Paul Anka, the iconic 1950s teen idol known for hits like ”Diana” and ”Put Your Head on My Shoulder,” has captivated audiences for decades with his smooth voice and boy-next-door charm.
Despite the ups and downs in his personal life, including three marriages, the 83-year-old icon has shown that love knows no bounds. Now in his later years, the legendary crooner has found a new girlfriend..
Paul Anka, one of the most iconic performers of the 20th century, started his incredible journey to stardom at the tender age of 14. Even at such a young age, his talent was undeniable. Not only did he captivate audiences with his smooth, soulful voice, but he also had a natural gift for songwriting.
His rise to fame came with the smash hit Diana, a heartfelt ballad about a girl he admired from church. Written when he was just 16 himself, the song shot him to international stardom and he was mobbed on the streets by pre-pubescent girls.
”I couldn’t leave my hotel because there’d be thousands of kids outside,” Anka told Billboard.
Road to stardom
Diana became the second-biggest-selling song of its time, catapulting Paul Anka into the music spotlight. But Anka’s appeal extended far beyond his voice. Unlike today’s artists who rely on heavy production and auto-tune, Anka’s voice was pure, showcasing his raw talent.
Anka, the son of a Canadian restaurant owner, was no stranger to ambition and hard work. But the path to success was far from smooth.
”I started out at a time when it was not easy to be seriously accepted at such an early age. I realized that to succeed, you have to have some sort of a grand plan and ambition – some sort of a master plan. I decided right then, when ’Diana’ became a hit, that I was going to become as successful as I possibly could in the song-writing field,” Anka told Newsday in 1982.
His classic good looks and respectful demeanor made him a standout, and he quickly became one of the most beloved teen idols of the 1950s. During an era when performers carried themselves with dignity and class, Anka embodied that spirit. He didn’t need flashy performances or special effects; his voice, facial expressions, and sheer passion for music were enough to fill concert halls with fans whose hearts he touched.
”When I was a kid, even the guys I was hanging with like Sinatra or Dean Martin, nobody came from a sophisticated background. We all got lucky and found our groove and vibe. Now I wear the hat of the guys I witnessed; you become who you see. At my age right now, I still do that,” Anka says.
As he grew older, Anka penned lyrics for some of the biggest stars of the time, including legends like Frank Sinatra and Michael Jackson.
Paul Anka’s first wife
At the pinnacle of his career, Paul Anka, nicknamed the Kid by Frank Sinatra, met ”the love of his life”, the striking blonde model Anne de Zogheb.
Anne, a daughter of a diplomat, spent her early years in Egypt before her family moved to London and Paris. Their paths crossed for the first time in 1962 in San Juan, Puerto Rico. The following year, they tied the knot in quiet ceremony at Paris-Orly Airport, just before boarding a plane to Switzerland for their honeymoon.
Though the ceremony itself was low-key, it was anything but dull when they were greeted by a throng of photographers in the departure hall. Anka was 22, and Zogheb was 20 at the time of their wedding.
Paul truly met Anne at a pivotal moment in his life. He had just lost his beloved mother, who had passed away far too young at just 37. His mother, Camelia, had suffered for a long time, and her death, attributed to complications from diabetes, occurred at a time when medical care was not as advanced as it is today.
Despite her struggles, Camelia remained a steadfast source of support and love for her son. Reflecting on her impact, Paul said, ”She was my ally. She made the difference.”
Meeting Anne during this period offered Paul a renewed sense of hope, helping him navigate through the challenging emotions of loss.The marriage lasted nearly forty years and they welcomed five daughters together, Amelia, Anthea, Alicia, Amanda and Alexandra. Through his daughter Amanda, Paul Anka is the father-in-law of actor Jason Bateman.
”I loved every minute with them, and yet for me there was always that wrenching dichotomy between my life on the road and my life with my family,” Paul Anka said in his 2013 autobiography, My Way and continued: “The way I would float in and out of my girls’ lives, trying to attend their school recitals, falling asleep in the middle of a performance and Anne nudging me”.
For many, the separation of Paul Anka and Anne de Zogheb in 2000 came as a surprise. The couple had been together for what felt like an eternity.
However, Paul Bloch, Anka’s publicist, downplayed the drama, describing the split as ”very amicable” and said that they remained ”the best of friends.”
”I did my best, but I was travelling 200 days a year,” Paul Anka said of the divorce.
Sadly, Anne died on 29 March 2017 in Hollywood, at 74.
Married his personal trainer
In 2008, Paul Anka fell in love again, this time with his personal trainer, Anna Åberg. She was also a former Miss Sweden and the couple tied the knot in Sardinia, Italy.
They welcomed a son, Ethan Anka, together, but the relationship began to show signs of strain.
Their relationship faced significant turbulence, culminating in 2009 when Paul Anka filed for divorce. The conflict escalated after Anna fired one of their housekeepers, leading to a heated argument. Anna also accused Paul of threatening her with a gun, prompting police involvement. In response, Paul filed a lawsuit against her.
“It was just a casual encounter,” Paul Anka described his relationship with Anna Anka. “And I was informed a few months later I was having a child.
“I rose to the occasion and married her, but we divorced after 18 months.”
