On Thursday, Sept. 26, alternative pop singer Lana Del Rey married Jeremy Dufrente, an alligator tour guide at Arthur’s Airboat Tours in Des Allemands, Louisiana. Although fans were aware that they had met before, Dufrene and Del Rey had been first seen together as a couple a month before they tied the knot. The two held their wedding in a Louisiana bayou, close to a swamp where Dufrente held his tours.
Del Rey’s career catapulted into success in 2011, with the release of her debut single “Video Games”, followed by her debut album “Born to Die”. Since then, she has released many hits, even making the Billboard Hot 100, with her songs “Say Yes to Heaven,” “West Coast” and “Summertime Sadness.” She is distinguished by her nostalgic and dreamy vocals and instrumentals, also known to include vintage references and imagery in her lyrics
The unlikely pair first crossed paths in 2019, when Del Rey attended one of Dufrente’s tours. In a November 2023 interview with Harper’s Bazaar, a women’s fashion magazine, Del Rey updated fans on her relationship status.
“I’m definitely not in love right now. No. Absolutely not in love. Have been, but no,” Del Rey said. “It hasn’t crossed my mind in the last five months on the road or here yet. But give it a week. My history, sure, it’s coming for me at some point. Yeah. It would be interesting if it didn’t.”
When dating rumors sparked in late August of 2024, Del Rey was quick to shoot them down by commenting on an Instagram post which claimed the two were a couple. However, the singer ended up marrying Dufrente a month later.
Fans of Del Rey were generally shocked by the marriage ceremony, although they had positive reactions, believing that this was in character for the singer.
“I was surprised, but I feel like it’s something she would do; marry a guy she was with for a month, ” WHS student Nora O’Connor said.
“I appreciate that she is not marrying someone who is in the industry and staying true to herself.” WHS student Kate Potter said.
After the wedding, the pair were seen together more often, such as at model Karen Elson and producer Lee Foster’s wedding together. Del Rey and Dufrene experienced an invasion of privacy by paparazzi reportedly flying drones near their windows as well as tracking them. Despite the unauthorized surveillance, the newlyweds are doing well.
“Jeremy is the one and only. And amazing. And we’re very happy.” Del Rey said.
