For nearly three decades, Jean-Jacques Goldman has maintained an unusual position in the French cultural landscape: immense popularity coupled with a resolute privacy. Despite stepping away from regular album releases in 2001 and largely eschewing the spotlight, the singer-songwriter consistently ranks as France’s most beloved public figure. A new Paris-Match poll confirms this enduring appeal, marking the ninth consecutive year Goldman has topped the list, a testament to his songwriting legacy and carefully cultivated distance from celebrity culture – a duality this article explores, including a glimpse into his family life and his reluctance to discuss it publicly.
Jean-Jacques Goldman remains the favorite personality of the French public, even after more than two decades largely out of the spotlight. The singer, who hasn’t released a new album since 2001 and left the charity ensemble Les Enfoirés in 2016, continues to resonate with audiences despite a private life split between France and England. Goldman’s prolific songwriting – both for himself and iconic artists like Johnny Hallyday and Céline Dion – has cemented his status as a cultural icon.
Jean-Jacques Goldman: France’s Beloved Singer-Songwriter
Jean-Jacques Goldman’s enduring popularity is undeniable. He’s been named the favorite personality in France by Paris-Match for the ninth consecutive year in 2025, despite his last album, Chansons pour les pieds, being released almost 26 years ago! The ranking comes from an Ifop poll conducted for TF1 and LCI, as reported by the magazine.
Goldman represents over 50 years of French-language music. He notably elevated the career of Canadian singer Céline Dion in the 1990s, composing and shaping the musical architecture of two of her landmark albums: D’eux in 1995 and S’il suffisait d’aimer in 1998. Despite this widespread success, both as a solo artist and a sought-after collaborator, Goldman has maintained a remarkably down-to-earth persona.
The Performer of Quand la musique est bonne is a Father of Six
Known for his unassuming nature, Goldman shies away from the trappings of celebrity, preferring to connect with audiences through his music rather than public spectacle. He’s notoriously private about his personal life and large family, a topic often addressed by the tabloids – a theme he even touched upon in his hit song, La Vie par procuration. The singer is a father to six children from two relationships.
He first married Catherine Morlet in 1975, with whom he has three children: Caroline, Michael, and Nina. The eldest, Caroline, is a psychologist specializing in children, though she has faced some controversy. Michael is currently the director of Star Academy since 2022, and Nina is a pediatrician. In 2001, he married Nathalie Thu Huong-Lagier, a Vietnamese-born math teacher, and together they have three more children: Maya, Kimi, and Rose.
Goldman Rarely Discusses His Children
In 2001, Goldman appeared on the promotional show Fréquenstar, hosted by Laurent Boyer, which often delved into the personal lives of its guests. The singer admitted in a separate interview with RTS that he isn’t a fan of variety shows that prioritize gossip over music. Boyer skillfully steered the conversation toward Goldman’s children, who at the time numbered three from his first marriage.
“Do your children have piercings, tattoos?”, Boyer asked after Goldman had discussed the themes of materialism in one of his recent songs and its negative impact on young people. Goldman paused before responding, clearly hesitant to engage with such personal questions, even acknowledging the promotional demands of a new album. “Piercings, I haven’t noticed…”, he said with a smile, but also a hint of discomfort. He continued: “If it happens, it’s extremely private. Tattoos? No, I don’t think they care… They feel a little humiliated, I think. They would feel a little humiliated, I believe, to wear masks.” The sentiment reflects the simplicity and humility that define both the artist and his children, Jean-Jacques.
