According to TMZ , James Hetfield divorced his wife Francesca Hetfield earlier this year.
The website claims that James was the one who filed for divorce and that the couple, who were together for 25 years, had been separated for some time. This information has not yet been confirmed or denied by Hetfield or any other official source.
James and Francesca met in 1992 and married in 1997. According to TMZ , the two remain in contact and share custody of their three children: Cali , 20, Marcella , 16, and Castor , 18.
The relationship that gave rise to "Nothing Else Matters"
The marriage of James Hetfield and Francesca was, in a way, responsible for the creation of one of Metallica – the song "Nothing Else Matters," which was even described by Elton John as "one of the best ever written."
In an interview given in June 2021 , James spoke about how he felt insecure showing the song to the band for the first time because he thought his vulnerability represented a "sign of weakness".
“Why wouldn’t I want to write a love song?” he asked rhetorically. “That’s easy, it’s because it’s a huge sign of weakness. You’re in Metallica. This is hardcore. What the hell are you doing?”
“But that song was for me. It’s about being on the road missing someone who’s home, but it was written in a way that ended up connecting with so many more people. It wasn’t just about two people. It was about your connection to your personal power, many different things,” she added.
READ ALSO: Elton John moves James Hetfield by praising Metallica's song: "One of the best ever written"