Married couples have their own unique narratives.
Some of them have fairy tale stories, inspiring others to find their true love and have a happy ever after.
Meanwhile, others are tragic, like Jerry Lee Lewis’s marriage to his 13-year-old cousin.
For 78-year-old Myra Williams, it was like a dream.
The couple decided to get married on December 12, 1957.
For them, it felt normal.
However, in the eyes of other people, nothing felt right about their marriage.
First, Myra was just 13 years old at that time.
She also happened to be his cousin and his third wife.
To make things even more complicated, the wedding took place even before his second divorce was finalized.
In an interview with Inside Edition, Myra recalled conquering great milestones at her age.
After getting married at 13, she became a first-time mom at the age of 14.
However, she lost her firstborn child at 17 years of age. At 19, she gave birth to her second child.
She recalled:
“Yes, it was turbulent as a teenager to be a wife and mother. But in going through it, I’ve found my strength. And there’s almost nothing that can knock me off my block at this point.”
Before their marriage, the career of Jerry Lee Lewis was set to hit off.
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He was given the nickname “The Killer” and “Rock & Roll’s first great wild man.”
A songwriter and pianist, he’s considered one of the founding fathers of the rockabilly genre.
One question changed Jerry’s career.
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In May 1958, he and his team were set to go on a British Tour.
Before they left, he was strongly advised not to bring his wife to the United Kingdom. However, he didn’t listen.
Everything was going well until one reporter asked Mary who she was.
With honesty, she told them that she was Jerry’s wife.
Her answer caused Jerry’s career to hit rock bottom.
In the words of Mary,
“I was the bad thing in his life. It was because of our marriage that his career hit the pavement. You know, you were judged for everything you did back then.”
Radio stations were no longer playing his music.
Even his label stopped promoting him.
Despite what other people thought, she overcame the challenges.
She shared:
“I was called the child bride, but I was the adult and Jerry was the child. When I look back on it, how can you defend yourself when you’re 13 years old? I mean there’s no excuse good enough for that to be OK.”
When it came to her responsibilities, she said:
“I did all the work and made all the decisions and did all the running and taking care of the business and that kind of stuff.
The couple divorced in 1970.
Mary filed on the grounds of abuse and adultery.
However, they remained connected over the years because of their daughter. Mary remarried soon after.
They own a real estate company and retired from their jobs. Meanwhile, Jerry Lee Lewis passed away on October 28, 2022.
Hear more about Myra’s marriage to Jerry Lee Lewis in the video below.
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