Jon Batiste stands as a towering figure in contemporary music, celebrated for his genre-bending talent and captivating performances. From his early days mastering multiple instruments to collaborating with legends like Lenny Kravitz and Prince, Batiste’s career has been nothing short of extraordinary. As he prepares to take the stage for the 2025 Super Bowl national anthem, a constant source of strength and inspiration by his side is his wife, Suleika Jaouad. More than just a partner, Suleika Jaouad is a New York Times best-selling author, Emmy Award-winning journalist, and motivational speaker, whose own remarkable journey has deeply intertwined with Batiste’s life and art. Their story, which began in teenage years and blossomed amidst life’s most challenging storms, is a testament to love, resilience, and shared creativity.
Suleika Jaouad is a woman of diverse talents and profound experiences, shaping her into the accomplished individual she is today. Her journey is marked by academic achievements, literary success, impactful journalism, and a courageous battle with leukemia that has profoundly influenced her life and work, as well as her relationship with Jon Batiste.
An Education in Arts and Letters
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Suleika Jaouad’s educational path reflects her deep engagement with both the arts and humanities. According to her official website, her early passion for music led her to the pre-college program at the prestigious Juilliard School, where she focused on the double bass. Continuing her academic pursuits, she earned a bachelor’s degree from Princeton University, actively participating in the University Orchestra, showcasing her continued dedication to music. Later, she further honed her writing skills by obtaining an MFA in writing and literature from Bennington College, solidifying her foundation in both artistic performance and literary arts. This diverse educational background laid the groundwork for her multifaceted career as a writer, artist, and speaker.
Confronting Leukemia: A Young Life Interrupted
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Shortly after graduating from Princeton University, at the age of 22, Suleika Jaouad received a life-altering diagnosis: acute myeloid leukemia. This aggressive form of cancer affects the blood and bone marrow, and at the time of her diagnosis in 2012, doctors gave her only a 35 percent chance of survival, as she revealed in a 2021 interview with Health magazine. Facing such daunting odds, Jaouad began documenting her experiences in a New York Times column and video series titled Life, Interrupted. This powerful and poignant series chronicled her journey as a young adult navigating cancer treatment, capturing the physical and emotional toll of the disease and its impact on her life. Her courageous and insightful work resonated deeply with audiences and earned her a Primetime Emmy Award, highlighting her exceptional ability to communicate complex and personal experiences through journalism. In her debut column, she articulated the disorienting experience of facing mortality at a young age: “Like my peers, I have yet to fully define who I want to become. But as a young cancer patient, it’s difficult to see ahead when I’m fighting for my life. I don’t know what the future holds. I just know I want to be there.”
Band Camp Beginnings and a Musical Reunion
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The story of Suleika Jaouad and Jon Batiste’s relationship is unique, beginning with a connection forged in their youth. They first met at band camp when Suleika was 13 and Jon was 14. Jaouad humorously described band camp as “the most awkward place on earth” in a 2020 Instagram post, yet it marked the start of their shared history. Years later, their paths re-crossed under very different circumstances. While Suleika was undergoing treatment for leukemia in the hospital, Jon Batiste visited her, bringing with him an extraordinary gift: his entire band. As Jaouad recounted in her New York Times column, “To my surprise, he showed up with his entire band. Every inch of the 25-room floor was filled with music. Timidly at first, and then with jubilation, patients, nurses and other hospital workers began to dance and clap.” This impromptu concert in the oncology ward was a powerful moment of joy and healing, demonstrating Batiste’s compassionate spirit and the profound impact of music. “The oncology ward was breathing a sigh of relief, its inhabitants rejoicing in a temporary timeout, losing themselves to the beauty and healing power of the music,” Jaouad wrote, capturing the emotional resonance of that day. This reconnection solidified a bond that had begun in adolescence and was now deepening in the face of adversity.
