You might remember John Schneider as the fearless Bo Duke from The Dukes of Hazzard, outrunning Boss Hogg and causing all sorts of trouble in Hazzard County. But in real life, John's been facing some serious challenges that aren’t as easy to outrun. He's been battling a long, tough divorce from his second wife, Elly Castle, which has been going on for four years now. On top of that, he even spent three days in jail because he was behind on his alimony payments. And here's the hardest part for him: "I really have no relationship with my three adult children," John revealed to Closer Weekly in an exclusive interview for their latest issue, which is on newsstands right now. "It's been a very tough time, and if it wasn't for the experience of Dancing with the Stars, I think it would have been much tougher," he admitted.
John, who's now 58 years old, didn't make it to the final cut on the November 5 episode of Dancing with the Stars. But as he talked about his kids, you could see the emotion welling up in his eyes. Despite the heartache, John said, "Doing the show gave me such joy. It pushed me out of my comfort zone and allowed me to set aside my troubles for a while." Dancing with the Stars became more than just a competition for him—it was a lifeline during a difficult period in his life.
A Father's Longing and a Ray of Hope
Leah, 33, Chasen, 26, and Karis Schneider, 24, haven’t spoken to their dad in several years. Despite the distance, John hasn’t lost hope that they'll reconnect. “I kept hoping they’d show up on Dancing with the Stars,” he said. Unfortunately, that didn’t happen. But John finds comfort in his girlfriend of four years, film producer Alicia Allain. “If it wasn’t for her, I wouldn’t be smiling,” he confessed. Alicia has been a steady presence in his life during this difficult time, offering support and love when he needed it most.
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Channeling Pain into Music
When life gets tough, John turns to music to express his emotions. He's been working on new songs, including one he'll perform on the Dancing with the Stars finale on November 19. The song, titled "Maybe Tonight," reflects his unfulfilled hope of reconnecting with his children. “I find the best thing to do when I’m feeling down is to pick up my guitar,” he shared. “Country music is amazing because we’re not afraid to write about both personal joy and personal defeat. It’s a way to process everything I’m feeling.”
