Jane McDonald Reveals She Was Never In Love With Ex-Husband Henrik Brixen

Singer Jane McDonald has publicly shared that she was never in love with her ex-husband, Henrik Brixen, during their eight-year marriage. The revelation came during an appearance on the “Table Manners” podcast with Jessie and Lennie Ware.

A Marriage Lacking Affection

McDonald, 62, stated that despite the length of their relationship, she never experienced romantic love for Brixen. She expressed that the best thing he ever did was abandon the marriage. According to the Daily Mail, many observers believed the marriage wouldn’t last and McDonald admits she was the last to realize it.

Early Career and Relationship Beginnings

Jane McDonald rose to prominence through the BBC documentary series “The Cruise,” which chronicled life aboard a cruise ship. She met Brixen while working as a cruise ship singer, and he later became her manager. Hello Magazine notes this shift in dynamic significantly altered their relationship.

Changing Dynamics and Loss of Identity

In her 2019 autobiography, McDonald wrote about loving Brixen deeply at one point, but feeling as though he eventually stopped seeing her as a wife. This led to feelings of loneliness. She also described how their professional relationship, with him as her manager, transformed her into a “product,” dictating her image and career moves. “Your manager is your boss and tells you what to do, what to wear and who to be. So our relationship changed. I became a product,” she wrote.

Taking Control of Her Career

McDonald also discussed challenges she faced in the music industry, including being dropped by a record label. She decided to seize control of her career, mortgaging her house to finance albums and tours. She believes many people are afraid to take such risks, potentially losing money and giving up on their dreams. “I think so many people acquire scared, lose a lot of money and think that “this is not for me”. You either have to play the game or do it in another way,” she said.

Life After Divorce

The marriage to Brixen ended in 2003. Following the divorce, McDonald reunited with Eddie Rothe, a member of the band The Searchers. Rothe passed away from lung cancer in 2021, as reported by The Sun.