MOST people probably think that being friends with an ex is never truly possible.
Unless you’re a celebrity, it seems.
We revealed yesterday how Rod Stewart joined his wife Penny Lancaster AND ex-wife Rachel Hunter to celebrate his son Liam’s wedding in Croatia.
Penny, 53, and Rachel, 54, beamed as they posed together at the lavish ceremony alongside Rod and Rachel’s daughter Renee, 32. Rock legend Rod, 79, was joined by all eight of his children – from five mothers.
Posting the pictures online, Rachel, who is also mum to groom Liam, 29, said: “Literally no words other than high vibe energies when two families and friends come together to celebrate this incredible union.”
Here, Emma Pietras delves into other cases in the celebrity Ex Files . .
ROCKER Rod, who has been married three times, tied the knot with second wife, Kiwi model Rachel, in 1990, just three months after meeting the then 21-year-old in a Los Angeles nightclub .
The couple had two children before Rachel ended their marriage nine years later.
He said at the time: “I couldn’t believe it. I was a rock star.
“You don’t dump a rock star! It knocked me for six. It was a huge shock.”
But he met Penny, a model and photographer, days later and they married in 2007, a year after his divorce came through.
The couple have two sons, Alastair, 18, and Aiden, 13.
Speaking on Loose Women in 2017, Penny revealed she had become friends with Rachel, despite their earlier differences.
She said: “Rachel and I, over the years, we’ve grown up and both have a lot more in common now.
“We sit and chat and we’ve got over that silly period ten , 15 years ago.
“It’s about being adults. We’ve moved on, grown up.
“And from the beginning I knew I wasn’t dating just Rod, I was in a relationship with his family.
“I saw how all his children were getting on and I wanted my future children to do that as well.”
DON’T they look grand posing in their slinky dresses
The picture, below, of Penny and Rachel, with Renee between them, says: “Look at us, all happily blending, being besties. No bad blood here!”
And it IS a lovely pic.
Whatever water has gone under the bridge, it’s clear that Rachel and Penny are happy to put on a united front for the sake of the (adult) children.
And let’s face it, Rod has a lot of kids.
Last count eight. With 123 women, I believe.
He seems like a mellow fellow and not one to bear a grudge.
Our Rod is a lover not a fighter and maybe some of that has rubbed off on his exes.
And I’m all for it.
I get on with my exes’ wives.
God knows, they might hate me but we’re perfectly civil.
I’m not sure we’d be skipping down the hill holding hands but I don’t feel an ounce of animosity or regret or envy.
Bottom line is if my ex had cheated with a woman who then became his wife (not happened yet and I shall not be getting to the church ever again), then I wouldn’t feel so willing to suggest coffee at Costa.
If there’s no “crossover” period, I’m more than happy that we all get on – for the sake of the children.
But I would also do it for the sake of my own inner peace.
If you start hating on your ex’s new partner, all you’re doing is eating yourself up, from the inside out.
It’s better to connect, if you can. After all, at one point you liked the same thing.
Tastes change but the sisterhood can still be useful. Even if only just on the surface.
No hand-holding required though.
Rod has two children – Kimberly, 44, and Sean, 43 – with first wife, actress and model Alana Stewart, 79.
He also shares daughter, Ruby, 36, with former partner and Sports Illustrated model Kelly Emberg, 64.
His first daughter, Sarah Streeter, who was born in 1963 when Rod was 17, was brought up by her adoptive parents.
Rod has remained on good terms with Alana, Kelly and Rachel, and was snapped posing with his three exes and Penny at daughter Kimberley’s 40th birthday in 2019.
WHEN Hollywood stars Bruce and Demi announced their shock split in 1998 after 11 years of marriage, they cited “irreconcilable differences”.
The former couple, who have three daughters, Rumer, 35, Scout, 32, and Tallulah, 30, finalised their divorce two years later.
In 2005, Demi, 61, married fellow actor Ashton Kutcher, 46.
Four years later, Bruce, 69, married British model and actress Emma Heming, 45 – with Demi and Ashton as wedding guests. The couple have two daughters, Mabel, 12, and Evelyn, aged ten.
The Die Hard star has said of his friendship with his ex: “It’s generated a lot of interest because everyone can understand resentment and envy in the break-up of a marriage, but they don’t understand how I can get along with my ex like that.
