Betty Smith: Where Is Barry White’s Ex-wife Now?

Betty Smith is the former wife of American singer, songwriter, record producer, and composer Barry White. Betty’s ex-husband Barry was nominated for 11 Grammy Awards, winning two. He was also a voice actor who did voice-over work for television and movies. He voiced the character Brother Bear in the film Coonskin (1975).

Betty Smith: Bio Summary

Who Is Barry White’s Ex-wife, Betty Smith?

Betty Smith is said to be the first woman singer and songwriter Barry White married. Barry’s first marriage was to his childhood sweetheart identified as just Mary in his autobiography, according to Barry’s Wikipedia. However, several other sources have cited that Barry’s first wife is Betty Smith so probably Mary may be her other name.

Details regarding Betty Smith’s date of birth, childhood, parents, siblings, and other relatives, are unavailable. Her educational background and qualifications and career details are not known. She married her childhood sweetheart Barry White in the 1960s. At the time they got married, Barry was just a nineteen-year-old boy. They had four children who are currently adults.

Their children are Barry White Jr., Melva White, Nina White, and Darryl White. They raised their children away from the spotlight. Betty Smith and Barry White’s marriage was a private one. At the time Barry was just an ordinary person. Betty and Barry’s marriage didn’t last long. It ended sooner than expected. They reportedly separated in the year 1969 and later divorced.

Following the divorce, Betty Smith’s ex-husband Barry White found love again and got married for the second time. Barry’s second marriage was to Love Unlimited member Glodean Beverly James also known as Glodean White, a singer. Barry and Glodean got married in the year 1974. They had four children which includes Shaherah White and Brigette White.

ALSO, READ: Melva White: Inside The Life Of Barry White’s Daughter

Barry White and his second wife Glodean separated and lived their separate lives but they never got divorced. They remained legally married until Barry died in 2003. Barry had a daughter Denise Donnell later Denise White with Gurtha Allen. Denise didn’t know who her biological father was until the year 1988. She later became close to her father and took her father’s last name.

As for Betty Smith, there is no information about her relationships or marriages after she and Barry White’s divorce. It is difficult to tell if she has other children in addition to the four children she had with her ex-husband Barry. She has successfully avoided the spotlight and kept her personal details a secret. Barry White was one of the best-selling music artists of all time.

Betty Smith’s ex-husband was known for his bass voice. He has revealed that his voice changed overnight from a squeaky voice to the bass voice he was known for. He once disclosed: “[As a child], I had a normal squeaky kid voice. Then as a teenager, that completely changed. My mother cried because she knew her baby boy had become a man.” In a 2000 interview with Conan O’Brien, Barry recalled:

“I woke up one morning when I was 14. I spoke to my mother and I scared both of us.” He said his voice scared him and his mother that morning. “It was totally unexpected. My chest rattled. I mean vibrations. My mother was staring at me, and I was staring at her. The next thing I knew, her straight face broke into a beautiful smile. Tears came down her face and she said, ‘My son’s a man now'”, Barry said.

Where Is Barry White’s Ex-wife Now?

Betty Smith’s whereabouts are unknown. She lived a low-key life and stayed private. It is unknown if she is still alive or not. Her ex-husband Barry White who suffered from health problems, died on July 4, 2003, at age 58, at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles, California, U.S. He died after suffering cardiac arrest. Barry White’s manager Ned Shankman said:

ALSO, READ: Shaherah White: Who Is Barry White’s Daughter?

“It was just a series of things brought on by his high blood pressure, which triggered kidney failure and a mild stroke and ongoing low-grade infections that they just couldn’t get on top of”. He said of Barry: “He had a most unique voice, a most unique appearance. He was just a very unique guy.” Barry White was cremated and the ashes were scattered in the ocean off the California coast.