Carlos Santana Gushes About Second Wife Cindy Blackman, Says He Prayed For A 'Queen'

Carlos Santana opened up in a interview about his marriage to jazz drummer Cindy Blackman, revealing that he prayed for a loving partner after his divorce from Deborah King. Santana and Blackman got engaged onstage in 2010 and married in Maui.

Santana shares a deep passion for music and art with Blackman, and they enjoy discussing artists like Miles Davis and Jimi Hendrix. Despite the pain of his divorce from King, Santana feels fortunate to have found love again. 

The legendary artist also aims to offer "hope and courage" to others, reflecting on his own journey of self-acceptance and embracing his inner child.

Keep on reading to learn more.

Legendary musician Carlos Santana had a crystal-clear vision of what he desired in love, and destiny aligned him with the remarkable jazz drummer Cindy Blackman Santana.

In an interview with People magazine, the legendary 75-year-old Rock & Roll Hall of Famer bared his soul about his cherished partner, now 63, whom he fervently prayed for following his divorce from his first wife, Deborah King, back in 2007.

"I was meditating and talking to God, and I said, 'I need a queen to come home to share this. Love is unconditional, and I need someone who loves me and grows with me,'" he shared. "And next thing I know, here comes Cindy. The way Cindy walked like a New York woman, filled with confidence. I was like, 'Damn.'"

Santana, the subject of the new documentary "Carlos," which premiered on June 17th at the prestigious Tribeca Film Festival, and Blackman were engaged onstage after an electrifying performance in July 2010. They tied the knot that December amidst the idyllic splendor of the Ritz-Carlton in Maui, Hawaii.

According to People, the couple shares a deep passion for music and can talk endlessly about artists like Miles Davis and Jimi Hendrix. They also enjoy traveling to Europe, exploring museums, and discussing brilliant creators such as Pablo Picasso, Leonardo da Vinci, and Igor Stravinsky.

"I've always been infatuated with strong women because my mother was like that," Santana revealed. "The way [Cindy] looks at me, the way she touches me, it's like she's my best friend."

Santana is a proud father to his children Salvador, Angelica, and Stella, aged 40, 33, and 38, respectively. All three kids were born during his 34-year-long marriage to King.

According to Santana, the joy in their marriage "dissipated" around the time of his successful album "Supernatural" in 1999. "Deborah told me that she thought I was living la vida loca while she was taking care of the children and the business. What was missing was us time," he shared, per People.

While opening up about the pain of the separation, the iconic hitmaker added, "When we divorced, it was very hurtful; it felt like somebody ripped my heart open and shot some dry ice in it. I couldn't believe it was over because we'd never known divorce in my family."

Despite the heartache, Santana considers himself incredibly fortunate to have found love once again. Referring to Blackman, he said, "I know I have received what I needed, and now we share our life."

In a candid revelation to People magazine, the guitar maestro shared that he initially felt uneasy with fame but has undergone a transformative journey where he now finds joy in his achievements by viewing them through the lens of his childhood self.

Reflecting on his transformation, Santana said, "Now everything's a fun time because there's still a seven-year-old Carlos in me that looks at life like, 'What are we going to get into today?'" The singer added, "I'm just starting, and everything has prepared me for this."

Driven by a deep desire to inspire and uplift others, the iconic musician seeks to provide "hope and courage to people" rooted in a lesson learned during his early years. Santana holds onto the belief that offering "a heartfelt hug to the listener and validating their existence."