Many were taken aback when they learned about Neil Young’s marriage to actress Daryl Hannah, largely due to their age difference and perceived incompatibilities, as well as the surprising timing. In August 2014, it became public that the “Old Man” singer was parting ways with Pegi Young, his wife of 36 years. Just a month later, headlines revealed Neil’s romantic involvement with Hannah, which had reportedly been ongoing for months. A source disclosed to People in September 2014 that the iconic musician was quite enamored with the “Splash” actress, who is 15 years younger than him. The couple made no effort to conceal their relationship, with Hannah even participating via Skype during Neil’s album recording sessions, where she was affectionately referred to as his “girlfriend.” Their mutual dedication to environmental causes was a strong bonding factor for the pair.
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In 2018, Neil and Hannah exchanged vows in a discreet ceremony aboard a yacht in San Luis Obispo, attended by just 100 guests. The couple was keen on maintaining privacy, instructing guests to leave behind phones and cameras as per a note from the wedding planner, according to Page Six. Neil did not publicly acknowledge their August 2018 wedding until several months had passed.
Their secretive approach meant that many fans only discovered the marriage well after the fact, sparking discussions about their perceived mismatched nature. On Reddit, users commented on their age gap and differing backgrounds, with one remarking, “FYI he’s 74 and she’s 59,” and another noting the contrast between Neil as a true artist and Hannah as a Hollywood figure. Even Neil’s close allies expressed skepticism about the union.
David Crosby, a long-time collaborator of Neil, publicly criticized his friend’s new relationship following Neil’s split from Pegi Young. Speaking to the Idaho Statesman in September 2014, Crosby harshly judged Hannah, labeling her a “poisonous predator,” as reported by People. He alluded to her glamorous reputation and their age difference, suggesting that Neil would eventually face consequences. However, in a 2015 appearance on “The Howard Stern Show,” Crosby softened his stance, though he stopped short of an outright apology. “I’m screwed up way worse than that girl,” he admitted, as reported by CBC, adding that Hannah made Neil happy, which was all he wanted for his friend.
The dissolution of Neil’s marriage to Pegi Young was a shock not only to the public but also to Pegi herself. Recalling the end of their relationship in a November 2016 interview with Rolling Stone, Pegi reflected on their challenging times but expressed disbelief that divorce was on the horizon, admitting the news had a significant shock value for her.
Neil Young and Daryl Hannah faced serious backlash for their relationship
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Following the news that Neil Young was divorcing Pegi Young, the singer’s long-time collaborator David Crosby made it clear that he disapproved of his friend’s new relationship. During an interview with the Idaho Statesman in September 2014, Crosby went scorched earth on Hannah. “I happen to know that [Neil] is hanging out with somebody that’s a purely poisonous predator now,” he told the outlet, via People. Crosby also seemingly alluded to their age difference and Hannah’s movie star good looks. “And that’s karma. He’s gonna get hurt. But I understand why it happened,” he added. The following year, Crosby walked back his statement, but fell well short of offering an apology for his harsh words about the “Kill Bill” actor. “I’m screwed up way worse than that girl,” he said on “The Howard Stern Show” in May 2015 (via CBC). “She’s making Neil happy. I love Neil and I want him happy,” Crosby added. It seemed Crosby had some issues with how Neil’s previous marriage ended.
The truth about Neil’s divorce from Pegi Young is that it came as a surprise to both the public and Pegi herself. “We were having a rough patch. But I never would’ve thought in a million years we would be getting divorced,” Pegi told Rolling Stone in a November 2016 interview that wasn’t exactly flattering to her ex. “So, yeah, there was a bit of a shock value there,” she added.
A couple of years later, Neil addressed the backlash he and Hannah had received. “We didn’t pay any attention to that. It doesn’t matter. We don’t give a s***,” he told Yahoo! Entertainment in a joint interview with Hannah in March 2018.