Valerie Bertinelli reveals new boyfriend, two years after divorce heartbreak – and you might recognize him

Valerie Bertinelli, who has been through the pain of broken relationships before, has finally found love again. In a touching Instagram post, she made it quite apparent that she is no longer available for dating.

On Friday, the 63-year-old took to Instagram to announce her relationship status. She captioned a selfie with lyrics from Taylor Swift’s song “So High School,”

which is supposedly about Swift’s current boyfriend Travis Kelce. This comes two years after her divorce from ex-husband Tom Vitale and four years after Eddie Van Halen’s death.

“🎶 I’ll drink what you think and I’m high from smokin’ your jokes all damn night 🎶” Bertinelli wrote in the post’s caption.

Entertainment Tonight reports that the man Valerie has taken up with is writer Mike Goodnough, better known by his blog name the Hoarse Whisperer.

A statement by Bertinelli to USA TODAY earlier this month—”I’ve met someone”—set the rumor mill in motion. And he has my eternal gratitude.

I’ve never been in a relationship like this before with a man. Meeting him has been an incredible blessing, and I don’t want to spill the beans. Along with my dog and six cats, I was going to die very happy.

“Rumors, Rumors, Rumors…” was Goodnough’s title for this week’s Substack piece in which he confirmed the relationship allegations regarding Bertinelli. He described his question to “Ms. Bertinelli” in a “reporterly voice” about whether there was “any truth to the rumor you are dating me?” in a humorous way in the piece. Will you spare a word?

“She said ‘It’s true,’” he enhanced. I am absolutely. Hey, you’re dating me.

Bertinelli talked about her marriage to Eddie Van Halen in her new cookbook, Indulge, which came out not long ago.

“Though we got divorced, Ed and I never stopped loving each other,” she said in the cookbook, which was launched on April 12.

With the words “I’m pretty sure that is wistful thinking,” Bertinelli wrote, “Who knows, if not for cancer, we might have had a second wind.”


Goodnough, according to Valerie, was first followed by her in 2016 or 2017, and he returned the favor in 2018. Messages between the two started flowing in 2022, after Valerie’s divorce from Tom Vitale.

“He’s a really super funny, incredibly talented writer,” she gushed of Goodnough.

This month, the actress revealed to PEOPLE Magazine, “I’m in love.” I was certain I would never fall in love again, but now my emotions are all over the place.

Well, it’s great to see Valerie smiling!