Jon Bon Jovi posted a touching tribute to his late mother, Carol Bongiovi, on Wednesday, a day after her death at 83. The Livin’ on a Prayer hitmaker, 62, shared a snippet from his band Bon Jovi’s ‘Story of Love’ music video, featuring personal home clips. “Momma. We carry you with us. Always,” he captioned the heartfelt post, along with two red heart emojis.
In the video for the ballad, the rock icon is seen playing guitar and singing in front of a wall adorned with family photos. ‘Story of Love’ features lyrics about the enduring power of love throughout life, especially within families. The track, from the band’s 2020 album, also acknowledges the inevitable loss that comes with time. The song starts out with the touching lyrics: “Fathers love daughters like mothers love sons / They’ve been writing our story before there was one / From the day you arrive, ’til you walk, ’til you run / There is nothing but pride, there is nothing but love.”
Carol died Tuesday at Monmouth Medical Center, Long Branch, New Jersey. Bon Jovi confirmed his mother’s passing in a statement to People on Tuesday; her cause of death was not immediately announced. “Our mother was a force to be reckoned with, her spirit and can-do attitude shaped this family,” the rock stalwart told the outlet in a statement. “She will be greatly missed.”
Carol, who had been nicknamed Mom Jovi by some fans of the band, was set to celebrate turning 84 in three days, according to the outlet. In the video for the ballad, the rock icon is seen playing guitar and singing in front of a wall adorned with family photos. ‘Story of Love’ features lyrics about the enduring power of love throughout life, especially within families. The track, from the band’s 2020 album, also acknowledges the inevitable loss that comes with time. Bon Jovi confirmed his mother’s passing in a statement to People on Tuesday; her cause of death was not immediately announced. “Our mother was a force to be reckoned with, her spirit and can-do attitude shaped this family,” the rock stalwart told the outlet in a statement. “She will be greatly missed.”
The family will conduct a private funeral service at Holmdel Funeral Home, People reported. Carol was the proprietor of a number of businesses, and also presided over her son’s fan club, according to the publication. A native of Erie, Pennsylvania, Carol in 1959 enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps. She met her nascent husband John Bongiovi, Sr. – who she was married to for 63 years – during her time of service. The pair subsequently relocated to Sayreville, New Jersey. They eventually wound up in Holmdel, New Jersey, according to the outlet.
Carol was also ‘a former Playboy model,’ according to a 2021 story from Asbury Park Press, and at one time ran a flower shop in Woodbridge, New Jersey with her husband. A 2005 biographical book about the singer by author Laura Jackson, titled Jon Bon Jovi, indicated that Carol had encouraged Jon’s path into music from an early age, according to Variety. She purchased him an acoustic guitar and encouraged him to learn how to play, which he got serious about in his teens, according to the memoir. The musical matriarch ‘would line up with her elder son before a full-length mirror (where) together they had fun watching themselves perform songs,’ according to the book.
The I’ll Be There for You artist in November of 2020 said that his parents empowered him and his siblings with ‘the ability to make the dream reality.’ “Even if you truly weren’t any good at your craft, if you believed you were, you could work on it,” he told The Big Issue. Carol was the proprietor of a number of businesses, and also presided over her son’s fan club; the duo seen in 2008. He added: “As I got older I realized that was a great gift that I got from my folks.” The Keep the Faith vocalist continued: “They truly believed in the John Kennedy mantra of going to the moon. ‘Yeah, of course you can go to the moon. Just go, Johnny.’ And there I went.”
In the piece, Bon Jovi said his mother and father ‘were always supportive of’ his musical aspirations, and were fine with him performing in shows at the age of 17, ‘which in retrospect, was incredible.’ Bon Jovi said: “I could get home at one or two in the morning, and have to still be in school by [8 a.m.] … they just said, ‘Show up on time for school, you know that is your responsibility, but pursue your dream.'”
Carol is survived by her spouse John Bongiovi, Sr., three sons (Jon Bon Jovi, Anthony Bongiovi, Matthew Bongiovi), three daughters-in-law (Dorothea Bon Jovi, Nina Yang Bongiovi, Desiree Bongiovi) and eight grandchildren.
Source: People, Asbury Park Press, Variety
