Look, if you’ve ever spent a Sunday afternoon watching the NFL on FOX, you know Terry Bradshaw. He’s the guy with the booming laugh, the self-deprecating jokes, and enough Super Bowl rings to fill a jewelry box. But behind that "Bayou Bumpkin" persona is a man who hasn't always had it easy when the cameras stopped rolling. People love to talk about his passing stats, but the question that pops up just as often is: how many times has Terry Bradshaw been married?
The short answer is four.
Honestly, Terry is the first one to crack a joke about it. He’s famously referred to his three divorces as "failures" on national television, but there’s a lot more to the story than just a number. It’s a journey that spans fifty years, from the pressure of 1970s superstardom to finding a weirdly perfect kind of peace in his 70s.
The Miss Teenage America Era (1972–1973)
Terry’s first trip down the aisle felt like a scene straight out of a 1970s rom-com that didn't quite have a script. In 1972, he married Melissa Babish. At the time, she was famous in her own right as Miss Teenage America 1969.
Imagine it: the star quarterback of the Pittsburgh Steelers and a literal beauty queen. It was the ultimate "it" couple on paper. But paper doesn't play the game.
They were young. Very young. Terry was still trying to find his footing in the NFL, facing immense pressure as the number one overall pick. The marriage lasted only about 18 months before they called it quits in 1973. Terry later admitted he was "bottoming out" during this period, struggling with depression and the weight of expectations. It was a fast start and a faster finish.
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The Ice Queen and the Quarterback (1976–1983)
A few years later, Terry tried again. This time, he married JoJo Starbuck in 1976. If you grew up in that era, you know JoJo. She was a world-class figure skater, a star of the Ice Capades, and an Olympian.
This was Terry’s longest marriage up to that point. They were together through the meat of the Steelers' dynasty years. While Terry was winning Super Bowls, JoJo was touring the world on skates.
It wasn't a lack of talent or ambition that pulled them apart; it was just... life. Two high-profile athletes with grueling schedules rarely find time to actually be a couple. They stayed together for seven years, finally divorcing in 1983, right as Terry’s playing career was winding down.
Family Life and the Longest Run (1983–1999)
Almost immediately after his divorce from JoJo, Terry married Charla Hopkins. She was his family attorney—someone who actually knew the "real" Terry, not just the guy on the Wheaties box.
This is the marriage that most fans remember because it gave Terry his two daughters, Rachel and Erin. For sixteen years, this was the bedrock of his life.
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The Daughters Who Changed Everything
- Rachel Bradshaw: A Belmont University grad and country singer who fans might recognize from the reality show The Bradshaw Bunch.
- Erin Bradshaw: A world-class equestrian who shows champion Paint and American Quarter Horses.
By 1999, however, the marriage hit a wall. The divorce was incredibly hard on Terry. He’s been very open about the fact that this third split triggered a major spiral into clinical depression and anxiety. It wasn't just about a relationship ending; it was about the fear that he was simply "bad" at being a husband. He started taking Paxil and eventually became a vocal advocate for mental health, helping to strip away the "tough guy" stigma in sports.
Fourth Time’s the Charm: Enter Tammy
For a long time, Terry was done. He didn't want the ring. He didn't want the legal documents. He met Tammy Alice (now Tammy Bradshaw) around 1999 or 2000.
They dated for thirteen years. Thirteen. They didn't live together. They didn't rush. Terry has joked that he would "run and hide for six weeks" every time he felt himself getting too close. He was terrified of "striking out" a fourth time. But Tammy didn't push. She stayed.
They finally pulled the trigger on July 8, 2014. It wasn't a massive gala. Terry basically passed her in the hallway and said, "Hey, we're getting married in Hawaii on Tuesday." She said okay, and that was that.
Why This Marriage is Different
If you watch The Bradshaw Bunch, you see a different Terry. He’s still loud. He’s still Terry. But with Tammy, there’s a visible ease.
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They’ve navigated real tragedy together, including the heartbreaking loss of Tammy’s son, Cody, in 2009. They’ve blended their families—including Tammy's daughter Lacey—into one giant, chaotic, horse-loving unit. In 2021, they even renewed their vows in Hawaii, proving that sometimes the fourth quarter is where you actually win the game.
Terry's Marriage Timeline at a Glance
- Melissa Babish (1972–1973): Short-lived, high-profile, and very young.
- JoJo Starbuck (1976–1983): The "power couple" era during the Super Bowl years.
- Charla Hopkins (1983–1999): The mother of his daughters and his longest marriage until recently.
- Tammy Bradshaw (2014–Present): The "slow burn" that turned into his most stable relationship.
What You Can Learn From Terry’s Journey
Terry Bradshaw’s marital history isn't just celebrity gossip; it’s a weirdly human look at resilience.
Most people see four marriages and think "unstable." But if you look at Terry, you see a guy who was willing to be honest about his mental health struggles and kept trying until he found a partner who actually fit his life. He didn't settle for a "broken" dynamic; he kept moving until he found the right rhythm.
If you’re looking for a takeaway, it’s basically this: don't let your past "failures" define your future capacity for happiness. Terry went from being a depressed, thrice-divorced guy hiding in his house to a happy grandfather and reality TV star who finally found his match.
The next time you hear Terry joking about his ex-wives on a Sunday morning broadcast, remember that it took him 65 years to get it right. And according to him, it was worth the wait.
Next Steps for the Interested Fan:
To see the modern side of the Bradshaw family, check out clips of The Bradshaw Bunch on E! or Peacock. It gives a lot of context to how he and Tammy manage their blended family today. You can also look into the 525 Foundation, a charity the family supports in memory of Tammy's son Cody, which focuses on substance abuse awareness.