Paul Anka’s Life in Love: A Look at His Three Marriages
Paul Anka and wife Anne DeZogheb on October 26, 1987, in New York City; Paul Anka and Lisa Pemberton on February 5, 2019, in Los Angeles, California.
Credit:
Ron Galella Collection via Getty; Hollywood To You/Star Max/GC Images
NEED TO KNOW
- Canadian singer Paul Anka, known for hits like “Put Your Head on My Shoulder,” was married three times.
- His former wives are Anne de Zogheb, Anna Åberg, and Lisa Pemberton.
- Anka shares five daughters with Zogheb and one son with Åberg.
Paul Anka’s personal life has been as notable as his musical career, marked by three marriages and the influence of romantic relationships on his songwriting.
In the 1950s, Anka captured the public’s heart with iconic songs such as “Put Your Head on My Shoulder” and “Puppy Love.” Many of his love-themed tracks were reflections of his real-life experiences with his wives.
The acclaimed songwriter had five daughters during his 37-year marriage to model Anne de Zogheb. He later welcomed a son, Ethan, with former Miss Sweden Anna Åberg in 2005. Following their divorce in 2010, Anka married Lisa Pemberton in 2016, but the couple separated in 2020.
In an interview with Express in August 2021, Anka indicated he had found love again, yet he expressed hesitation about remarrying. “No! No, no, no, no, no. You can add two more if you want,” Anka stated, jokingly noting his changing perspective.
Here’s a closer look at Anka’s three marriages.
Anne de Zogheb
Paul Anka and Anne DeZogheb on December 4, 1993, in West Hollywood, California.
Ron Galella Collection via Getty
Anka met Anne de Zogheb during a trip to Puerto Rico in 1962. They married in Paris the following year and welcomed five daughters: Alexandra, Amanda, Alicia, Anthea, and Amelia. The couple resided in New York and Las Vegas before settling in Carmel, California, during the 1970s. It was during this time that Anka wrote the famous track “(You’re) Having My Baby.”
“I loved every minute with them,” Anka wrote in his 2013 autobiography, My Way. He acknowledged the struggle of balancing his demanding career with family life: “The way I would float in and out of my girls’ lives… it was all me.”
Reflecting on their divorce, Anka referred to de Zogheb as the “love of [his] life,” attributing the marriage’s failure to his hectic travel schedule. “I did my best, but I was travelling 200 days a year,” he said.
Anne de Zogheb passed away on March 29, 2017, at the age of 74.
Anna Åberg
Paul Anka and Anna Anka attend Stand Up To Cancer on September 5, 2008, in Hollywood, CA.
ANDREAS BRANCH/Patrick McMullan via Getty
Anka’s romance with Anna Åberg began as a casual relationship but took a turn when Åberg revealed she was expecting their son, Ethan, born in September 2005. The couple married in 2008 but divorced after just 18 months. In the subsequent custody battle, Anka retained full custody of Ethan.
Åberg had a career as a model and actress before working as Anka’s personal trainer. She was crowned Miss Hawaiian Tropic of Sweden in 1993 and appeared in films like Dumb and Dumber as well as the reality show Swedish Hollywood Wives.
Åberg has since remarried and operates a wellness business in Los Angeles.
Lisa Pemberton
Paul Anka and Lisa Pemberton attend Primary Wave 13th Annual Pre-GRAMMY Bash on February 9, 2019, in West Hollywood, California.
Cassidy Sparrow/Getty
Anka began dating Lisa Pemberton in 2010 after they met at a mutual friend’s wedding. Following six years of dating, they wed in a private ceremony at the Four Seasons in Los Angeles. Anka described the event as “small, cozy and meaningful,” with his son Ethan walking Pemberton down the aisle.
Anka praised Pemberton as “a great lady” and a fellow animal lover. In his 2013 memoir, he wrote about their bond, noting, “It’s not about me anymore.” However, he later admitted to Express that their four-year marriage faced challenges. At one point, he expressed frustration, stating, “‘See this? How much longer do I have? I can’t live like this anymore!’
The marriage ended in 2020.
