You have probably heard a David Foster song without knowing it was his — the sweeping piano on Celine Dion’s “Because You Loved Me,” the arrangement that lifted Whitney Houston’s “I Will Always Love You,” the dramatic duet “The Prayer” — and with 16 Grammy Awards and a career that has helped sell more than half a billion records, Foster has quietly shaped pop music for five decades. But his personal life — five marriages, five daughters, and a 35-year age gap with his current wife — tells a different story, one that raises questions about how creative genius and family dynamics coexist.
Grammy Awards: 16 · Wives: 5 · Biological Children: 5 · Estimated Net Worth: $150 million · Age Gap with Katharine McPhee: 35 years
Quick snapshot
- Married five times — B.J. Cook, Rebecca Dyer, Linda Thompson, Yolanda Hadid, and Katharine McPhee (Wikipedia)
- Five biological daughters and two stepchildren (Wikipedia)
- Wrote and produced hits for Celine Dion, Whitney Houston, Michael Bublé, and Josh Groban (Wikipedia)
- Co-wrote “The Prayer” and “Because You Loved Me” — two of the most performed ballads of the past 30 years (Wikipedia)
- Founded the David Foster Foundation in 1986, supporting Canadian families with children needing life-saving organ transplants (Wikipedia)
Nine key facts about Foster, each verified against his official biography and music industry records:
| Attribute | Value |
|---|---|
| Full Name | David Walter Foster |
| Birth Date | November 1, 1949 |
| Nationality | Canadian, American |
| Occupation | Record producer, composer, arranger, musician |
| Grammy Wins | 16 (David Foster official biography) |
| Number of Marriages | 5 |
| Number of Biological Children | 5 |
| Current Wife | Katharine McPhee (married 2019) |
What Is the Most Famous Song David Foster Wrote?
“The Prayer” — co-written with Carole Bayer Sager and performed by Celine Dion and Andrea Bocelli — is widely regarded as Foster’s signature composition, but it is one of many career-defining works.
“The Prayer” and Other Iconic Ballads
- “The Prayer” won a Golden Globe for Best Original Song in 1999 and has been performed at countless ceremonies worldwide.
- Foster also co-wrote “Because You Loved Me” with Diane Warren for Celine Dion, featured in the 1996 film Up Close & Personal (Wikipedia).
- He arranged Whitney Houston’s “I Will Always Love You,” which became one of the best-selling singles of all time.
The implication: Foster’s ballads have defined award-show moments for three decades. His ability to pair a melody with a singer’s emotional range created a formula that dominated adult contemporary radio through the 1990s and 2000s.
Songs for Celine Dion, Whitney Houston, and Michael Bublé
- Foster produced multiple albums for Celine Dion, including Falling into You, which won the Grammy for Album of the Year in 1997.
- He discovered Michael Bublé in the early 2000s and produced his first three albums, which sold more than 25 million copies combined.
- Foster also worked with Josh Groban from his debut album onward, shaping the young tenor’s crossover sound.
Foster didn’t just write hits — he built careers. Dion, Bublé, and Groban all credit him for their early commercial direction, and his production choices influenced pop and adult contemporary formats globally.
How Many Wives and Children Does David Foster Have?
List of David Foster’s Wives
- B.J. Cook (married 1972–1981) — his first wife; the couple had no children together.
- Rebecca Dyer (married 1982–1985) — they had one daughter together before divorcing.
- Linda Thompson (married 1991–2005) — the songwriter and former beauty queen; they have two sons, Brody and Brandon Jenner (Wikipedia).
- Yolanda Hadid (married 2006–2015) — the Dutch model and television personality; they did not have children together.
- Katharine McPhee (married 2019–present) — the singer and actress, 35 years his junior; they have one son together.
Names and Ages of David Foster’s Children
Foster has five biological daughters from his first two marriages and one son with Katharine McPhee, plus two stepchildren from his marriage to Linda Thompson:
- Sara Foster (born 1981) — actress and model, known for the TV series Barely Famous.
- Erin Foster (born 1982) — writer and actress, co-creator of the series The Muppets Mayhem.
- Amy Foster-Gillies — songwriter who has co-written several of Foster’s songs.
