Richard Marx Shares How Wife Daisy Fuentes Keeps His Songs Honest with Her Tough Feedback

Richard Marx and Daisy Fuentes at the 26th Annual Latin Grammy Awards in November 2025.
Credit:

Monica Schipper/Getty

NEED TO KNOW

• Richard Marx says his new music must pass “the Daisy test,” referring to wife Daisy Fuentes.
• The couple marked their 10th wedding anniversary in December.
• Marx’s new album, After Hours, is now available.

Richard Marx has found a reliable source for feedback on his new music in his wife, Daisy Fuentes. The award-winning singer-songwriter describes her as the perfect critic for his creative process.

“She’s brutally honest, which is what you need,” Marx, 62, stated. “If something doesn’t really rock her world, she’ll go, ‘I mean, it’s good.’ And I’ll go, ‘Oh my God, that’s the worst. I’d rather you say it sucks.’ As much as I hate to hear that — and luckily it’s very rare — the few times that she has, I’ve either abandoned it or I’ve thought, ‘Yeah, if it’s not passing the Daisy test, then I have to work on it some more.’”

As partners in both marriage and music, Fuentes, 59, contributed to Marx’s latest album, After Hours, particularly on the track “Magic Hour,” where she helped him break through writer’s block with a wordless melody that had left him stumped for weeks.

Richard Marx and Daisy Fuentes in New York City in October 2025.

Michael Simon/Getty

The couple recently celebrated their 10th wedding anniversary on December 23, choosing Palm Beach, Florida, to mark the occasion, close to their home in Miami. “We weren’t going to make that big a deal of it, but we love Palm Beach,” Marx said. “It’s just a magical place for us. But yeah, we didn’t really do that much. It’s two days before Christmas, so we have a short window to get our other celebrations in.”

Despite a decade of marriage, Marx mentions that he can still count on one hand the instances where they have spent more than two weeks apart. “When she’s working, I want to go be with her, and she’s with me on tour all the time,” he shared. “We just love being together. Our joke with each other is, ‘I’m still not sick of you yet.’”

Richard Marx.

Brandon Marx

On social media, Fuentes publicly celebrated their anniversary, posting a heartfelt video with the caption, “10 years ago today I married a Rock Star. Best decision I’ve ever made. Happy Anniversary @therichardmarx ❤️.” In a similar sentiment, Marx shared, “It’s amazing how fast a decade can go by when you spend each day of it with your favorite human. Your partner in everything. Your ‘person.’ @daisyfuentes you make me happier than I ever imagined I could be. Happy 10th anniversary my beautiful love. More, please. Much, much more. ❤️🍸🌼.”

The Grammy winner’s recent album, After Hours, serves as a tribute to the classic songs that influenced him. Featuring collaborations with artists such as Rod Stewart and Kenny G, the album blends covers of timeless standards with original tracks. Marx expressed his desire to create a record that listeners could enjoy during relaxed moments. “I put on the Rod Stewart Great American Songbook albums, I put on Michael Bublé, I put on old Frank Sinatra and Dean Martin, and it makes me feel great, but I never connected those dots that I would ever do something like that,” he explained.