Jayne Posner: Neil Diamond’s First Wife and High School Sweetheart

Before Neil Diamond became one of the best-selling musicians of all time, he was a teenager in Brooklyn trying to impress a girl at school. That girl was Jayne Posner. The two were high school sweethearts who married young, started a family together, and eventually went their separate ways as Diamond’s music career exploded. While Neil went on to sell over 100 million records worldwide, Jayne chose a quieter path — building a career as a teacher and raising their two daughters largely out of the spotlight.

Who Is Jayne Posner?

Jayne Posner is a retired teacher from the New York area who’s best known as the first wife of singer-songwriter Neil Diamond. Sometimes spelled “Jaye Posner” in older sources, she grew up in Brooklyn and attended Abraham Lincoln High School — the same school where she’d meet the man who would become her husband. Unlike many people connected to major celebrities, Jayne has kept an extremely low profile throughout her life. She never pursued fame and has rarely, if ever, spoken publicly about her marriage to Diamond. What’s known about her comes mostly from interviews Neil himself has given over the years, along with biographical accounts of his early career.

Jayne Posner and Neil Diamond

How Did They Meet?

Jayne and Neil first crossed paths at Abraham Lincoln High School in the Brighton Beach neighborhood of Brooklyn, New York. Diamond was around 17 years old at the time, already writing songs and dreaming of a career in music. The school had a notable list of alumni — playwright Arthur Miller and singer Neil Sedaka also attended — but for Diamond, the most important person he met there was Jayne. The two started dating as teenagers and stayed together through the uncertain early years of Neil’s songwriting ambitions.

When Did They Get Married?

Jayne and Neil married in 1963. At the time, Diamond was still far from famous. He’d been working odd jobs to make ends meet, including a stint as a waiter at a resort in the Catskills — a popular vacation destination in upstate New York. According to various accounts, Neil would use his downtime at the resort to write songs, and he reportedly impressed Jayne with his dedication to his craft even when success seemed far off. The marriage came before any of his big breaks. His first charting single, “Solitary Man,” wouldn’t arrive until 1966, and his massive hit “Sweet Caroline” didn’t come until 1969 — the same year the marriage ended.

Why Did They Divorce?

Jayne and Neil divorced in 1969 after six years of marriage. The split coincided with a period of rapid career growth for Diamond. By the late 1960s, he’d scored several hits, was touring constantly, and had become a genuine star. The demands of a music career at that level — long stretches on the road, late nights, the pressures of sudden fame — are well documented as being tough on marriages. While neither Jayne nor Neil has gone into extensive public detail about the specific reasons for the divorce, the timing strongly suggests that his skyrocketing career played a significant role. Neil married his second wife, Marcia Murphey, that same year in 1969. That marriage lasted until 1994. He later married Katie McNeil in 2012.

Jayne Posner’s Children

Jayne and Neil have two daughters together: Marjorie and Elyn Diamond. Both were born during the couple’s marriage in the 1960s. Like their mother, Marjorie and Elyn have generally stayed out of the public eye. They grew up during a time when their father was becoming one of the biggest names in music, but the family has managed to maintain a level of privacy that’s fairly unusual for children of mega-celebrities. Neil also had two sons — Jesse and Micah — from his second marriage to Marcia Murphey.

Jayne Posner’s Career as a Teacher

After her divorce from Neil Diamond, Jayne built a career as a teacher. While specific details about where she taught or what subjects she specialized in aren’t publicly available, teaching was clearly her chosen profession for many years. It’s a path that fits with the low-key, private life she’s maintained. Rather than leveraging her connection to one of the world’s most famous musicians, Jayne focused on education and on raising her daughters. She’s now retired from teaching.

Where Is Jayne Posner Now?

Jayne Posner continues to live a private life away from the media. She doesn’t appear to have any public social media accounts, and she hasn’t given interviews about her time with Neil Diamond. Given her consistent preference for privacy over the past several decades, that’s unlikely to change. What’s clear is that she played an important role in the early life of one of music’s biggest names — she was there before the fame, before the hit records, and before the sold-out arenas. While Neil Diamond’s story is told in documentaries and biographies, Jayne’s chapter in that story remains largely her own.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who is Jayne Posner?

Jayne Posner is a retired teacher and the first wife of legendary singer-songwriter Neil Diamond. The two met as teenagers at Abraham Lincoln High School in Brooklyn, New York, and married in 1963. They have two daughters together, Marjorie and Elyn.

How long were Jayne Posner and Neil Diamond married?

Jayne and Neil were married for six years, from 1963 to 1969. Their divorce came at a time when Diamond’s music career was taking off rapidly, with hits like “Sweet Caroline” arriving that same year.

Does Jayne Posner have children?

Yes, Jayne Posner has two daughters with Neil Diamond: Marjorie Diamond and Elyn Diamond. Both were born during the 1960s and have largely stayed out of the public spotlight throughout their lives.