Richie Sambora and Heather Locklear are presenting a united front as devoted parents, focusing on daughter Ava's happiness above all else. The pair have maintained an amicable co-parenting dynamic for years after their 2007 divorce.
Insiders reveal Sambora was instrumental in getting Locklear help during her addiction struggles — hiring physicians and medical teams to support her recovery. Sources say he's always had her back, even as her ex, and just wants her to be happy with new boyfriend Lorenzo Lamas.
Locklear (64) and Sambora (66) were married from 1994-2007 and share daughter Ava, now 28. Locklear attended the Saturday wedding in Montecito with boyfriend Lorenzo Lamas (68), while Sambora brought guitar virtuoso Orianthi as his date — and sources say they're rekindling their romance.
Twenty years is a long time to avoid your ex, but apparently not when your kid is getting married. The real tea? Richie never stopped looking out for Heather, even when he wasn't obligated to. That's either devotion or the world's most expensive friendship.
Heather Locklear and Richie Sambora proved that some exes really do become family — at least when their daughter is the bride. The former couple, who called it quits nearly two decades ago, reunited Saturday in Montecito, California to watch 28-year-old daughter Ava walk down the aisle with husband Tyler Farrar. And according to wedding guests, there was zero awkwardness between the Tinseltown pair despite their complicated history.
"Richie's a cool cat and Lorenzo is a cool dude," an insider told the Daily Mail. "Richie just wants Heather to be happy." Locklear arrived with boyfriend Lorenzo Lamas, 68, whom she started dating in late 2025 — and notably, sat in the same row as her ex-husband during the ceremony. The actress looked "solid" and "beautiful" in a navy dress for the occasion, according to sources.
But here's where it gets interesting: Sambora brought his own date in the form of guitar virtuoso Orianthi. The pair dated between 2014 and 2018 and are reportedly "rekindling" their romance after years apart. "Every second she gets, she flies back [to the United States] and hangs out with him," a source alleged about Orianthi's devotion to reconnecting with Sambora.
Orianthi herself seemed overjoyed at the nuptials, gushing via Instagram Sunday: "The most beautiful wedding for the most beautiful couple !!! Love you." The Grammy winner shared photos from the ceremony, cementing her presence at what was clearly a significant moment in the Bon Jovi rocker\'s life. What makes this reunion more compelling than typical co-parenting civility?
Insiders say Sambora played a crucial support role during some of Locklear's darkest periods. "He was the one who hired the best physicians and medical team to get the help needed," a source revealed, referring to her previous addiction struggles. "He was the first person always to support her and stand by her … [and] make sure she's OK." The former couple — who wed in 1994 and welcomed Ava before announcing their separation in 2006 (divorce finalized in 2007) — apparently took a 10-year "cooling-off period" before reaching their current amicable dynamic.
Sambora told People back in 2020 that they had finally achieved peaceful co-parenting, though this weekend's wedding marks what sources say may have been their first face-to-face encounter in years. Locklear herself has had quite the romantic journey since her divorce from Sambora. She was briefly engaged to "Melrose Place" alum Jack Wagner and dated former motocross racer Chris Heisser between 2020 and 2025 before connecting with Lamas, whose romance first made headlines in April.
