Before her breakup from Mike Goodnough, Valerie Bertinelli gave fans a glimpse into the most challenging aspects of their relationship. Let’s face it, long-distance love isn’t easy, and Valerie was no stranger to the struggles that came with it.
The Distance Was Real
Mike, 54, resides on the East Coast, while Valerie, 64, calls the West Coast home. During their relationship, they established what they called the "three-week rule," a promise to never go more than three weeks without seeing each other. But even with that commitment, Valerie admitted it was tough to keep up with the demands of their busy lives.
“It’s been incredibly challenging,” Valerie confided to People back in July. “This summer has been packed with commitments, and it’s not easy trying to maintain a relationship when you’re so far apart. It’s a constant balancing act.”
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From Coasts Apart to Public Romance
Valerie and Mike first revealed their romance in April when he confirmed their relationship in a post on his Hoarse Whisperings Substack. Around that time, an insider told Closer that things were heating up between the couple.
“She’s not rushing into marriage, but she is considering moving closer to him,” the source shared. “California will always have a special place in her heart, but a home on the East Coast would make things easier for them.”
“Valerie hates being in a long-distance romance because she feels it’s easier to take things for granted when you’re physically apart,” the source added.
Unexpected Love
For Valerie, finding love again was something she never expected, but she embraced it with open arms. “She’s a hopeless romantic and would absolutely move for love if it meant being with the right person,” the source noted.
Valerie publicly expressed her feelings for Mike in an interview with People earlier that month.
“I’m in love,” she confessed. “And honestly, I thought I’d never fall in love again. It’s like riding a seesaw of emotions, but it’s worth every moment.”
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Two months later, the couple made their red carpet debut at the 2024 Daytime Emmys, where they looked absolutely thrilled as they held hands in front of the cameras.
After the event, Valerie expressed her desire to keep their relationship more private. “Part of me feels like it’s been so public, and now I’m trying to pull back and make it less so,” she said. “I want to keep some things just between us. It’s like I’ve let the cat out of the bag, and now I want to protect what we have.”
Love Stories Have Their Ups and Downs
Unfortunately, things didn’t work out between Valerie and Mike, and their split was announced on November 5. “They are no longer in a relationship,” a source confirmed to People. They were together for 10 months before deciding to part ways.
Before Mike, Valerie was married twice—first to Eddie Van Halen from 1981 to 2007 and then to Tom Vitale from 2011 to 2022. With Eddie, she welcomed her son Wolfgang Van Halen in 1991.
Sources told Closer in April that Wolfgang had some concerns about his mom’s relationship with Mike. “Even her son, Wolf, who I’ve heard has met the guy, told her to slow down with this guy,” the insider revealed.
