Danielle Jonas has been standing by her husband Kevin Jonas' side for nearly 16 years — yes, That Kevin Jonas, one third of the eternal Jonas Brothers.
On the surface, her world looks like a highlight reel: red carpets, concert front rows, glittering award shows and beautiful families. But behind the glam, Danielle was quietly fighting a health battle that shook her confidence and forced her to rethink how she took care of herself and her family.
But through it all, Danielle and Kevin have always focused on one thing: their two daughters, 11-year-old Alaina and 8-year-old Valentina.
Kevin Jonas, the ultimate girl dad
Although Kevin grew up with brothers, he and bandmates Nick and Joe have become proud girl dads. They have five daughters! Danielle said the cousins were very close and spent much of the summer together while the Jonas Brothers were on tour. Danielle was convinced that Kevin was born to raise girls.
“Kevin never really mentioned wanting a boy, so when we had two girls, he went crazy. He always let them go their own way, but the most important thing was how much he loved them,” she said. “He flies home every chance he gets. Even if it's a day off and a six-hour flight, he'll come home for a few hours and fly back. I give that a lot of credit.”
Alena and Valentina have also started taking up hobbies that their dad approves of.
“My oldest loves golf, so she and Kevin share that. And my youngest? She just started playing guitar,” Danielle shared. “Watching them in the family room — Kevin with his guitar and Valentina with her little guitar — I think it kills me. It's so cute!”
Family time is the best time
This fall, with the girls in school and the Jonas Brothers on tour, finding family time and attending shows hasn't been easy.
“We want the girls to go to school so they can have a normal life,” Danielle explains. “The school is really inclusive when we take them out, but we don't do that very often. They're their own people, they have their friends, they have their daily lives. We really want them to choose their own path, and being in school helps with that. If they were touring all the time, it would be a lot harder.”
Life in a family with touring musicians isn't always easy, but Danielle is proud of their lifestyle. When she was home alone with the girls, she cherished the bonding time. Even when Kevin was away, Danielle never felt disconnected from him. From the beginning of their relationship, they learned how to work remotely.
“We were in a long-distance relationship when we first met, so our relationship was over the phone and we talked a lot. Kevin's brothers would call him out on it,” Danielle said with a laugh. “So when he's gone now, we still talk a lot. We always tell each other what we're doing, or we say goodnight. He'll call me before he gets on the plane, and he'll call me when he lands. He's on a long tour that takes a few months, but then he's gone for a while and we're together.”
Alone, surprise my daughter and fans
Of course, these girls are the Jonas Brothers and Kevin's biggest fan. In August, Kevin surprised fans by performing his solo song “Changing” for the first time during the Jonas Brothers' tour in Boston.
While Alaina and Valentina couldn't be there in person, Danielle said they were “very excited” to watch the video via FaceTime. Danielle, however, got the full front-row experience, a moment she describes as “overwhelming.”
“I knew he was going to do it, and I said to myself, 'I'm not going to cry. I'm not going to cry.' But when I saw him there by himself, I was like, 'Oh my God,'” Danielle shared. “I was nervous for him but excited, and I knew he was ready. We talked about it a lot before he did it. He did a great job. His voice was unreal. I'm proud of him. ”
Inside Danielle's Private Health Battle
Danielle's pain began when she noticed her hair was falling out. The doctor had no answer or diagnosis.
“They tried to tell me it was anxiety. Finally, I got a biopsy and the results showed I did have Lyme disease,” she told me parents. “I also have eczema on my scalp, which may be caused by inflammation [caused by Lyme disease]. Hair loss is very painful. I got to the point where I wanted to wear a wig. ”
Danielle didn't wear a wig; But because they pulled on her scalp, they irritated her eczema even more.
“I got to go out and do things with Kevin. I just wanted to feel like myself,” she said.
That's when Danielle goes into full-on detective mode, scrutinizing everything that comes into contact with her skin—lotions, serums, hair products, even laundry detergent around the house. It turns out that changing the detergent to all® free clear detergent makes a dramatic difference. Danielle has since worked with the brand because she trusts it, especially since all of their products are endorsed by the National Eczema Association.
Fortunately, Danielle’s Lyme disease is under control. While Danielle is still experiencing some symptoms, including eczema flare-ups, she is relieved that the situation is now more manageable.
photo:
Michael Simon
Enhance daughters' self-esteem
If there's a silver lining, it's that Danielle's experience has given her the empathy and expertise to help her daughters, who also suffer from eczema. She doesn't want this to affect their self-esteem or confidence.
“They've seen what I've been through, so the most important thing I tell them is [when their eczema flares up] “This too shall pass,” Danielle said.
Like many teenagers today, Danielle's two daughters, especially Alaina, are obsessed with their skincare routines. Danielle encourages them to use products with clean ingredients.
“I had to pull Alena back a little bit. She's been having other skin issues besides eczema, so it's important for her to keep her skin clear,” Danielle shared. “She still gets angry, though, because she wants to have fun with certain products. I just tell her, 'Okay, do you want to explode or do you want to keep it under control? That helps calm her down.'”
Navigating sibling dynamics
Danielle has noticed other changes in Alaina now that she's in sixth grade.
“It's crazy. She's so into clothes and hair. We're almost the same body type, so she's always in my wardrobe,” she laughs.
The sibling dynamic is a big thing in Jonas's (and DiLisa's) family. Danielle was a typical middle child, sandwiched between an older sister and two younger siblings. Kevin is, of course, the eldest of the four brothers.
Valentina hasn't quite caught up with her sister's new love for fashion. Danielle shared that her youngest daughter's “thing” is the Disney character Stitch.
“I think she 'identifies' as Stitch, but I like that,” she said.
Despite their differences, Danielle loves the relationship her daughters are building.
“Alayna always tried to take care of her sister. She was very loving and had a big heart,” Danielle said. “Valentina wanted to rely more on herself. I tried to tell her that she had to care about her sister, too. But they loved each other so much that it reminded me of me with my own siblings.”