NEWSCarly Simon Reveals How Her Split From James Taylor Affected Their Children in Emotional New Song
Carly Simon opened up about the emotional turmoil her divorce from James Taylor caused.
Aug. 14 2026, Published 6:59 a.m. ET
Carly Simon is opening up about her divorce from James Taylor and the impact it had on their children.
The singer was married to Taylor from 1972 to 1983. The former couple shares two children, Sally Taylor, 52, and Ben Taylor, 49.
Both have since moved on with other partners. Carly was married to Jim Hart from 1987 to 2007. They split after her second husband came to terms with being gay.
Carly Simon has been with her current partner Richard Koehler since 2006.
She has been with her current partner, Richard Koehler, since 2006. Meanwhile, James married Kathryn Walker in 1985, but the pair divorced in 1995.
He is currently married to his third wife, Caroline "Kim" Smedvig, and they share twin sons, Henry Taylor and Rufus Taylor, 25.
Carly Simon Shared Her and James Taylor's Divorce's Impact on Their Children
Carly Simon admitted that her daughter Sally Taylor became her strength.
The 83-year-old is about to release her new album Comes in Waves on Friday, August 14. Her first original album in 18 years includes a song titled “Mother of Pearl,” where she details how the children coped with the rift between their parents, per Page Six.
“Sally, oh, Sarah, another song with your name,” she begins singing.
“You’ve gone around the roses, a mustang became. / A boat in the harbor that’s called Sally Mae. / And oh girl, my girl, to me you’re my goddess, you’re my mother of pearl,” the song continues.
At one point, she croons, “I can see you at 7, a child of divorce.”
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Carly Simon revealed her divorce with James Taylor deeply affected their children.
“How can it be that we gave you no choice? / It was your job and Ben’s to drown out all the noise,” she continues.
She also endearingly pointed out her daughter's intrinsic characteristics of being “stubborn” and “not sure when to care.”
However, she acknowledged, “But when I been flat on my back, you’re still there.”
“And oh girl, oh my girl, to me, you’re my best friend, my mother of pearl.”
Carly Simon Previously Reflected on Her Marriage to James Taylor
Carly Simon previously admitted that she still loves James Taylor.
Carly opened up about her love for James despite years of estrangement in an interview with People in 2015, saying, “I still want to heal him, I still want to make him all right.”
“And I love him so much,” she added.
The former couple’s divorce made many headlines back in the ‘80s, particularly as their split came amid James' struggle with substance abuse and infidelity on both sides.
She also addressed their issues in her tell-all memoir, titled Boys in the Trees, where she said their marriage was “far from the idyllic one that the general public reads about.”