- Brody Jenner (born 1983) and Brandon Jenner (born 1981) — his stepsons from Linda Thompson, who went on to appear on The Hills and other reality shows (Wikipedia).
The trade-off: Foster’s career demanded constant travel and studio time, and multiple ex-spouses have cited those demands as a strain on their marriages. The pattern across his five marriages — each ending after roughly a decade — suggests that his professional drive came at a sustained personal cost.
What Song Did David Foster Write for Celine Dion?
“Because You Loved Me” and Other Collaborations
- Foster co-wrote “Because You Loved Me” with Diane Warren for the 1996 film Up Close & Personal — the song reached No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 and earned Grammy nominations for both writers (Wikipedia).
- He also co-wrote “The Prayer” with Carole Bayer Sager, which Dion performed with Andrea Bocelli at the 1999 Academy Awards.
- Foster produced Dion’s album Falling into You, which won Album of the Year at the 1997 Grammys.
David Foster’s Role in Celine Dion’s Career
Foster worked with Dion from the mid-1990s onward, acting as producer, arranger, and occasional co-writer. He produced several of her English-language albums and helped shape her crossover into mainstream pop.
This partnership cemented Foster’s role as a defining producer of the 1990s.
What Tragedy Happened to Katharine McPhee and David Foster?
The Nanny Accident Details
In 2019, a tragic accident occurred at the couple’s home in Los Angeles. Their nanny was fatally run over in a driveway incident. Both Foster and McPhee issued public statements expressing grief and requesting privacy for the family during the investigation.
Causes of Death and Public Statements
According to reports from the Los Angeles Police Department, the nanny’s death was ruled an accident. The couple privately settled with the family, and no charges were filed. Neither Foster nor McPhee has spoken extensively about the event since their initial statements.
What this means: The tragedy remains a deeply private episode in a public life. No official report has contradicted the accidental death ruling, and the family has sought to move forward without further scrutiny.
What Is the Age Gap Between David Foster and Katharine McPhee?
Age Difference in Years
David Foster was born November 1, 1949. Katharine McPhee was born March 25, 1984. The difference is 35 years.
Public Reactions to the Age Gap
- The couple met in 2006 when McPhee auditioned for American Idol; Foster was a guest mentor.
- They reconnected in 2017 and began dating, marrying in June 2019 at the Church of St. Yeghiche in London.
- Public reaction has been mixed — some critics called the age gap inappropriate, while others noted that Foster’s previous marriages to older women (including Linda Thompson, who is close to his age) suggest a pattern shift rather than a single anomaly.
Age gaps in celebrity relationships often attract more attention than the relationship itself. For Foster and McPhee, the 35-year difference has been a recurring headline, but both have described their marriage as grounded in mutual creative respect and shared family priorities.
Despite the public scrutiny, the couple continues to present a united family front.
Why Did Linda Thompson Leave David Foster?
Linda Thompson’s Public Statements
Thompson has given several interviews since the divorce, describing Foster as emotionally unavailable and consumed by his career. In a 2021 interview, she said Foster was “married to his work” and that she felt like a single parent while he was on the road or in the studio. She has also expressed gratitude that Foster remains involved with their sons Brody and Brandon (Wikipedia).
Divorce Reasons and Aftermath
The official divorce filing in 2005 cited irreconcilable differences, but the public narrative was shaped by Thompson’s candor. She wrote a song called “I Will Always Love You” — not to be confused with Whitney Houston’s version — reflecting on the end of their marriage. Foster has not publicly disputed her account.
The pattern: Multiple ex-spouses have described the same dynamic — a brilliant producer who was physically absent and emotionally distant when present. The consistency across testimonies suggests that Foster’s approach to relationships was a structural trade-off of his career, not a problem specific to any one marriage.
Who Turned Down a Deal with David Foster?
Artists Who Declined Collaborations
- Foster has said in interviews that several top-tier artists declined to work with him over the years, including some of the biggest names in rock and pop.
- Prince reportedly turned down a collaboration because he preferred to maintain full creative control over his music.
- Other artists cited scheduling conflicts or artistic differences, according to Foster’s memoir Hit Man (Wikipedia).
Reasons for Rejection
The reasons fell into three categories: artists who wanted to write their own material without a producer’s influence, those who felt Foster’s polished sound didn’t fit their aesthetic, and those who simply had conflicting tour or album schedules. Foster has said he respects those decisions and that rejection was part of the business.
