham
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Oprah Winfrey is among the world’s most famous women. However, she has purposefully kept her long-term relationship with businessman Stedman Graham under wraps. For over 30 years, beginning with their 1986 meeting at a charity event, he has been Winfrey’s rock. Despite not tying the knot, the couple’s dedication to one another is evident.
13. Courtney B. Vance and Angela Bassett
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Courtney B. Vance married actress Angela Bassett in 1997. They met in the 1980s while studying at Yale University’s School of Drama. They dated for around three years before marrying.
14. Will Smith and Jada Pinkett Smith
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Will Smith and Jada Pinkett Smith tied the knot in a small ceremony in Baltimore, Maryland, on December 31, 1997. Their 1994 on-set meeting led to their November 1997 engagement on The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air. Jaden was about to be born when Jada and her husband were married.
15. LaTanya Richardson Jackson and Samuel L. Jackson
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Samuel L. Jackson and LaTanya Richardson Jackson tied the knot in 1980. One daughter, Zoe Jackson, was born to them; they met while in college. After a decade of dating, the happy couple tied the knot on August 8, 1980.
16. Barack and Michelle Obama
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The Obamas, who have established themselves as an exemplar of mutual respect and enduring partnership, have two daughters: Malia Obama, 26, and Sasha Obama, 23.
Throughout the years, they have consistently demonstrated their profound love by openly discussing their journey through marriage, parenthood, and public life. The iconic couple has been married since 1992.
17. Christopher Guest and Jamie Lee Curtis
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The beginning of Jamie Lee Curtis and Christopher Guest’s relationship was rocky.
A magazine and a phone call sparked the romance between The Princess Bride star and the Freaky Friday actress. It took a face-to-face encounter for Chris to arrange their first date, but Curtis knew he was the one right away. Six months later, they were married.
18. Matthew Broderick and Sarah Jessica
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With the exception of a handful of strategic announcements, Sarah Jessica Parker and Matthew Broderick have kept their lengthy marriage under wraps. Pippin and Toby, Parker’s brothers, introduced the two lovers to each other and they got hitched in 1997.
19. Julia Roberts and Danny Moder
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One of the most influential couples in Hollywood, Julia Roberts and Danny Moder have been married for over 20 years. The happy couple first crossed paths while filming 2001’s The Mexican and later tied the married in an intimate ceremony on July 4, 2002.
20. Rita Wilson and Tom Hanks
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The fact that they’ve been together so long is proof that lasting love is real. The pair wed in 1988, meaning that in 2025 they’ll be celebrating 37 years together as husband and wife.