“Show Me the Way”: Music Inspired by Love and Resilience
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Suleika Jaouad’s influence extends into Jon Batiste’s music, serving as a direct inspiration for his deeply moving 2021 song, “Show Me the Way.” In a PEOPLE Every Day podcast interview, Batiste openly shared that the song was born from their relationship, encapsulating the profound connection they share. “[It speaks to a lot of me growing up and also our relationship,” he explained. “[It’s a beautiful thing] to have — that piece of our relationship sliced off into the album.” The song reflects themes of guidance, support, and navigating life’s uncertainties together, mirroring their journey. Their bond further strengthened during the COVID-19 pandemic lockdowns, providing them with a unique opportunity for deeper connection amidst global challenges. “Obviously there’s so much loss that we’ve faced individually and collectively, but I find that this time has also been a blessing in that it gives us a break to be with each other,” Batiste noted, highlighting the silver linings found in difficult times. Their shared moments, both big and small, often find expression in music, as seen in a sweet video from October 2022 where Batiste serenaded Jaouad with Billie Holiday’s “I’ll Be Seeing You,” capturing their everyday love and affection.
Facing Leukemia Again: Strength and Shared Challenges
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In December 2021, Suleika Jaouad faced another significant health challenge when she announced the recurrence of her leukemia. This news marked the beginning of another intense period of treatment, including chemotherapy and a scheduled bone marrow transplant. In her newsletter, she described the emotional impact of the diagnosis: “When I got the biopsy results, it felt like a sinkhole opened up and swallowed everything.” Despite the daunting circumstances, Suleika and Jon faced this challenge together with resilience and pragmatism. “Within 72 hours, Jon and I packed our things, found friends to care for Oscar and Loulou, gave copies of our keys to our neighbor, canceled work and cleared our schedules, and were on our way to the hospital in New York City,” she recounted, illustrating their swift and unified response. A poignant Instagram post captured a selfie of them in a hospital bed, with Suleika captioning it, “First 72 hours in the bone marrow transplant unit: co-sleeping in a tiny hospital bed, painting, prank calling (including—by request—a nurse’s boyfriend), blood draws and bags of chemo, hospital room choreographies and hallway laps (14 = a mile), and never not rubbing my newly bald head.” This glimpse into their hospital life revealed their ability to find moments of normalcy, humor, and connection even amidst serious illness. During earlier treatments in the pandemic, when hospital visits were restricted, Jon Batiste’s way of staying connected was through music, writing lullabies for Suleika that later inspired his song “Butterfly” from the album World Music Radio. He described it as “[a personal narrative] song in relation to my life and what my family has gone through and my wife and all of the things she’s been able to overcome,” highlighting her incredible strength. In September 2023, Batiste shared an optimistic update on Sherri, stating, “[It’s a miracle]. She’s doing so much better after her [bone marrow] transplant. Everything is going as great as it can go, and we just pray that it continues.” However, in December 2024, Suleika shared another update, revealing a third cancer diagnosis. Looking back on the year, she wrote on Instagram, “Like life, my health was in flux. I felt healthier than ever only to learn my leukemia was back. I had to adjust to a grueling monthly chemo regimen.” Despite these ongoing health battles, their public appearances and shared messages remain filled with hope and mutual support. In February 2025, they missed the Grammys ceremony, but shared a joint Instagram post celebrating their win for American Symphony, stating, “We couldn’t make it to the ceremony but we’re beaming love from our couch to yours, and sending gratitude to all who made this film possible.”
A Wedding Amidst the Storm: Love Prevails
Jon Batiste and Suleika Jaouad’s commitment to each other deepened in the most profound way when they decided to marry in February 2022, just before Suleika underwent her bone marrow transplant. They shared this deeply personal moment with the public on CBS Sunday Morning. “We got married the day before I was admitted to the hospital to undergo my bone marrow transplant,” Jaouad revealed. Despite the timing coinciding with her health crisis, she emphasized that their decision to marry was not driven by her illness, but rather by a long-standing desire to formalize their bond. “We have known that [we wanted to get married], I think, from the first week that we started dating. That’s when Jon first brought up the topic of marriage to me. So, we’ve had eight years,” she explained, highlighting the enduring nature of their relationship. Batiste further elaborated on their intimate wedding at the TIME 100 Gala in 2022, sharing that they chose to marry at home because it was “[a place we go to replenish] our soul.” He described their home as, “built something very, very special. It’s the combination of both of us. It’s the perfect blend of all of our experiences together, and all of our ancestral experiences coming together. And it’s amazing that we have that in the midst of this time.” He also spoke admiringly of Suleika’s resilience, “You wouldn’t think that she is going through what she’s going through when you see her. She has this ability to take the toughest challenges and make it life-affirming. So, with her it’s a special case. How she’s doing, it’s a Suleika thing.”
