John Lennon’s love story with Yoko Ono remains one of the most talked-about romances in music history. After leaving his first wife, Cynthia Lennon, and their son Julian, John married Yoko in 1969. The two quickly became inseparable — artistically, politically, and personally. Yoko, already an avant-garde artist, became a pop culture figure in her own right, collaborating with John on his 1971 masterpiece Imagine.
Following the breakup of The Beatles in 1970, Yoko was unfairly vilified by some fans who blamed her for the band’s split. Still, she and John grew even closer, using their platform to advocate for peace and social justice. They famously staged their “Bed-Ins for Peace” in 1969 to protest the Vietnam War and later supported the feminist movement and the Equal Rights Amendment in the early 1970s. In October 1975, the couple welcomed their son Sean Lennon, solidifying their bond as both partners and parents.
Tragically, their story was cut short when John was fatally shot by Mark David Chapman outside their New York City apartment on December 8, 1980. Despite the unimaginable loss, Yoko has spent the past four decades preserving John’s legacy through her art, activism, and charitable work. In 2025, Yoko celebrated her 92nd birthday, continuing to inspire generations with her resilience and creative spirit.
Scroll through the gallery to look back at John and Yoko’s iconic—and enduring—love story.