Following their divorce, Anna lost custody of her son after a long and heart-wrenching custody battle. Anna, who is Swedish, frequently speaks to Swedish media and appears far from happy with not being able to see her son.
“Paul has now sold the house; he lives just a few minutes away from me. He put it on the market because he wants to move away. It’s because Ethan has turned 18 now, so Paul is scared. Now he can’t hide behind lawyers and courts; Paul can’t do anything to stop Ethan from coming to me if he wants to,” Anna Anka said in the podcast Melodies of life.
Third wife
After the turmoil with his second wife, Paul Anka was single for a short period. However, in 2010, he began dating Lisa Pemberton, a 12-year-younger actress whom he had met at a party.
The couple married in 2016 in a lavish and intimate ceremony at the Four Seasons Hotel at Westlake Village in Los Angeles.
The wedding was attended by high-profile guests, including film producer Brian Grazer and Warren Buffet, one of the most successful investors of all time.
Although they did not have children together, Lisa Pemberton helped raising her ex-husband’s son, Ethan Anka. When Paul and Lisa tied the knot, the 11-year-old Ethan walked his stepmother down the aisle.
“He’s a cool little guy and my only son,” Paul told People and added:
“I wanted to make him be a part of it.”
Unfortunately, the marriage with Lisa Pemberton also did not work out. The couple divorced in 2020, after some rocky years.
“One day I pulled out my birth certificate and said, ‘See this? How much longer do I have? I can’t live like this any more!’,” Anka said in 2021.
New girlfriend
Since 2021, Paul Anka has found love again with the younger Michele Kahl. Although he’s openly shared about his happy relationship, he’s made it clear that he doesn’t plan to marry again.
While Paul hasn’t gone into details about Michele, it’s evident from her Instagram that she’s the one he’s referring to. She frequently posts pictures of them together, and their happiness is clearly visible to all.
As for his career, Paul Anka, 83, continues to shine. During the summer of 2024, he wrapped up his celebrated “Seven Decades Tour,” which honored his remarkable seven decades in the music world.
Anka’s remarkable ability to write, compose, and perform has earned him a spot among the greatest musicians of all time. His legacy as a trailblazer in pop music is sealed, and even now, fans from every generation can appreciate his work.
”Suddenly I’m 80 years old and I’ve got 16-year-olds screaming, stopping me in the street, clamouring for my autograph,” he says.
”When I started out at 16 I could never have imagined I’d still be performing at 80. I started at the bottom of this mountain with nothing, crawling along the road to success, praying every second just to stay where I was.”
Secret to longevity
At 80-plus years old, Paul Anka is still going strong, both in his personal life and on stage. But let’s not forget, this legendary singer has lived a life few can imagine.
He’s seen the world of showbiz up close — the hot chicks, champagne on ice, gold-plated pink Cadillacs, and sharkskin suits were all part of the scene during his rise to fame. He witnessed it all firsthand, rubbing shoulders with the Rat Pack.
“With all the Rat Pack experience, I came away from it not being a heavy smoker or drinker because I saw what it did to them,” Anka told AARP.
As a junior member of the Rat Pack, Paul Anka had an inside view of their world. After shows, the Rat Pack would drink and gamble until 4 or 5 a.m., which wreaked havoc on their voices.
It made the young Paul Anka reconsider his choices, and he embarked on a different, healthier path.
The legendary singer now credits his longevity to a disciplined routine of staying active, eating well, and keeping a positive mindset. He focuses on a balanced diet and regular exercise is also part of his daily routine. Quitting smoking, as Anka did, has also been helpful.
“Eating properly and exercise, and mentally keeping myself in the right place with the right kind of pressure: It’s worked for me. I’ve been protective of my body for the last 40-some years. If you do that, and stay active, you got a shot at having a real, unfettered life, and keeping the brain working,” he says.
At the same time that he witnessed the decadence of his colleagues, he still speaks very fondly of the legends in the Rat Pack today.
”Frank Sinatra: the best all-around entertainer ever, with great charisma. Sammy Davis: the most talented entertainer in the dynamics of what he was able to do. Dean Martin: a loveable guy who was a better singer than anyone ever gave him credit for. But Sinatra was, without a doubt, the guy,” Paul Anka told Bjtonline.com.
Paul Anka net worth
According to Celebrity Net Worth, Paul Anka is a very rich man. His estimated net worth is around $80 million. Absolutely, the bulk of Paul Anka’s fortune comes from his life as a legendary artist, songwriter, and occasional actor.
But what many might not realize is that Anka is also a savvy businessman who’s dabbled in a variety of ventures over the years. He’s not just a music icon; he’s had his hand in everything from owning a private jet leasing company in the 1970s to being a part-owner of the Ottawa Senators hockey team in the 1990s.
As Paul Anka himself has put it, he’s ”90 percent work and 10 percent genius.”
It’s heartwarming to see that Paul Anka continues to thrive, embracing life with a renewed sense of joy and contentment. His relationship with his new and gorgeous girlfriend adds another layer of happiness to his life.
Paul Anka’s story reminds us that even amidst the glitz and excess of fame, it’s possible to chart a course that stays true to one’s values and dreams.
We are grateful for the unforgettable memories and iconic songs he has gifted the world over the years. Here’s to many more years of inspiration and melody!
