Joan Bennett Kennedy, best known as the former wife of late Senator Ted Kennedy, died in October 2025. She was 89. The late musician and advocate lived a life away from the spotlight following her and Ted’s divorce in the ’80s. However, as a former member of the extensive Kennedy family, she remains a recognizable name.
Below, News47.us has compiled five facts about Joan, her marriage to Ted and her life.
Joan and Ted separated in 1978 but didn’t legally split until 1981. They finalized their divorce in 1983.
My aunt, Joan Kennedy, mom to my cousins, Teddy and Patrick Kennedy, passed away this morning. Not only was she a mom, but she was a grandmother too. She was an accomplished pianist, an arts advocate, and a beautiful soul. She valiantly shared her struggle with addiction so that… pic.twitter.com/mQigdGStSb
— Maria Shriver (@mariashriver) October 8, 2025
The former couple’s marriage was plagued by Ted’s extramarital affairs and Joan’s drinking struggles, which resulted from living a life under a microscope.
Joan was an open book about her drinking habits. After she and Ted separated in 1978, she spoke with People about her struggle with alcoholism.
“At times, I drank to feel less inhibited, to relax at parties,” she told the publication at the time. “Other times, I drank to block out unhappiness, to drown my sorrows.”
