John Travolta became an icon thanks to his role as Danny Zuko in Grease and subsequent stand-out roles in flicks like Pulp Fiction and Hairspray. His wife, Kelly Preston, has had successful work in film, with roles in movies such as The Cat in the Hat and Old Dogs.

Ever since the couple tied the knot in 1991, fans have been curious to know all they can about this famous pair — including how they’ve managed to navigate a marriage for thirty years in Hollywood, where that’s almost unheard of. John and Kelly have had three children with each other, all with almost decade-long age gaps between them. Their first child, son Jett, was born shortly after their wedding in April 1992. They welcomed daughter Ella Bleu in 2000, and a second son, named Benjamin, in 2010.

Alongside their professional accolades, the Travoltas have been the subject of media attention for their controversial religious beliefs, unfortunate family incidents, and long-lasting romance. Keep reading to discover what you need to know about this famous family. Hey, after staying married to one another for thirty years amid the hustle and bustle of Hollywood, these two have got to have at least a tip or two for how to make things work.

John and Kelly have been married since 1991. But thankfully the couple had more than one ceremony, or else they may not actually be man and wife. That's because their first ceremony technically wasn't legal.

The famous pair had their first ceremony in France in 1991, but the minister who married them didn't have the right credentials to legally wed a couple. Upon returning to the United States, the newlyweds discovered that their union thus wasn't officially legal.

So, John and Kelly held another ceremony a few days later on Dayton Beach in Florida, this time making sure their nuptials were one hundred percent official.

19 They Lost A Child

John and Kelly may seem like they’ve had the picture-perfect life, but that’s just what it looks like in front of the camera. The famous couple, unfortunately, had to deal with unspeakable loss during their marriage when their eldest son Jett passed during an untimely incident in 2009.

The family had been vacationing on the Bahamas when Jett had health problems at their resort home and passed in the hospital shortly after. The 16-year-old had a history of health problems, but the family has said that it still took them by surprise.

“The truth is, I didn’t know if I was going to make it,” John later said in 2014 about the incident, Huffington Post reports. “Life was no longer interesting to me, so it took a lot to get me better.” John and Kelly credit the birth of their second son, Benjamin, with helping them cope.

18 Their Son Jett Had Kawasaki Disease

As was mentioned, John and Kelly’s eldest son Jett had a history of health problems. The famous child specifically had a rare inflammatory condition called Kawasaki Disease.

The condition causes inflammation in the walls of the body’s arteries, thus affecting the heart’s supply. Symptoms of the disease include high fever, peeling skin, swollen lymph nodes, and a swollen tongue. Estimates suggest the condition affects around 10 in every 100,000 children, with most of them being younger than five years old.

Kelly once revealed that Jett was diagnosed with the disease at the age of two. Both she and her husband blamed the condition for their son’s developmental disabilities, CNN reports.

17 Fans Questioned The Quality Of Jett's Care

With Jett’s very public health problems, many fans were curious to know how the Travolta’s were handling their son’s difficult diagnosis. However, both John and Kelly preferred to stay mum on the subject of their son’s treatment, which only seemed to heighten the public’s curiosity.

The public’s interest reached an all-time high after Jett’s untimely passing in 2009, with some wondering about the quality of the medical attention the teen had been receiving. Fans’ curiosity got so intense that the Travoltas eventually put out a statement via their lawyer quashing the gossip.

"The Travoltas are wonderful, loving parents, and their priority is their children," the attorney told the media, E! News reports. "They have and they continue to take the best possible care of their children. To suggest anything to the contrary is very hurtful to a loving family and also would be false and defamatory."

16 Their Youngest Son Saved Their Marriage

John and Kelly got pregnant quickly after the passing of their eldest son, Jett. While the couple maintains the pregnancy was unplanned, they say that welcoming a new son into their life (whom they named Ben) helped them cope with the aftermath of such a difficult loss.

“We certainly have bonded together,” John told Huffington Post in 2009. “Certainly having little Ben has been a beautiful kind of glue for us to re-bond after a tremendous loss.” The actor added in 2012 during an interview with Lifetime, “Nobody should have to lose a child. It’s unfathomable. But I’m here to say that you can get through it. You can live again. You can want to live again.”

15 They Say Their Church Got Them Through The Hard Times

It’s safe to say that Travoltas have faced a lot during their almost-three-decades long marriage. What’s the secret to making things last? Well, Kelly and John say their church plays a big role in their relationship.

