Let me tell you a story about love, fame, and the whirlwind world of Hollywood. Legendary singer-songwriter Paul Simon has opened up about his one-year marriage to the iconic Carrie Fisher. In a candid moment captured in the new documentary In Restless Dreams: The Music of Paul Simon, Paul reveals that by the end of their marriage, he was completely "exhausted." Now, that’s a word that carries a lot of weight, especially when you’re talking about one of the most famous unions in entertainment history.
Paul Simon Looks Back on His Time with Carrie Fisher
At 82 years old, Paul Simon is no stranger to reflecting on life's ups and downs. In this revealing documentary, which premiered on MGM+ on March 17, the legendary musician takes us through his whirlwind relationship with Carrie Fisher. It’s not just a tale of love; it’s a deep dive into how two high-profile individuals navigated their lives together under the spotlight. Paul shares that Carrie was deeply immersed in the world of show business, a world he wasn’t as comfortable in.
“Carrie was much more show business oriented,” Paul explains. “I went along with it because that’s the world she grew up in. She was used to all the press and media attention. It wasn’t something that intimidated her. In fact, she knew how to work the system to her advantage. She was really good at it, and honestly, I wasn’t.”
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How It All Began: A Meeting in the Late '70s
Paul and Carrie first crossed paths in the late '70s, a time when Carrie was making waves as Princess Leia in the original Star Wars trilogy. They tied the knot in 1983, and Carrie stepped into her role as a stepmother to Paul’s child from a previous relationship, Harper Simon. But as we all know, their marriage was short-lived, lasting only a year. Paul admits that by the time they called it quits, he was emotionally drained from the constant upheaval.
“I mean, what was I thinking? Not much, really. Certainly not about the long-term implications of marriage,” Paul muses. “Marriage is tough, you know. It requires focus and dedication. You can’t just let everything become a media circus. Mistake after mistake piled up, and it was clear that things weren’t going to work out.”
Lorne Michaels Weighs In
Lorne Michaels, the man who served as best man at their wedding, offers his perspective on the relationship. He describes it as "complicated," noting that both Paul and Carrie were at the peaks of their respective careers. “It was all so fast and intense,” Lorne recalls. “Carrie was living in a world where her fame from Star Wars was all-consuming.”
Carrie herself addressed the marriage in her 2008 memoir, Wishful Drinking, admitting that it wasn’t the right move for either of them. “I think, if you look at me, at best, I’m an interesting girlfriend. But a wife? That’s a whole different ball game,” she wrote. “Poor Paul. He had to deal with a lot from me. In the end, I think I was more of a good story than a good partner. I was great for material, but day-to-day life with me was probably more than he could handle.”
Life After Carrie
Even though Paul and Carrie dated on and off after their divorce, Paul eventually found love again. In 1992, he married Edie Brickell, and together they welcomed three children: Adrian Edward, Lulu, and Gabriel Elijah. Carrie, on the other hand, went on to date talent agent Bryan Lourd from 1991 to 1994, and they had one child together, actress Billie Lourd.
