Valerie Bertinelli on the cover of PEOPLE in 1981; Bertinelli in 2024.Photo:John Russo
John Russo
Valerie Bertinellihas beengracing the coverof PEOPLE for over 40 years.
This week’s cover star was just 21 when she made her first appearance on the front page in 1981. The youngOne Day at a Timestar hadmarriedEddie Van Halenseven months earlier and posed with him for the story.
Valerie Bertinelli on the cover of PEOPLE in 1981.
“I still have those cowboy boots, and I love them!” she says of the shoes she wore for the photo shoot.
Bertinelli and Van Halen cuddled up, rode bikes and shared a smooch while painting a deck in the nostalgic pictures.
Valerie Bertinelli in PEOPLE in 1981.
The two divorced in 2007. In hermost recent cover story, she opened up about Van Halen, whodied in 2020 at age 65, after a long battle with throat cancer.
“The grief is that he can’t be here to see Wolfie flourish,” she said oftheir only child, Wolfgang, 33, a Grammy-nominated songwriter and bass guitarist whose band, Mammoth WVH, is now on tour. “There was so much more to explore as parents of this wonderful son.”
“Every time I’m at a show with Wolfie, I just imagine holding Ed’s hand, saying, ‘Can you believe this is happening?’ It’swistfulthinking,” she added. “I don’t wish that Ed and I had gotten back together. It was wistful because of what we had but couldn’t sustain.”
Wolfgang also wrote a poignant essay for PEOPLE. “She’s the only parent I have, so it’s important to make that time count because it doesn’t last forever,” he said. “I wish I could have spent more time with my dad — he’s the reason I do what I do — but I can’t. Icanspend time with my mom, and it’s the best. She’s the best.”
Valerie Bertinelli’s 2024 cover.John Russo
PEOPLE is looking back on memorable features in honor of the 50th anniversary. The magazine partnered withFotografiska New Yorkto launchits first-ever museum exhibition.
TitledPEOPLE: Celebrating 50 Years, the exhibit will open in New York City on May 9, 2024, and feature archival covers, multimedia elements and interactive opportunities for visitors to turn themselves into a PEOPLE cover star.
To purchase tickets,click here.
source: people.com
