Tom Jones and his wife, Melinda “Linda” Woodward, shared a remarkable 59-year marriage—despite the temptations that came with his international fame.

The couple’s story began in their childhood hometown in Wales, where they met as kids and became sweethearts as teenagers. They married young, welcoming their son Mark when they were just 17.

As Tom’s music career took off in the 1960s, so did his reputation as a heartthrob. He openly admitted to having numerous affairs over the years, including high-profile flings with former Miss World Marjorie Wallace and model Katherine Berkery, with whom he fathered another son, Jonathan. But no matter the headlines, Tom always insisted Linda was the love of his life.

In 2016, Linda was diagnosed with cancer. As her health declined, she had one last request for her husband: to keep performing. In a 2020 interview, Tom recalled her words: “You must not fall with me. I have to go, but you don’t need to.”

He honored her wish by returning to the stage soon after her death. Her courage inspired his emotional 2021 song, “I Won’t Crumble When You Fall.”