EAGLE COUNTY, COLORADO: James Hetfield, the lead singer of Metallica, has filed for divorce from his wife Francesca after 25 years of marriage.
Sources close to the couple have told TMZ that the divorce was filed in Colorado earlier this year. In 1997 the two married.
Because the former couple wanted to keep the news to themselves, the court filings were never released. Insiders say the couple are still in touch and are still looking after their three children, Castor, 18, Cali, 20, and Marcella, 16. The musician reportedly lived in Vail, Colorado, which is also where Francesca grew up.
At an event (left to right) CastorHetfield, Marcella Hetfield, James Hetfield and Francesca Hetfield. Hetfield, 59, has said in the past that his soon-to-be ex-wife, 52, has helped him cope with his anger and drinking problems. (Photo by Neilson Barnard/Getty)
What is the name of Francesca Hetfield?
Francesca Hetfield is an American costume designer. She was born on January 27, 1970 in the province of Rosario, Argentina. After graduating from high school, she got a job as a waitress at a bar near where she lives. She didn’t go to college to learn more. At the age of 23, she began working in costume making.
Francesca and James Hetfield
James and Francesca met in 1992 and married in 1997. They have a boy and two girls. Several people said she met her husband James while she was working as a designer for his heavy metal band Metallica. James has said his wife has helped him through tough times, including his trouble controlling his anger.
People say James Hetfield has been sober since 2002. He had previously said that Francesca helped him deal with his own issues in a “constructive” way. In 2005, the actor told NPR that his wife helped him “grow up” when he stopped using drugs and dealt with his anger issues in “straightforward” ways.
In 2016, the musician said on The Joe Rogan Experience that he entered rehab because he was afraid of losing his family. “Fear was a big part of why I did this. What scared me the most was the loss of my family. I hit rock bottom when I realized my family would leave me because of the things I did along the way.” He added, “My wife kicked me out of the house, so I was living alone somewhere. I didn’t want that to happen. [My wife] did the right thing kicking me out of the house which scared me to death. She said, “Hey, you’re not just going to take this up with your therapist. You have to go somewhere and find out what’s going on.” So that’s exactly what I did.”
Francesca was Hetfield’s first wife and sometimes toured with him. The couple has yet to tell anyone about their divorce.