Adrienne Calhoun is best known as the first wife of boxing legend George Foreman. Even though she was connected to a world-famous athlete, she stayed very private. Many people still search her name today to understand who she was, what her marriage was like, and how her life moved forward after divorce.
Quick Bio of Adrienne Calhoun
| Bio Box | Details |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Adrienne Raye Calhoun |
| Known As | Adrienne Foreman-Jones |
| Famous For | George Foreman’s first wife |
| Birth Date | December 12, 1946 |
| Birthplace / Roots | United States; family linked to Kansas City, Kansas |
| Nationality | American |
| Parents | Richard Ellis Calhoun and Helen Thelma Herron |
| Spouse (1st) | George Foreman (m. 1971–div. 1974) |
| Spouse (2nd) | Ben Jones |
| Children | Michi Foreman (one confirmed child with Foreman) |
| Marriage Highlight | Married during Foreman’s rise to world title (1973) |
| Death Date | December 9, 2019 (age 72) |
A private woman in a public story
Adrienne Calhoun never lived like a typical celebrity. She did not chase media attention, interviews, or fame. Most of what we know about her comes from family records and a few reliable interviews. Because she stayed quiet, her story often feels incomplete online, and many websites repeat wrong details.
In truth, Adrienne Calhoun was a real person living a normal life who became part of sports history through marriage. Her name remains tied to Foreman’s early career, especially during his rise to the heavyweight championship.
Early life and background
Adrienne Calhoun was born on December 12, 1946, in the United States. Her family had roots in Kansas City, Kansas. Her parents were Richard Ellis Calhoun and Helen Thelma Herron. She also had at least one brother, Richard Delroy Calhoun.
Not much is publicly known about her childhood, schooling, or career. That is not unusual, because she lived far from the spotlight before meeting Foreman. This quiet past is one reason she remains a mystery to many readers.
How she met George Foreman
The love story of Adrienne Calhoun and George Foreman began in a simple way. They met on a blind date on August 29, 1970. A mutual friend introduced them when Foreman was already a recognized boxer.
She dated him for about 18 months before marriage. At that time, Foreman was building his name in boxing, but he had not yet reached his biggest fame. Their relationship grew during a turning point in his life.
Marriage to George Foreman
Adrienne Calhoun married George Foreman on December 24, 1971, in Texas. She became his first wife at a young age, and her life quickly changed. Foreman’s boxing career was rising fast, and the world was starting to watch him closely.
During their marriage, he trained hard, traveled often, and lived under constant pressure. Being the spouse of a heavyweight star was not easy. It meant long periods alone, public attention, and a husband focused on winning fights.
A marriage during peak boxing years
Foreman’s biggest career moment in that period was winning the world heavyweight title in 1973. This victory made him a global sports celebrity. For Adrienne Calhoun, it was also a big shift, because their private life became even more difficult.
Fame changes relationships. The boxer’s world is intense, and success creates new temptations and stress. The couple’s early years together were full of hope, but also full of challenges that many young marriages face under pressure.
Adrienne Calhoun children
People often ask about Adrienne Calhoun children. Reliable sources confirm that she and Foreman had one daughter, named Michi Foreman. Michi is known as Foreman’s eldest daughter.
Adrienne once shared that she wanted to name the baby Georgianna, a feminine form of George. Foreman disagreed then, but later named many of his children George, which she found ironic. This detail shows her personality: honest, direct, and able to laugh at life.
Divorce and the reasons behind it
Adrienne Calhoun and George Foreman divorced in February 1974. Many biographies say the marriage ended because Foreman wanted freedom and became involved with another woman. Some reports mention an affair with Pamela Clay, who later became the mother of Foreman’s oldest son.
Adrienne herself explained the breakup in a clear way. She said that after Foreman became champion, he no longer wanted to be married. He wanted to live without feeling tied down. Her words match what many athletes and partners experience when fame arrives too fast.
Life after divorce
After the divorce, Adrienne Calhoun did not disappear from Foreman’s life completely. They stayed in contact, mostly because of their daughter. Over time, their relationship moved from pain to respect.
About three years after they separated, Foreman asked her to marry him again. She refused. She felt that her life had changed and she wanted something different. That decision helped her build a new future.
Second marriage and a quieter world
Later, Adrienne Calhoun married a man named Ben Jones. She used the name Adrienne Foreman-Jones in later years. Family and friends described Ben as calm and supportive, the opposite of the loud public boxing world.