The famous couple has always been very open about their involvement in their church, despite criticism from the public. Particularly after the loss of their son, John was more vocal than ever about how his faith got him and his family through the tough times.

“The church never left our side for two years,” he told Us Weekly this year. “I don’t know if I would have made it through without their support. Our church is the number one thing that keeps us grounded.”

14 They’ve Been Married For Almost Three Decades

John and Kelly married in 1991, meaning that they’ll have been married for thirty years come 2021. Not only is that an eternity by Hollywood standards, but it’s a long time for even us normal folks.

While the couple often remains private when it comes to their personal life, they have revealed that open and honest communication is one of their main secrets to keeping their relationship strong.

“We picked the right people and [keep] it honest and [communicate] and [check] in with each other,” Kelly told Us Weekly this year about how they keep their relationship so strong. “A relationship doesn’t just happen. You have to work at it. You’ve got to keep it fun, and that’s what we do.”

13 Kelly Was Almost Mrs. George Clooney

Before she met her future husband John Travolta, Kelly Preston thought she might end up with another famous man - George Clooney, to be exact!

The couple was together from 1987-1989, after getting together the same year Kelly finalized her divorce from Kevin Gage. During their short-lived romance, George gifted Kelly with a pet pig whom she named Max and kept even after their break-up.

While Kelly went on to marry John Travolta, George eventually found love with human rights lawyer Amal Alamuddin. The couple welcomed a set of twins a few years back and couldn't seem any happier.

12 And John Almost End Up With Kirstie Alley

Kelly wasn’t the only one who almost got married to someone else!

Before he met his future wife, John was said to be infatuated with actress Kirstie Alley. Last September, the actress came forward to discuss her brief romance with the Grease alum. She said they met on the 1989 set of Look Who’s Talking Back and, though they didn’t have a physical relationship, she says there was an emotional connection.

"I consider what I did even worse [than being unfaithful] because I actually let myself fall in love with him and stay in love with him for a long time," Kirstie told Dan Wootton during his podcast. "He had dated Kelly Preston before he did Look Who's Talking with me, and then I would say he would agree that it was mutual that we sort of fell in love with each other," Kirstie continued. "When it became very apparent that I wasn't going anywhere, I was staying married… and then he started seeing Kelly again."

11 John Helped Kelly After Her First Marriage

Kelly Preston was married once before she eventually settled down with John Travolta. From 1985 to 1987, the celebrity was married to fellow actor Kevin Gage. John has revealed that he was a shoulder for Kelly to cry on following her divorce, but that the two remained friends for a long time before making things romantic.

“I helped Kelly in different ways to get her through her troubled marriage [to actor Kevin Gage] and I didn't ever cross the line,” John once told Whim. “I just genuinely helped her and I think that bond, when we were working together later [on 1989’s The Experts], helped us navigate and have a kind of trust about it I guess.”

10 He’s Sad His Kids Are Growing Up

All parents are familiar with the bittersweet feeling that comes with watching their children grow up. It feels like just yesterday John and Kelly were welcoming their youngest bundle of joy, but now that baby no. 3 is nearing a decade old, it’s proof that the Travolta kids are growing up - and John has feelings about it!

“We always update our needs and wants, and I think everyone has to do that,” John told Hollywood Life. “People change, and when you change, you want or need something different — you have to keep up with it.” The star added, “You have to keep your own council of how you are doing with each other. And of course, children help — how to agree how to raise them.”

9 They Work To Keep Their Marriage Fresh

No one said that marriage was easy - not even the Travoltas, who make having a thirty-year marriage look like a breeze. The couple has said on multiple occasions that they work hard to keep things strong and healthy in their relationship.

Kelly recommends one-on-one time with your partner. "Keep checking in, and keep growing, and changing," she told Closer Weekly in 2018. "Keep doing things, just the two of you."

John added, “[Some couples] don’t explore what the new needs are for each other. If you take a little bit of energy to take inventory of 'What are you interested in lately?' then you can keep it fresh." He continued, "We really care deeply about each other and we protect each other — and we keep [our relationship] up to date."

8 Their Daughter Ella Is An Actress

It looks likes acting runs in the Travolta family! The couple's only daughter, Ella, has already begun dabbling in the acting business - and her parents couldn't sound any more pleased.

“Our children keep our interest in life very high. Their future is very important to us,” John said this year of his two children. “They’re smart kids and they do well because they’re encouraged to apply what they learn,” he continued. “Ella is making a living as an actress. We’re very proud of her. She’s old-school elegant and gifted in the arts.”

