Heather Locklear’s Ex Was Blindsided When She Filed for Divorce — Now They Reunite for Daughter’s Graduation

• Heather Locklear and her ex-husband, Richie Sambora, attended their only daughter's graduation ceremony in May 2023.
• The actress filed for divorce in 2006, but the musician did not see it coming. He was blindsided and thought he would fix everything.
• After living a difficult life for years, Heather went to rehab and returned sober before getting engaged to her current boyfriend, Chris Heisser.

Heather Locklear, a.k.a. Amanda Woodward from "Melrose Place," was recently seen with her ex-husband Richie Sambora at her daughter's graduation ceremony.

The couple tied the knot in 1994, but their marriage ended in 2007. During their time together, the couple welcomed their only child, daughter Ava Sambora.

The 25-year-old graduated with a Master's in Family Therapy from the University of Southern California this May, making her loved ones proud. Heather and Richie reunited at her graduation ceremony to encourage and support their girl.

According to a source close to the family, Ava studied family therapy because she experienced a difficult time when her parents parted ways. The insider told PEOPLE:

"She is someone who has been through a lot when her parents divorced, and each faced their own demons."

Instead of feeling sad about her life problems and complaining about them, Ava decided to use it positively. According to the source, experiencing the pain of watching her parents part ways made her sympathize with people from broken families, and studying family therapy will allow her to help them.

Heather and Richie weren't the only family members present at Ava's graduation ceremony. The singer brought his mother, Ava's grandmother, while Heathe's parents Bill and Diane Locklear were also there to celebrate their granddaughter's achievement.

Feeling proud of her daughter, Heather posted a heartfelt message on Instagram. "Such a proud mama," she wrote, lauding her daughter's "hard work and perseverance and kind heart," to which Ava replied, "I love you to the moon and back."

Richie Was Blindsided When Heather Filed for Divorce

When the news of Heather filing for divorce in 2006 came out, everyone, including Richie, thought it was big news, and the Bon Jovi guitarist said it was "completely untrue." He even said he had plans to celebrate Valentine's Day that year with his wife.

However, Heather's representative had a different story, telling the media that the actress was proceeding with the divorce legally. "This is a private matter, and there will be no further comment at this time," the "Money Talks" actress' spokesperson added.

Meanwhile, Richie still wouldn't accept that his wife had filed for divorce. At that point, the guitarist believed things would turn out to okay once he got home during his time off from work.

Regardless, the couple's divorce was finalized in 2007, and they eventually lived separate lives. Despite being away from his ex-wife, Richie still had a common connection with her―their daughter, Ava. The girl was only eight when her mother filed for divorce but later became Heather's biggest supporter.

Ava Supported Her Mother When Things Went Downhill

Now 61, the "Spin City" actress went through a rough patch in her life after her divorce from Richie. In 2008, it was reported that the actress wanted to end her life, and later that year, authorities suspected she was driving under the influence of alcohol.

In 2018, the actress got into an argument with her boyfriend, Chris Heisser, which soon turned into something unexpected after the authorities intervened. It was reported that Heather kicked them when they tried to stop her from arguing.

During that time, Ava convinced her mother to go to rehab, but that wasn't the end of the actress' problems. She was hospitalized, arrested, and stayed in a psychiatric hold while her daughter worried about her.

Instead of leaving her mother, Ava supported her during the most challenging phase of her life, including at least 20 stints in rehab.

Heather was sober in 2019 after Ava and Richie supported her during her worst days. The rock guitarist was also proud of how Ava overcame that episode in her mother's life, saying:

"I am very proud of my daughter for her composure and strength during this difficult time."

In 2020, Heather marked her first year staying sober on Instagram. And in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, she kept herself busy with activities, including cooking and gardening, with her daughter by her side.

Heather Locklear Is Engaged to Her High-School Sweetheart

After tying the knot twice, Heather is now with her fiancé, Heisser, who was once her high-school sweetheart. The couple were engaged in 2020, but they have known each other for over four decades.

According to a family friend, Richie, Ava, and other family members support Heather's decision to be with Heisser. They were excited for the actress to start a new chapter of her life.

When the news of their engagement surfaced, the actress' fans wanted to know if she would tie the knot with her fiancé, but it was reported that the couple wasn't in a hurry to get married.

The "Flying By" actress often shares photos of her family on Instagram, including her fiancé. In 2017, she shared a picture of him on his birthday and said he was her "first and final love."

We wish Heather all the best and hope she stays happy and surrounded by her loving family and friends.

Subscribe to AmoMama on Google News!