This marriage lasted for many years. She lived a peaceful life away from cameras and headlines. Most people in her daily life knew her as a mother, wife, and family member—not as a celebrity ex-wife.
Where was Adrienne Calhoun living?
In later years, Adrienne Calhoun lived mostly in Minnesota. She built a normal home life there with Ben and her family. She did not write books or do TV shows, and she rarely talked publicly about Foreman.
Her story reminds readers that not everyone connected to fame wants a public role. Some people prefer quiet respect over loud attention, and she clearly chose that path.
Adrienne Calhoun age and death
Many readers search for Adrienne Calhoun age because online sources sometimes disagree. The most reliable records show she was born in 1946 and passed away on December 9, 2019.
She died at 72 years old, only three days before her 73rd birthday. Some websites wrongly say she died in 2016, but those claims mix her up with another person who had the same name. For Foreman’s ex-wife, 2019 is the correct year.
Adrienne Calhoun now
When people search “Adrienne Calhoun now,” they often want to know her life status and legacy. She is no longer alive, but her name continues through her daughter and family line.
Her place in Foreman’s story stays important. She was part of his early life, before the world-famous grill deals and long comeback career. She saw the first version of Foreman, when he was young, hungry, and still forming his identity.
Adrienne Calhoun net worth
Another common search is Adrienne Calhoun net worth. The honest answer is that her personal wealth was never publicly recorded. Some small celebrity sites guess low numbers, but they offer no proof.
She did not live as a public businesswoman or entertainer. Her life was private, and there are no confirmed reports of large assets or major income streams. So any net worth number online should be treated as speculation.
Was Adrienne Calhoun an actress?
You may see fake claims online linking Adrienne Calhoun to Hollywood. A few low-quality sites wrongly say she acted in Hidden Figures or Creed. These statements are not true.
The official casts of those movies do not include her. Hidden Figures starred Taraji P. Henson, Octavia Spencer, and Janelle Monáe. Creed starred Michael B. Jordan, Sylvester Stallone, and Tessa Thompson. She was not part of those projects.
Clearing up rumors and confusion
Because of her common name and quiet lifestyle, many people confuse Adrienne Calhoun with others. Some websites attach the wrong photos, wrong death dates, or even false careers.
This happens often when a public figure stays private. The internet fills gaps with guesses. But the real story is simpler, and more human, than most rumors.
Her place in George Foreman’s family
Foreman had five wives in total. Adrienne Calhoun was the first. After her, he married Cynthia Lewis, Sharon Goodson, Andrea Skeete, and later Mary Joan Martelly, who stayed with him for the rest of his life.
Foreman is also known for having a large family, with 12 children and many grandchildren. Michi, the daughter of his first marriage, is part of that big family tree.
What Adrienne Calhoun’s story teaches us
The story of Adrienne Calhoun is not about drama or fame. It is about a young woman who entered a very hard world at a sensitive time. She loved a man who was becoming a global star, and she faced the costs of that journey.
Her experience shows how fame can test relationships. It also shows strength—she rebuilt her life, said no when she needed to, and chose peace over publicity.
Why people still search her name
Even decades later, people still search Adrienne Calhoun because her role in Foreman’s early life matters to boxing history. She was there before the biggest fights, before the huge comeback, and before the business empire.
She also represents a side of celebrity life that is rarely seen: the private partner who does not want fame, and who quietly moves forward when the spotlight becomes too heavy.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Who was Adrienne Calhoun?
Adrienne Calhoun was George Foreman’s first wife and the mother of his eldest daughter, Michi Foreman. - When did Adrienne Calhoun and George Foreman marry?
They married in 1971 and divorced in 1974. - How many children did Adrienne Calhoun have with Foreman?
Public records confirm one child, Michi Foreman. - Why did Adrienne Calhoun and Foreman divorce?
The marriage ended because Foreman wanted freedom, and fame added pressure to their relationship. - Is Adrienne Calhoun still alive today?
No. She passed away on December 9, 2019, at age 72.
Final thoughts
Adrienne Calhoun may not have lived as a public star, but her life still connects to a major sports legend and a key era in boxing. She was George Foreman’s first wife, the mother of Michi Foreman, and a woman who handled fame from a distance.
Curious for more? Dive deeper on our site now! News Well
