Jimmy Buffett was primarily known for his iconic song “Margaritaville,” which has become synonymous with a laid-back, beachy lifestyle. The legend leveraged the success of his song and ventured into business with the Margaritaville brand—a wide range of establishments, such as restaurants, resorts, and merchandise, all inspired by his music.
Aside from his stellar music career, the singer, who recently passed away, was a loving husband to his wife, Jane Slagsvol, whom he was married to for over four and a half decades. The couple has three children: Savannah Buffett, Sarah Delaney, and Cameron Marley.
Jimmy Buffett and Jane Slagsvol met in Key West, Florida
Shortly before his official divorce from his first wife, Margie Washichek, Buffett and Jane Slagsvol’s love story began in Key West, Florida, in 1971 while the latter was a student at the University of South Carolina and had traveled to the famous spring break destination. The duo met at the Chart Room bar and formed an instant and meaningful connection.
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In a 1998 interview with TIME magazine, the singer revealed that the next time he saw Slagsvol, she was “wearing a tight, long pink dress that made a lasting impression on me.”
Jimmy Buffett and Jane Slagsvol begin a family
After their initial meeting, Slagsvol made a significant life change when she moved in with Buffett, leaving her education behind. The couple married in 1977, coinciding with the rise of “Margaritaville” as a chart-topping hit with a lavish wedding held in Aspen.
Buffett and Slahsvol welcomed their eldest daughter, Savannah, who came into the world on June 1, 1979, shortly after their wedding. On April 1, 1992, the couple gave birth to their second daughter, Sarah, and their family grew further when they decided to adopt their son, Cameron, who was born in 1994.
They separated for a while during their marriage
The couple shared such a profound affection, even though Slagsvol preferred maintaining a low profile. Her influence on Buffett’s music was so significant that in 1978, the singer wrote the hit song “Come Monday” for her while he was touring in L.A., and she remained in Key West.
Despite their deepening love, Slagsvol eventually grew weary of the fast-paced rock world lifestyle, yearning for a fresh start. As a result, they briefly parted ways in the early ’80s but reunited in 1991 and remained inseparable until the legend’s death.
In an interview with Time magazine, Slagsvol revealed that the party-centric lifestyle had become overwhelming, prompting her desire for change. “I’d been with Jimmy since I was a child, through the craziest times, and I didn’t have a clue who I was,” Slagsvol confessed to the news outlet. “So I left. I got sober.”