The Love and Divorce of Jimmy Buffett: What's Going on with His Ex-Wife, Margie Washichek?

The world lost another musical gem this year. Musician Jimmy Buffett, who was a pied piper of tropical rock music, died on September 1, 2023, after complications from a rare and aggressive form of skin cancer called Merkel-cell carcinoma.  

Buffett's sad demise has left an unfillable void in the industry and amongst fans who are often referred to as parrot heads; for the legion of them, Buffett was not only a calming voice amidst the chaos but a reliable lifestyle coach to live a fulfilling life. Inside Jimmy Buffett's marriage and his divorce from Margie Washichek! Complete story here!  

Jimmy Buffett is Survived By the Love of His Life, Jane Slagsvol!  

Buffett might have been a flagbearer of all things cool-and-breezy and unconventional, but when gauged in his personal life, the musician-turned-businessman was very conventional. For 45 years, that is, from 1977 until his death, he was married to Jane Slagsvol.   

Being a beloved idol to fans mainly comprising of baby boomers, Jimmy may have had his share of romances or flings, but in the public eye, the Margaritaville crooner has only ever been linked with two women, both of whom, at a particular time, were lucky enough to be a conjugal relationship with the late singer.  

The It's 5 O'Clock Somewhere crooner was on one of many beach escapades when he met the stunning Slagsvol in Key West, Florida, in the early 70s. The then-young Slagsvol was reportedly on spring break, and Buffett, after experiencing a setback in his personal and professional life, was beginning to develop his trademark Caribbean rock genre.   

The then-budding musician and the college-going Slagsvol reportedly discover an immediate connection. Amidst musical escapades and a multi-faceted career, Buffett found a serene anchor in Jane, who was a beacon of stability and assurance in his ever-moving life. The duo tied the knot in 1977 and went on to traverse a journey away from the spotlight.  

The couple went to welcome three kids. Their oldest, Savannah, was born in June 1979, followed by their second daughter, Sarah, in April 1992. The duo adopted their youngest, Cameron, in 1994. Buffett's interviews and ever-green songs show that Slagsvol was a significant muse and pillar in his life.   

The late hitmaker, in his biography, Jimmy Buffett: A Good Life All The Way, also credited his wife for being a great help in improving his country rock band, Coral Reefer Band, and his billion-dollar Margaritaville empire. Despite maintaining a low-profile public image, Buffett's marital bumps with Slagsvol almost always made it into headlines.  

The long-married couple reportedly wouldn't have celebrated their decade-long milestone had they not worked through their split in the 80s. As per sources, Buffett and Slagsvol parted ways five years after their wedding. Buffett's now-widow, Slagsvol, was discovering herself, and Jimmy's excessive partying lifestyle was becoming too much for her.   

Jimmy's widow, Slagsvol, pens an emotional tribute to her late husband!  

She decided to leave the singer in the 80s and came back to him in 1991. "I got separated from the right girl, sold the house in Aspen, moved back to Key West, worked the road, and made more records," Jimmy wrote of his split from Jane in his autobiography, A Pirate Looks At Fifty. 

Throughout their low-key marriage, Slagsvol, in support of her husband's career, accompanied him in several public events. Jimmy's surviving wife recently penned an emotional tribute on his official website. "Jimmy was love. Every cell in his body was filled with joy. He smiled all the time, even when he was deeply ill," read an excerpt of Jane's long tribute.   

Inside Jimmy Buffett's Failed Marriage with Margie Washichek!  

The Come Monday hitmaker was in his early 20s when he fell in love with Margie Washichek, a part of Jimmy's life for only a brief period. It is unlikely that Washichek had any significant impact on Buffett's later successful life, but she was his doting wife for a short-lived period.   

Buffett's enduring marriage with Slagsvol is a relatively well-wrapped story, so one can imagine the high walls around his first marriage with Margie, which lasted three years and ended decades ago. The  Mississippi-born singer and Washichek reportedly met and fell in love as college students.  

While Jimmy attended the Mississippi Southern, Washichek was reportedly enrolled at Spring Hill College. The duo got engaged when Buffett had just begun working on his musical aspirations and married in 1969. In his book, Jimmy recalls being flat-broke when he was married to Washichek.   

The late singer blamed himself for his failed marriage with Margie. Jimmy didn't hesitate to admit to his straying behaviors when married to Washichek. "She deserved it for putting up with my shallow and immature attempt at being a husband," the singer confessed.  

The duo parted ways in September 1972. Jimmy's ex-wife, Washichek, has since spiraled into oblivion and remains a mystery figure, only known for her fleeting marriage with the late singer. Although it is unknown what career line she ventured into, Washichek was reportedly a beauty queen when she was dating Buffett.  

Short Bio on Jimmy

Jimmy Buffett was born in Pascagoula, Mississippi, on December 25, 1946. The late musician lived his life in the spotlight. 

Buffett delved into his love for music by street performing. He later landed his breakthrough with his third studio album, A White Sport Coat and a Pink Crustacean. Buffett's slew of hitmakers, including his signature song, Margaritaville, promotes the singer's island escapism lifestyle.  

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