A Multifaceted Career: Author, Journalist, and Artist
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Suleika Jaouad’s identity extends far beyond her personal challenges; she is a celebrated author, journalist, speaker, and artist. She is best known for her New York Times best-selling memoir, Between Two Kingdoms: A Memoir of a Life Interrupted. The book chronicles her journey from her leukemia diagnosis to remission, and her subsequent road trip of self-discovery and healing. Jaouad herself reframes the narrative of her book, telling The New York Times, “It’s really about what it means to heal — what it actually takes to move forward when your life has been upended by some kind of rupture,” emphasizing the universal themes of resilience and recovery beyond just cancer survival. Her insightful essays and reported features have graced the pages of esteemed publications such as The Atlantic, The Guardian, Vogue, and NPR, addressing a wide range of topics with depth and nuance. In addition to her writing, Jaouad is also a talented painter and has been an artist in residence at ArtYard, Ucross, and the Kerouac Project, further showcasing her creative versatility. In March 2022, she launched her “100-Day Project,” committing to create an original painting each day for 100 days during her treatment, documenting her artistic process on Instagram and sharing her artwork created even from her hospital bed. Furthermore, Jaouad is a sought-after speaker, sharing her experiences and insights at various engagements globally. Her TED Talk, “What almost dying taught me about living,” has garnered nearly five million views, inspiring countless individuals with her message of hope and resilience in the face of adversity.
Advocacy and Philanthropy: Giving Back
Suleika Jaouad channels her personal experiences into impactful advocacy work, dedicated to supporting others affected by illness. She has served on prestigious panels and boards, including Barack Obama’s Presidential Cancer Panel, the Bone Marrow and Cancer Foundation, and the national advisory board of Family Reach, contributing her expertise and passion to these organizations. Her advocacy extends to broader social issues, encompassing social justice and prison reform, reflecting her wide-ranging commitment to positive change. Her contributions have been recognized with the Red Door Advocacy & Community Service Award, and she was honored by the Brooklyn Public Library alongside Jon Batiste for their significant contributions to both literature and music, highlighting their combined impact on the arts and society.
“American Symphony”: Sharing Their Story on Screen
The Netflix documentary American Symphony offers an intimate look into the lives of Suleika Jaouad and Jon Batiste during a pivotal year. The film follows Batiste as he prepares for his orchestral debut at Carnegie Hall and Suleika as she navigates her cancer’s return. Jaouad shared with PEOPLE that despite their private nature, they felt compelled to share their story, “We’re both very private people, but more than that, especially with the illness piece, we didn’t know how the story was going to end.” The documentary captures their journey through uncertainty, showcasing both the joys and hardships they faced. “We wanted to show what it means to be in the trenches of uncertainty, to have to hold that duality of light — the astonishingly beautiful things that are happening and the astonishingly hard ones in the same palm,” she explained. Batiste also acknowledged the emotional weight of the film, “It really is hard for me to watch it. But it’s very powerful the way it all came together.”
Public Appearances: A United Front
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Despite their desire for privacy, Suleika Jaouad and Jon Batiste have made several public appearances together, often at significant events. In March 2024, they walked hand-in-hand on the Oscars red carpet. Suleika’s dress for the occasion was particularly noteworthy, designed by Angelina Jolie and featuring artwork by artist Chaz Guest. As Jaouad mentioned to CTV Etalk, it was Jolie’s “[first time designing a dress] for the red carpet and she invited the amazing artist Chaz Guest to paint a symphony on the back of it.” The silver gown depicted Batiste conducting musicians, a design choice that Jolie told Vogue was inspired by Suleika’s “creativity and her love.” Earlier, in 2022, the couple attended the first State dinner of President Biden’s administration at the White House. Batiste performed at the event, accompanied by his father, while Suleika was elegantly dressed in a yellow gown. These public moments offer glimpses into their life together, showcasing their mutual support and shared presence in each other’s professional and personal milestones.
Suleika Jaouad is much more than just “Jon Batiste’s wife”; she is an accomplished individual whose life story is marked by resilience, creativity, and advocacy. Her journey, intertwined with Jon Batiste’s, is a compelling narrative of love, partnership, and facing life’s challenges with grace and strength. Together, they navigate the complexities of life, inspiring many with their unwavering bond and commitment to both their individual passions and their shared life.