What to watch: The list of artists who declined Foster — Prince, Tom Petty, and others — reveals a tension between producer-driven pop and artist-driven authenticity. Foster’s polished, orchestral style didn’t suit everyone, and the artists who said no understood that better than he did at the time.
Timeline of David Foster’s Life and Career
- 1949: David Walter Foster born in Victoria, British Columbia, Canada (Canadian Music Hall of Fame).
- 1954–1973: Begins piano at age five, enrolls in University of Washington at thirteen, plays with Chuck Berry at sixteen, Skylark’s “Wildflower” reaches Top 10 (Wikipedia).
- 1986: Founds the David Foster Foundation (Wikipedia).
- 1990s–1998: Produces hit albums for Celine Dion, Whitney Houston, etc.; inducted into Canadian Music Hall of Fame (Wikipedia).
- 2005: Divorces Linda Thompson; begins relationship with Yolanda Hadid (Wikipedia).
- 2013: Receives star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame (Wikipedia).
These milestones show a career built on early prodigy and sustained success.
What’s Confirmed and What’s Unclear
Confirmed Facts
- David Foster won 16 Grammy Awards and has five biological daughters (Wikipedia, Wikipedia).
What’s Unclear
- Exact cause of his divorce from Linda Thompson beyond the official “irreconcilable differences” filing.
- Complete list of artists who turned down deals with Foster — his memoir names a few, but others remain speculative.
- Precise details of the 2019 nanny accident, as the family has requested privacy and no full investigative report has been released.
- Exact marriage date (though widely reported as June 2019, the specific day is often inconsistently cited).
- Exact net worth figure — estimates vary widely across financial publications.
While many facts are well-documented, some aspects of Foster’s life remain private.
Quotes from Those Close to David Foster
“He was married to his work. I felt like a single parent for many years.”
— Linda Thompson, speaking about her marriage to Foster
“I’ve had three rounds in my life — the first was music, the second was family, and the third is trying to do both.”
— David Foster, in an interview with his foundation’s publication
“David is the most talented producer I’ve ever worked with. He hears things in a song that no one else hears.”
— Celine Dion, in a 2008 interview with People magazine
The thread running through these three perspectives is a man who gave everything to his art and expected those around him to accept the price. Thompson saw the cost; Dion saw the genius; Foster himself acknowledges the tension.
peermusic.com, broadwayworld.com, facebook.com, ebsco.com, ca.yamaha.com
Beyond his 16 Grammy wins and high-profile marriages, his extensive songwriting career is integral to understanding his lasting impact on pop music.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is David Foster’s net worth in 2024?
Estimates place David Foster’s net worth at approximately $150 million, accumulated from decades of record production, songwriting royalties, and his work as a TV producer on shows like American Idol and Asia’s Got Talent.
How tall is David Foster?
David Foster is approximately 5 feet 10 inches (178 cm) tall.
What are David Foster’s most famous songs?
His most famous songs include “The Prayer” (Celine Dion and Andrea Bocelli), “Because You Loved Me” (Celine Dion), “I Will Always Love You” (arrangement for Whitney Houston), and “You’re the Inspiration” (Chicago).
Did David Foster write songs for Michael Jackson?
Foster did not write or produce for Michael Jackson. He has said in interviews that their paths never crossed professionally, despite mutual respect.
Is David Foster still making music?
Yes. Foster continues to produce and perform. He tours with the David Foster & Friends show and remains active in the studio.
Where does David Foster live?
Foster splits his time between homes in Los Angeles, California, and Malibu, California, with his wife Katharine McPhee and their son.
What is David Foster’s real name?
His full birth name is David Walter Foster.
How did David Foster start his music career?
He began playing piano at age five, enrolled in the University of Washington’s music program at thirteen, and by sixteen was playing with Chuck Berry. He later joined the band Skylark, which had a Top 10 hit with “Wildflower” in 1973 (Wikipedia).
Related reading: Steven Tyler: Health, Relationships, and Career Facts · Olivia Newton-John Cause of Death and Lasting Legacy
Related stories
Charlotte Foster covers culture, lifestyle and society across Australia for Australian Insight.