“Demi and I made a choice to put the kids first, and we’re really lucky that it turns out we all have fun together.”
And speaking about his blended family in 2009, he said: “We’ve become like a tribe.”
Bruce was diagnosed with language disorder aphasia in 2022, which later turned into frontotemporal dementia.
Since then, his family – and Demi who split with Ashton in 2013 – have rallied round.
In March, Demi shared a photo of her ex clutching her arm as he celebrated his birthday.
PIRATES Of The Caribbean star Orlando and model Miranda have had one of the most amicable divorces in Hollywood.
The pair announced they were splitting in 2013, after three years of marriage.
Former Victoria’s Secret Angel Miranda, who has 13-year-old son Flynn with Orlando, said in 2017: “It was the right thing to do.
“We weren’t bringing out the best in each other.
“There’s no hostility there, we’ll always be friends.”
Miranda, 41, has been married to Snapchat founder Evan Spiegel, 33, since 2017 and is also mum to their three sons, Hart, six, Myles, four, and three-month-old Pierre.
Orlando, 47, below, is engaged to singer Katy Perry, 39, with whom Miranda has formed a genuine friendship.
She said in 2020: “I adore Katy, and I just feel so happy that Orlando has found someone that makes his heart so happy.”
Katy, who has three-year-old daughter Daisy with Orlando, has called Miranda, “My sister from another mister, my health and wellness guru, and the heart of our family”.
She even presented her with an Excellence in the Arts Award at the G’Day USA Arts Gala last year,
She said in her speech: “Some of you might be confused about why I’m introducing Miranda.
“That doesn’t play into the antiquated narrative of ex-wives and new wives.”
She then joked: “And yes, it’s true, most of the media would like to see us mud wrestle, including Evan.
“But we are here to lead by love because Miranda is love, and as a lot of you know, love comes in many family iterations.”
WHEN Kim filed for divorce from rapper Kanye West in 2021, their split was by no means amicable.
The former couple, who were married for seven years, share four children, North, ten, Saint, eight, Chicago, six, and five-year-old Psalm.
In 2022, Kanye, 46, attracted controversy after making a series of anti-semitic comments and praising Adolf Hitler.
And speaking later that year, 43-year-old Kim admitted that she struggled with her ex.
Breaking down in tears, the reality star said: “It’s hard. Co-parenting is really f*g hard.”
Last year, Kanye and new partner Bianca Censori, 29 – who has been pictured in a host of very revealing outfits – reportedly received a lifetime ban by a boat company in Venice after sharing an intimate moment on board.
Despite all this, fans were sent into meltdown when Kim, who is believed to be single, and Bianca were spotted together watching Kanye perform his new album in San Francisco earlier this year.
They were also joined by Bianca’s mum and sister, as well as Kim’s children Saint and Chicago, while eldest daughter North took to the stage with her dad.
Now Kim, who founded clothing brand Skims, has been accused of copying Australian architect Bianca’s risqué style.
Well, they do say imitation is the sincerest form of flattery.
COLDPLAY singer Chris and Hollywood star Gwyneth were the IT couple of the early Noughties after reportedly meeting backstage at a Coldplay gig in 2002.
They tied the knot the following year and had two children, Apple, 20, and Moses, 18.
But with a phrase that sparked widespread mockery, the couple announced they had decided to “consciously uncouple” after a trial separation in 2014.
Gwyneth, 51, went on to find love with Glee co-creator Brad Falchuk, 53, in 2014, with the couple tying the knot four years later.
Chris, 47, right, has been dating Fifty Shades Of Grey actress Dakota Johnson, 34, on and off since 2017.
Gwyneth, who founded lifestyle brand Goop in 2008, has previously said she’s “very good friends” with Dakota, adding : “I love her so much.
“She’s an adorable, wonderful person.”
The two women regularly hang out, have been snapped enjoying a cosy meal together – and were even pictured holding hands last year.
The exes go on holiday together with their respective partners and, in 2019, the foursome were pictured on the beach in the Hamptons, in New York.
It was recently reported that Chris had proposed Dakota, so who knows . . .
Maybe Gwyneth will be her maid of honour.
