Rock musician Joan Jett has never publicly confirmed being in a romantic relationship, and she has never been married or engaged.
The singer, whose birth name is Joan Marie Larkin, was born on September 22, 1958, in Wynnewood, Pennsylvania. Despite spending more than five decades in the music industry, she has maintained a private personal life and has repeatedly declined to discuss speculation about her relationships.
Several people have been linked to Jett in media reports over the years, but none of the alleged relationships has been publicly confirmed by her or the individuals involved.
Three People Have Been Linked to Joan Jett
Reports have associated Jett with three individuals: musician Tom Petersson, British rock singer Billy Idol and actress Carmen Electra. However, none of these reported connections has been acknowledged as a romantic relationship by the parties involved.
Petersson, the bassist for American rock band Cheap Trick, was reportedly linked to Jett around 1976, during the early years of her career with The Runaways.
Billy Idol was also reportedly associated with the singer around 1978. The British musician, known for songs including White Wedding and Rebel Yell, later toured North America with Joan Jett and the Blackhearts in 2025. The reported relationship from the late 1970s was never publicly confirmed.
Carmen Electra, an American actress, model and television personality, was linked to Jett around 2006. Neither woman publicly confirmed the reported association.
Joan Jett and Kenny Laguna Have a Longstanding Professional Partnership
Kenny Laguna has also been the subject of speculation about his relationship with Jett. However, he is her longtime manager, record producer and business partner.
The pair met in 1980 when Laguna helped produce Jett’s debut solo album, Bad Reputation. After the record was rejected by 23 American record labels, they established Blackheart Records to release it independently.
Their professional partnership has continued for more than four decades.
Laguna is married to Meryl Laguna, and they have a daughter, Carianne Brinkman, who also works at Blackheart Records and has been involved in the company‘s operations.
Jett lived and worked closely with the Laguna family for a period and played an active role in Carianne’s upbringing. However, Carianne is not Jett’s biological daughter.
Jett Has Not Publicly Confirmed Her Sexual Orientation
Jett has never publicly confirmed or denied her sexual orientation. She has repeatedly declined to make statements about her private life, despite continuing speculation.
The singer has previously been associated with LGBTQ+ advocacy and is widely regarded as an icon within the lesbian and wider LGBTQ+ community.
Her public support for LGBTQ+ rights and feminism has contributed to her standing among fans, although she has not publicly identified her own sexual orientation.
In comments about questions surrounding her personal life, Jett said she had never made public declarations about the subject and questioned where the speculation originated.
Joan Jett Has Never Been Married or Had Children
The rock star has never been married or engaged and has no biological or adopted children.
Although she was closely involved in the upbringing of Carianne Brinkman, the daughter of Kenny and Meryl Laguna, the two are not biologically related.
Jett has maintained her single status throughout her public career and has not announced plans to marry.
The Runaways Reunion Has Remained Strained
Jett’s relationship with fellow former Runaways member Lita Ford has reportedly been difficult for many years.
The two musicians performed together in the band during the late 1970s before The Runaways broke up in 1979 and they pursued separate careers.
Ford has publicly discussed tensions within the group and criticised aspects of how the band’s history has been presented. Jett, meanwhile, has generally avoided addressing the disagreement directly.
Jett has also never confirmed a romantic relationship with former bandmate Cherie Currie. Although the 2010 film The Runaways, featuring Kristen Stewart as Jett and Dakota Fanning as Currie, depicted a close emotional connection between the characters, Jett has not publicly explained the nature of their relationship beyond their musical partnership.
From Joan Marie Larkin to the Queen of Rock ‘n’ Roll
Born Joan Marie Larkin, Jett adopted the stage name Joan Jett as she began establishing her music career.
She is the eldest of three children born to James Francis Larkin, an insurance salesman, and Dorothy Jett Larkin, who worked as a secretary.
Her family later moved from Pennsylvania to West Covina, California, when she was a teenager. Jett attended Randolph Junior High and Wheaton High School before pursuing music.
She is of English and Irish descent and has earned the nicknames “Queen of Rock ‘n’ Roll” and “Godmother of Punk” during her career.
Seven Weeks at Number One With I Love Rock ‘n’ Roll
Jett is best known for her version of I Love Rock ‘n’ Roll, which spent seven consecutive weeks at the top of the Billboard Hot 100 in 1982.
Her career includes 13 studio albums, eight compilation albums and 46 singles across her solo work and releases with Joan Jett and the Blackhearts.
The group has sold millions of records worldwide. Jett’s main guitar is a Gibson Melody Maker, although she has also used a custom Gibson ES-339.
In 2023, she released the Mindsets EP with the Blackhearts, marking the group’s first new studio material in approximately a decade.
Health Challenges and 2026 Surgery
Jett experienced a serious heart infection, identified as endocarditis, in the early 1980s, shortly after The Runaways disbanded. The condition required hospital treatment and was described at the time as potentially life-threatening. She subsequently recovered.
In August and September 2026, Jett cancelled scheduled performances in Costa Mesa and Louisville after undergoing orthopaedic surgery for a fractured vertebra.
A statement published on her Instagram account confirmed the procedure and said she was following medical advice to rest. She also expressed her intention to return to performing as soon as possible.
No chronic medical condition has been publicly confirmed.
2025 and 2026 Tours With Joan Jett and the Blackhearts
Jett and the Blackhearts completed a 30-date North American co-headline tour with Billy Idol in 2025. During that period, Jett also contributed to Idol’s album Dream Into It.
In July 2026, the band completed its first headline tour of the United Kingdom in 16 years, with punk duo The Meffs providing support.
The tour included performances in Glasgow on July 2, Manchester on July 4, Leeds on July 5, Wolverhampton on July 7 and London on July 8.
The group also performed at Wembley Stadium on July 10, opening for My Chemical Romance.
The 2026 performances coincided with the 45th anniversaries of the Bad Reputation and I Love Rock ‘n’ Roll albums.
Joan Jett’s Personal Life Remains Private
At 68, Jett continues to be recognised for her work as a singer, songwriter, guitarist, producer and actress.
Her romantic life remains largely undisclosed, with no publicly confirmed partner, marriage or children. Although reports have linked her to several people, she has not verified those relationships.
Her public career has included music, touring and advocacy for LGBTQ+ rights and feminism, while she has continued to keep questions about her private life separate from her professional activities.
