'80s Rock Legend Thrills Crowd by Singing Beloved 1986 Anthem at Daughter's Wedding
Richie Sambora is a core member of the iconic 1980s-era heavy metal band, Bon Jovi. So, the audience at his daughter's wedding on May 16, 2026, was obviously thrilled when he began singing one of the band's most beloved hits.
A video went viral on X, showing Sambora belting out the tune with other musicians while his daughter, Ava Sambora, danced. Ava Sambora is the daughter of Richie and his ex-wife, 1980s legend Heather Locklear. The video racked up more than 343,000 views on X; it shows Richie Sambora and the crowd singing Livin' on a Prayer.
Ultimate Classic Rock named the 1986 song as the 78th top rock song of all time.
Richie Sambora singing Livin' on a Prayer at his daughters wedding
— Jerry Braden (@Jerrybraden92) May 17, 2026
Look how happy Ava looks
Congratulations Ava
May 16, 2026@TheRealSamborapic.twitter.com/oS0oDot57R
Heather Locklear Attended the Wedding With 1980s Icon Lorenzo Lamas
People Magazine obtained photos showing Richie walking Ava down the aisle, with Heather Locklear attending with her boyfriend Lorenzo Lamas. Ava's Instagram page is private.
In another heartwarming moment, video also surfaced showing Richie dancing with Ava to the song, I'll Always Walk Beside You. "My dad wrote this song," Ava told the crowd. An announcer then confirmed that the song was by "Mr. Sambora."
This is absolutely beautiful
— Jerry Braden (@Jerrybraden92) May 17, 2026
Richie Sambora dancing with his daughter, Ava, on her wedding day
And the song they chose? Richie Sambora's I'll Always Walk Beside You-a song he wrote and recorded for Ava in 2012, which appears on his third solo album, Aftermath Of the Lowdown… pic.twitter.com/YutIWDeGpL
According to Page Six, Ava, 28, "married her longtime boyfriend, Tyler Farrar, in front of friends and family at an outdoor ceremony in Montecito, California." Ava Sambora "is an actress and model with a bachelor's degree in psychology from Loyola Marymount University and a master's degree in marriage and family therapy from the University of Southern California," Page Six noted.
Farrar's LinkedIn page describes him as a "Senior Investment Associate at Pacific Partners Real Estate Investments" in Los Angeles. He has a degree from Loyola Marymount University, the page says. He previously worked as a youth coach.
Ava Sambora's Husband Tyler Farrar Goes on Vacation With Richie Sambora
Although Farrar previously announced the engagement on Instagram, his page is now set to private.
Locklear has posted about Ava on her Instagram page. "Happy Birthday to my favorite person on earth! You are stronger, smarter, and more beautiful than you can ever imagine. I'm so glad God trusted me to be your mama" she wrote in 2023 with a photo showing her carrying a baby Ava. Her page mostly contains posts touting her podcast.
According to People, photos of the young couple together date back to 2018 when they both attended Loyola. In 2024, Farrar asked Ava to marry him "surrounded by a white rose-adorned arch and candles," People added.
"The most beautiful bridal shower," Ava wrote on social media before privatizing her account, People reported. "Thank you to all the amazing women who hosted, organized, and attended this special day. I am beyond grateful for each of them, especially my mama, God mother Juliet, future mother in law Mary, and sister Monica."
For his part, Richie spoke positively about Farrar in 2024 on the Howie Mandel Does Stuff podcast, saying, "It's like, you know, my speech [at the engagement party] was they're really in love. I love the kid. I mean I've taken him on vacation. I like to put him right in the limelight so I get to know him, I get to see him, we get to talk."
This story was originally published by Men's Journal on May 18, 2026, where it first appeared in the Entertainment section. Add Men's Journal as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
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This story was originally published May 17, 2026 at 7:46 PM.