What to Know About 'The Real’s’ Adrienne Bailon’s Husband, Israel Houghton

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‘The Real’ co-host Adrienne Bailon has had some very public relationships and breakups with some very public people who made headlines of their own, including husband gospel artist Israel Houghton. Bailon’s spouse is widely known in Christian music and church circles, particularly African American churches.

Best known for his works as lead singer and acoustic guitarist for Israel Houghton and New Breed, the “I Am A Friend of God” singer has won six Grammys throughout his career, including one for Best Traditional Gospel Album for Alive in South Africa.

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Houghton was born to a Caucasian mother who struggled with drug abuse earlier in life and an African-American father. As a young boy, he found solace in music and at church, singing and playing music.

In 1994, Houghton married his first wife, Meleasa and the couple are the parents of two daughters and one son. While married, the singer fathered two sons, Kingston and Khristian, with DeVawn Moreno. He and Meleasa Houghton separated in 2015 and finalized their divorce in 2016.

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Former ‘Ceetah Girl,’ Adrienne Bailon began dating Houghton in 2016, a few months after breaking off her engagement to boyfriend Lenny Santiago. Houghton and Bailon met years earlier during the filming of the faith-based movie ‘In Love with A Church Girl,’ which starred Bailon and was produced by Houghton.

During an episode of ‘The Real,’ Bailon admitted that she became interested in dating her now-husband after an attempt to set him up with a friend failed. The friend suggested she should date him.

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The pair tried to keep their relationship a secret, but paparazzi spotted them on vacation in Mexico. Perhaps since the public was under the impression that Houghton was still legally married at the time, the two came under an avalanche of scrutiny.

After the relationship had been revealed, Houghton released a statement defending his relationship with Bailon, clearing up their relationship timeline and insisting he and his wife were divorced before he and Bailon began dating. Bailon has stated she investigated Houghton’s divorce on her own before moving forward.

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On November 11, 2016, Houghton married the TV personality in Paris in front of 70 of their closest family and friends at the Hotel Plaza Atheneel, after a six-month courtship.

Bailon told People, “I genuinely just feel so blessed and grateful. I’ve honestly never been happier in my entire life. I’ve never felt what I feel right now. I can’t even describe what it is, but it’s such a peace mixed with total excitement.”

The two live in Bel Air, California and Houghton has inspired Bailon to return to her first love of music. In 2018, they released a song together from Houghton’s album, Road to Demaskus.