Axl Rose Was Once Married to Model Erin Everly: What We Know About His Ex-wife and Their Failed Marriage

Axl Rose's ex-wife, Erin Everly, inspired the famous Guns N' Roses song "Sweet Child O' Mine." However, their tumultuous relationship was far from a sweet melody. The couple called it quits shortly after tying the knot, and Everly has since been living a private life.

Axl Rose's childhood was anything but ordinary. After battling issues and growing up without proper guidance from his parents, facing problems later in life wasn't much of a surprise.

In particular, Rose found difficulty in his relationships with women, including his short-lived marriage to Erin Everly. Although the lovers were best friends, they also brought out the worst in each other.

His relationship with Stephanie Seymour was also plagued with challenges, eventually leading to a breakup. Through Rose's sometimes-controversial songs, one could tell his frustrations, including his band's famous hit "Sweet Child O' Mine," inspired by Erin.

Axl Married the Daughter of a Singer

Born on November 8, 1965, Erin had music in her blood through her dad, Don Everly, of the Everly brothers. Erin's father was one half of the duo that released chart-topping hits such as "Bye Bye Love," "Cathy's Clown," and "All I Have to Do Is Dream." However, Erin pursued a different career and became a model.

In 1986, Erin met Rose, then an aspiring rockstar, at a Los Angeles party. It didn't take long for the duo to fall in love, but they did wait a few years before tying the knot. Then madly in love, Erin inspired her lover to pen "Sweet Child O' Mine," a song that won the 1989 MTV Music Video Award for Best Rock Song.

Unfortunately, their relationship wasn't as sweet as the lyrics turned out to be. Erin even caused a public fight between Rose and David Bowie at one point.

In 1994, nine months after their wedding, Erin took legal action against her husband and filed a suit for physical and emotional abuse. Their marriage ended with an annulment.

Erin's Life after Axl

It took six years for Erin to walk down the aisle again and marry businessman Jack Portman, with whom she shares three children. She has become a protective mom who highly values the privacy of her kids and family.

Sadly, her marriage to Portman did not last, and in 2006, the couple divorced. On Erin's defunct website, she asked the public to give her family privacy and respect while she gave her children a normal upbringing.

Erin Sold a Letter Axl Wrote Her

In 2013, Erin's name made headlines as she disposed of mementos of her union to Rose. By then, it had been over two decades since they tied the knot, but people were still interested in her auction of candid photos, handwritten lyrics and exchanged letters.

In one of the letters, Rose noted that his birth name, William, was "too much to bear" and ended the writing with, "think of me when you wipe yo' [expletive]."

Some notes showed Rose's sweet side, confessing his love through a lyric-like letter, while others were apologies. One of them read, "Sorry for being so hard on you . . . you didn't do anything wrong I just became frustrated with my predicament and didn't know how to verbalize my feelings."

The memorabilia was sold through Julien's Auctions in California as part of the "Icons and Idols 2013: Rock N' Roll." In particular, Rose's letters averaged $600 to $800 for a batch. Their marriage certificate and wedding video were the most expensive items, priced at $3,000 and $2,000, respectively.

Rose was undoubtedly a rock legend and among the greatest artists of his time. He was Guns N' Roses's lead vocalist and lyricist with fans worldwide. Among those who liked his music was Black Eyed Peas member Fergie, who named her son, Axl Jack Duhamel, after the singer.