Who Is Smokey Robinsons Wife? All About Frances Gladney

He’s a Motown legend, famous for songs like “My Girl,” but Smokey Robinson also bears his heart to his wife, Frances Robinson (née Gladney) — and she does the same for him.

"She serenades me," he told Closer in July 2017. "He has a lot of songs I love," she added.

Originally a member of the Miracles and one of the earliest singers to make the Motown sound known, Smokey has had a legendary career, having written more than 4,000 songs. Some of his biggest solo hits are “Cruisin’ ” and “You’ve Really Got a Hold on Me,” and he was the mastermind behind tunes like “Get Ready,” made famous by the Temptations.

While he's been in the spotlight for decades, Smokey has mostly kept his relationship with Frances to himself. The couple doesn’t publicly discuss their private life, but beyond his illustrious performances and her interior design skills, they have collaborated on several projects, including launching a skincare line and a wine brand.

Still, he doesn't pass up an opportunity to share his feelings for her. "I love my wife and my family. And I love the fact that they support me in loving my job," he said in Lifetime's movie Miracle in Motor City. "When you've got it like that, there's no juggling."

So, who is Smokey Robinson's wife? Here's everything to know about Frances Robinson and her relationship with the Grammy Award-winning singer.

She and Smokey were friends for years

In a 2023 piece for Pittsburgh Quarterly, Smokey revealed that he met Frances in Los Angeles, and "we were just two people among a group of friends who hung out and celebrated holidays, birthdays, and so on, together."

Although they're 12 years apart, Smokey and Frances share the same birthday, February 19, and for one of their celebrations, their friends took them out to a joint dinner, where both tried coconut shrimp for the first time. Afterward, the two bonded over their new shared interest, which sparked a different connection.

"Frances and I were on the phone laughing and talking about our birthday party, when I said, 'Hey, let’s go get some coconut shrimp,' " he recalled. "'Sure,' she said. That was the beginning for us, and I tell her all the time, 'You do realize that I married you because of coconut shrimp.' "

She and Smokey secretly dated before getting married in 2002

Smokey and Frances tied the knot in May 2002.

According to the artist, their romance has been private from the start. Speaking with the Associated Press, Smokey explained that he and Frances were part of a longtime friend group, and she believed they would "start gossiping" about them if they found out.

“When we first started seeing each other, she wanted to keep it on the down-low. She didn’t want anybody to know because we were friends," he said in April 2023. "And then all our friends were going to be talking about us."

Fast forward, the couple have been married for more than two decades. In honor of their 21st wedding anniversary in 2023, Smokey dedicated a heartfelt tribute to Frances on Instagram.

"Celebrating a beautiful anniversary weekend with my love Mrs. Frances Robinson ❤️❤️ @mygirl219," he captioned pictures of them on their special day.

She has inspired Smokey's music

Smokey has said that, even though he’s getting older, he has no intention of retiring from music, even releasing a new album in 2023 — and one of the songs was inspired by his courtship with Frances.

The song “I Keep Calling” shares a glimpse of the beginning of their secret relationship with lyrics like, "Simple things like touching in public/Private touches goin’ unseen." It's a tune that Smokey had kept in his back pocket for years before debuting it in his latest studio album, Gasms.

"My thoughts on it is that you can put it on and be with the person that you want to be with and just kick back and enjoy each other. It’s more of the idea of love," he told PEOPLE in January 2023 about the project.

She redesigned their California home

Smokey and Frances sold the home they shared in Encino, California, ahead of their May 2002 wedding, according to the Orlando Sentinel. He spent about three years remodeling the five-bedroom house spanning 6,200 square feet. (The estate eventually became the home of The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills star Kyle Richards and her husband Mauricio Umansky, according to the Los Angeles Times.)

The couple moved into a mansion in Chatsworth, California, later that same year. Frances helped renovate the seven-bedroom, eight-bathroom home with her designs, per SFGate. She came up with the crystal and wrought-iron chandelier in the entryway, replaced marble floods with cherrywood and created an at-home theater.

The interior designer thought about her husband's work as well when envisioning new spaces. "He writes in his office and could cut a record in the room if he wanted," she said.

Frances also designated one of the bedrooms for just Smokey's golf gear. After a few years, the pair listed the property in 2005, but Smokey still remembers her work.

"By trade, she is an interior designer — one of the best I’ve ever seen — and she’s done a great job with our homes in L.A., Las Vegas and Pittsburgh," he wrote for Pittsburgh Quarterly.

She and Smokey launched a skincare line together

In 2016, Smokey and Frances collaborated on a skincare line for people of color called Skinphonic, featuring “My Girl” products for women and “Get Ready” for men. "This is our first time [working together] and we're definitely on the same page," Smokey told the Associated Press.

“We did this very selfishly. We did this for ourselves in the beginning because my husband and I were using many products — and nothing worked,” Frances said about the skincare line that took two years to create.

Smokey has been health-conscious for most of his life, practicing yoga and following a vegetarian diet for over 40 years, but he struggled with skincare. "I go through a lot of things that are detrimental to skin. My job is grueling,” he added.

As of 2017, the Skinphonic's Instagram account hasn't been active.

They also make wine

Frances' hometown of Pittsburgh is the base of operations for Smokey Robinson Wines, which they launched in 2018. The project is the brainchild of Smokey and Frances' friends, including Grapevine Ventures' Bob Buzzelli and Louis Caputo, with photography from Engine House 25 Wines founder Duane Rieder.

The wines are made in California with Grapevine Ventures, and the vineyard’s owners say they “began discussing the creativity that goes into the winemaking process with Smokey and decided it would be an ideal project,” according to the brand’s website. “Smokey and his wife Frances loved the idea and knew this would be the perfect way to connect with his fans.”

Each of the wines is named after a famous song of Smokey's, like the “I Second That Emotion” Cabernet Sauvignon and the “My Girl” Chardonnay.

They often express their love for each other

While Smokey and Frances don't often discuss the ins and outs of their relationship, the husband and wife are vocal on social media about how much they appreciate each other.

On their joint birthday in 2021, she penned a message to him alongside a selfie of them on Instagram.

"Happy Birthday to my Wonderful Husband I thank God every single day for putting you in my life," Frances wrote. "You are a true blessing not only to me but to everyone you meet."

She continued: "You are my best friend confidant and you have truly shown me the true meaning of love ... You have really shown me that kind of Love. Thank You my Love have a Blessed day.❤️❤️❤️😍😍."

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