Paul McCartney and Nancy Shevell’s Relationship Timeline
Paul McCartney and Nancy Shevell have been married since 2011
Paul McCartney has been the object of many romantic desires since his teen idol days as frontman of The Beatles, but his personal life has had its highs and lows.
After his first wife, Linda, died of breast cancer in 1998, McCartney said he “cried for a year.” His subsequent marriage to former model Heather Mills ended in an acrimonious divorce and a $50 million settlement.
But McCartney didn’t let the breakup sour him on finding love, and he was soon spotted with Nancy Shevell, a New York-based businesswoman and breast cancer survivor who founded a cancer resource center in the Hamptons.
From kissing on the beach to saying, “I do,” in front of their closest family and friends, here’s a breakdown of Paul McCartney and Nancy Shevell’s relationship timeline.
Summer 2007: Paul McCartney and Nancy Shevell meet
While staying at their respective homes in the Hamptons, Shevell and McCartney crossed paths in the summer of 2007. Despite a 17-year age gap, a source told PEOPLE the two “are clearly well-suited, well-matched.”
They connected over their similar lifestyles. “He doesn’t like a big social life; nor does she,” said Shevell’s second cousin, Barbara Walters.
November 7, 2007: Paul McCartney is seen kissing Nancy Shevell
McCartney was in the midst of a highly publicized divorce from former model Mills when he was first spotted kissing Shevell.
The two were seen walking along the beach in the Hamptons, where they both own homes. They stopped for coffee and were deep in discussion.
March 2008: Paul McCartney and Nancy Shevell vacation in the Caribbean
Upon finalizing his divorce from Mills, McCartney flew Shevell to Antigua for a luxury getaway. The pair stayed in a two-bedroom suite at Jumby Bay, a private resort located on a 300-acre private island that costs $2,375 per night.
The couple took part in many leisurely activities such as walking on the beach, reading by the pool and biking through nearby St. John’s.
“There were definitely sparks between them,” the observer told PEOPLE at the time. “They seem to be having a very happy and relaxed time together in paradise. They seem not to have a care in the world.”
August 2008: Paul McCartney and Nancy Shevell take a romantic road trip
McCartney and Shevell journeyed through America’s heartland during a road trip down Route 66. Their adventure, in a 1989 Ford Bronco, took them through the Midwest states, with stops in Joliet, Illinois, and St. Louis.
“They told us they were on a trip and going on to St. Louis before heading west. No one could believe that it was really him — he was so laid back and ordinary. They seemed like a great couple,” a source told PEOPLE.
September 26, 2008: Nancy Shevell joins Paul McCartney for a Beatles gig in Israel
Shevell was on hand to support McCartney during a historic Beatles performance in Tel Aviv, Israel, even as he dedicated the song “My Love” to his late wife, Linda.
McCartney and Shevell also traveled to Palestine, lighting a candle for peace at the Church of the Nativity.
October 2, 2008: Paul McCartney takes Nancy Shevell to his daughter’s fashion show
The travels continued for McCartney and Shevell, who were off to Paris just days after The Beatles played Tel Aviv. McCartney invited Shevell to his daughter Stella’s fashion show, where he sat in the front row with his son, James, and Stella’s husband, Alasdhair Willis, while Shevell sat separately.
“I’m in a good place, I think,” he told PEOPLE at the show.
November 13, 2008: Paul McCartney and Nancy Shevell stroll down Abbey Road
The two were spotted on a stroll down famed Abbey Road, where The Beatles recorded their 1969 album. Their London trip also included a visit with McCartney’s son, James.
November 25, 2008: Paul McCartney opens up about Nancy Shevell
McCartney briefly commented on his relationship with Shevell in an interview with the Sunday Times, saying, “I just like being in love.”
Shevell likewise kept her comments on their relationship simple. When asked about the stress that comes along with dating a famous person, Shevell said, “I’m a cancer survivor, I run a trucking company and I’ve got a 16-year-old to raise. That’s stress.”
March 2009: Paul McCartney’s daughter shows support for Nancy Shevell
Paul’s daughter Stella gave her nod of approval for Shevell in the form of a hug — the two were seen embracing at the Natural Resources Defense Council gala in New York City.
The dinner was in honor of Stella in light of her work with her organic skincare line.
“She’s thrilled for her father,” a source told PEOPLE.
2011: Paul McCartney shops for an engagement ring for Nancy Shevell
In preparation for his proposal to Shevell, McCartney worked with renowned jeweler Neil Lane to design a ring that was “very special, different and rare,” Lane said. “He was very excited and very serious about finding the right one because he wanted something truly exceptional.”
McCartney selected a rare, 5-plus carat diamond in a platinum, Art Deco-style setting featuring black onyx strips that Lane had in his archival collection. “It has a beautiful vintage feel to it,” said the jeweler. “Very romantic, elegant and glamorous but with a bit of cool glitz and rock and roll.”
May 2, 2011: Nancy Shevell shows off her engagement ring from Paul McCartney
Shevell and McCartney decided to forgo a formal engagement announcement. Instead, she quietly slipped on her ring at the 2011 Met Gala in New York City. She opted to wear it on her right hand to avoid stealing the spotlight from Stella, who was co-chairing the event.
She “looked really happy and comfortable,” a guest told PEOPLE.
“I don’t think she wants to have a big, flashy wedding. They’ll probably do [something small] and have a party afterward,” said Walters.
May 6, 2011: Paul McCartney and Nancy Shevell confirm engagement
After four years of dating, McCartney and Shevell confirmed the glittering ring she was spotted wearing meant wedding bells were in their future.
“They have the right chemistry,” a source told PEOPLE. “They’re both cool, chilled out and optimistic.”
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