The Real Reason Goldie Hawn And Kurt Russell Never Got Married
We wouldn't blame twice-divorced actress Goldie Hawn if she decided to give up on relationships for good. But the actress and Hollywood Walk of Fame recipient gave love one last shot when she met actor Kurt Russell on the set of the 1984 film, Swing Shift. Their relationship resulted in the merging of two of Hollywood's most influential and good-looking stars. They immediately became a blended family, which included Hawn's children from a previous marriage, Oliver and Kate Hudson, and Russell's son, Boston Russell. The couple then cemented their bond by having a child of their own, Wyatt Russell.
Their life together is now content and complete — oh, except for one little thing: they never got married. Not only do they oppose legalizing their union, but Hawn has made comments that bashed the idea of Russell ever becoming her husband. So what gives? Are they commitment phobes, or is there a much deeper issue?
From their kids asking them to remain unmarried, to Hawn's refusal to drop a ton of money on a wedding ceremony, here are the real reasons Goldie Hawn and Kurt Russell never got married.
Divorce would be imminent
Some couples think getting married is a perfect way to display their undying love and commitment to one another. But, for Goldie Hawn, she sees marriage as nothing more than a bunch of doom and gloom, telling Britain's Loose Women panel, "I would have been long divorced if I got married." Yikes. Why so cynical?
Next, the Overboard actress somewhat bashed those who revered the sanctity of marriage to prove her point. "If you need to feel bound to someone, then it's important to be married," she said, before adding, "If you have independence, if you have enough money ... and you like your independence, there's something psychological about not being married." Huh?! The actress went on to say that being unmarried gives people "the freedom to make decisions one way or the other."
We're not so sure Hawn's logic tracks. There are plenty of married couples who have no problem maintaining their independence. Take Will Smith and Jada Pinkett Smith, for example. They're so independent, they practically live separate lives! Okay, maybe they're a bad example, but you catch our drift, right?
They don't need marriage to make it last
Let's face it, their untraditional romance has lasted longer than most marriages in the entertainment industry. So, it's obvious Goldie Hawn and Kurt Russell know a thing or two about how to keep a relationship afloat. And Hawn said it best in an interview with Porter magazine (via Us Weekly) when she stated: "A lasting relationship isn't about marriage." Yeah, obvi!
To further expound on her thoughts about the secret to a happy romance, she added, "[A lasting relationship is] about compatibility and communication. And you both need to want it to work."
Despite making some solid points and a ton of sense during her interview, it hasn't stopped the press from hounding her and her beau about when they'll finally take that walk down the aisle. However, at this point, it's clear the veteran actress is sticking to her guns. But, who knows, she may change her mind one day!
Monogamy is 'tough'
If you think infidelity isn't an issue in the movie biz, just ask LeAnn Rimes about her thoughts on that subject. Having a slew of fans, groupies, and hot co-stars makes staying faithful nearly impossible for some entertainers. And since Goldie Hawn has been a successful actress for decades, she knows just how difficult it can be to stay on the straight and narrow. She once told People magazine: "Monogamy is a very tough order." Hmm... is she speaking from experience?
According to an insider, cheating has allegedly been an issue in their relationship. "There was infidelity on both of their parts. Goldie admits that she and Kurt both went off course," the source told Closer Weekly, adding that the cheating led to the couple splitting up for a brief period of time.
Granted, getting cheated on sucks whether you're married or not, but maybe Hawn thinks that if she and Kurt Russell remain unmarried, giving in to their temptations is A-okay every now and then? Who knows.
She's been there, done that
Before Kurt Russell swept her off her feet, Goldie Hawn had been married twice — to Gus Trikonis and Bill Hudson. Therefore, she knows a thing or two about marriage... and divorce.
"Basically, once you've done it once, once you've done it twice, you realize that marriage, or the act of marrying, has nothing to do with the success," she said during an episode of Chatty Man (via People magazine).
Because the Death Becomes Her star has gone through two failed marriages, her hesitance to become a bride once again is understandable, no? Instead of getting wrapped up in another failed romance, Hawn has adopted a different approach when it comes to her relationship with Russell. "The wake-up call every day is, 'Do I want to be with this man?" she continued, adding, "Do I want to be in this relationship? Am I willing to give something? How can it flourish and do I want to be there?' ... Any marriage, any ceremony, any ring will not define that truth."
Their kids snatched away the idea
Early on in their relationship, Goldie Hawn and Kurt Russell actually discussed taking the plunge during a conversation with their children — including Hudson's daughter and fellow actress, Kate Hudson (pictured) — Hawn told the panel at Loose Women. And guess what? When they asked the kiddos if they wanted mommy and daddy to get married, the answer was a resounding "no!"
Maybe Hawn is using her kids as a cop-out, or maybe not. On the other hand, it's possible their children witnessed some of their parents' failed marriages first hand, and they didn't want to go through the stress of watching yet another marriage implode. Decades after that family convo, Hudson is still a huge fan of her mama and pa's unorthodox relationship, which was evident by the amount of gushing she exuded on a social media post in honor of Hawn and Russell's 34th anniversary.
"Love you madly, deeply, profoundly," Hudson wrote to Hawn and Russell, addressing them as "Mama Goldie and Pa." Aw!
She refuses to go overboard with a lavish ceremony, but she'll wear a diamond ring!
Kim Kardashian and Kanye West spent an estimated $2.8 million on their wedding, while Donald and Melania Trump shelled out an estimated $1 million on theirs, according to E! News. Our point is: celebrity weddings can get pricey. Very pricey. When you add up the cost of the bride's dress, flowers, the venue, and a delicious cake, the final bill can be staggering. Thankfully, it ain't no thang but a chicken wing for most famous people to plop down a load of cash to make their wedding day as memorable as possible, but this is something Goldie Hawn isn't down for.
Hawn told Oprah Winfrey in a 1991 interview that she refused to spend millions on a wedding, adding, "I'd rather take that money and give it to abused children." Bravo, Goldie! Though an elaborate and extravagant ceremony and reception many not be in the cards for this couple, Hawn did show off a massive diamond ring Russell had given her, while announcing that they also took part in a meaningful non-wedding ceremony.
It's all about 'not losing yourself'
Goldie Hawn and Kurt Russell have built a great life together, and they've settled into a lovely routine that now includes their children and grandchildren. Relationship goals abound, Hawn gave out a sliver of advice on how she has managed to keep their love strong sans wedding ceremony in an interview with Porter magazine (via Huffington Post). "Intention is the key," she said. "It's also about not losing yourself in each other. Being together, two pillars holding up the house and the roof, and being different, not having to agree on everything, learning how to deal with not agreeing."
Okay, that's great and all, but why won't these two just make it official already? Would it really be the kiss of death if they just waltzed down to their local courthouse and officially became husband and wife? In the end, it sounds like Hawn is afraid that marriage may strip her of her identity, and though we have a much clearer idea on why they never got married, it doesn't change the fact that their non-traditional romance is still a fairytale in its own right.