“Ella is fabulous,” John also said in 2017 to Hollywood Life. “Yes, I want her [to pursue acting] because she is so good at it. She is such a good performer.”

7 Their Son Ben May Also Become An Actor

Seriously, the acting gene is definitely alive and well in the Travolta family. Not only has the couple’s daughter already begun to act, but their youngest son, Benjamin, has also expressed a desire to get into the family business.

During an interview with Whimn, John and Kelly revealed that their youngest has said he’d like to be an actor just like mom and dad. However, Kelly added that he’s also perused being a doctor, astronaut, gymnast, chef, and policeman, so it doesn’t sound like anything is set in stone.

“As an actor, he could play all of those,” Kelly mused. “Whatever he decides we will go with, but Ella definitely wants to act.”

6 They Have A Plane Runway In Their Home

In addition to his long list of acting accolades, it turns out John Travolta is also a very successful pilot! Why do some people get all the talent?!

The actor has such a passion for flying that he got his pilot’s license and now owns a small army of planes. According to Brain Sharper, the Travolta family owns five planes, including a Boeing 707 aircraft in which John loves to take his friends and family out.

John even went so far has to build his home on a residential airpark in the Lumbolair Aviation Estates, meaning he has a runway that goes straight to his front door so he can jump in his plane whenever he wants to.

5 John Is A Bit Of A Pushover With The Kids

It’s clear who’s the good cop and who’s the bad cop in the Travolta household!

Kelly has revealed that her husband is more of a push-over when it comes to their kiddos compared to her. It sounds like the kids always go to dad when they need to ask for something.

“Daddy says yes to everything. He is that dad,” Kelly previously told People. “They come to me first. [Ben] comes to me and says, ‘Can I have ice cream?’ at midnight and I say, ‘No, no, you have to go to bed’ — and, mind you, it’s midnight and he’s six. And Dad’s like, ‘Sure! Do you want ... fudge on that?'”

4 Kelly Runs A Green Household

"When I learned I was pregnant [with Ella], the first thing I wanted to do was to create the perfect place to bring my baby home to," Kelly said in 2002, E! News reports. "I had all of this nesting energy. I'm sure you know that feeling.”

She continued, “But sometimes when we think we are doing the right thing, like scrubbing the nursery spotless, even cleaning the carpet, we are actually inviting dangerous chemicals into our baby's world. Even what these chemicals leave behind can cause problems, so hold off on using so many cleaners."

3 John And Kelly Have Acted Together

Couples that act together stay together?

Back in 2017, both Kelly and John signed on to work on the film Gotti, which was one of the first times the couple got in front of the camera together. “Without bragging, I think we're both experienced actors and we enjoy acting. So if it means getting angry at each other, you become those people getting angry at each other,” John explained how the couple filmed argumentative scenes together without impacting their personal life, The Phoenix New Times reports.

John continued, “I really separate myself from the characters I play. Some people need to use themselves; I really don't. I can actually pretend I'm another person, and that's how I do it.”

2 Dancing Is A Big Part Of Their Family

Given that we’re talking about the man who made Grease what it is, it’s no surprise to hear that song and dance are a huge part of the Travolta household.

Kelly revealed that her husband’s dance moves are one of the main things she loves about him. So much so, the whole family goes out for dancing nights (or, at least boogies it up in their own kitchen!)

"There [are] too many best things! His lips, dancing, fun, laughing. [We still dance] all the time," Kelly said last year, Closer Weekly reports. "[Our] kids dance with us, we dance at the house. We go out dancing. Yeah, I love it."

1 The Family Feels Stronger Than Ever

Despite the difficulties the Travoltas have faced throughout the years, the family appears to be stronger than ever. 

"They say the hardest thing in the world is losing a parent. I can now say that isn't true. The hardest thing in the world is losing a child,” he wrote in a tribute to Jett in 2016. “We have to stop and be thankful for our children and children should stop and be thankful for their parents. Because, life is very short.”

“What I truly learned most of all is, live and love every day like it's your last. Because, one day, it will be,” John continued. “Take chances and go live life. Tell the ones you love, that you love them every day. Don't take any moment for granted. Life is worth living."

Sources: Huffington Post, Entertainment Tonight, E Online, NY Daily News, The Daily Beast, Hollywood Life, E Online, Phoenix New Time, Now to Love, Closer Weekly, People, NY Daily News, Whimn