Image Credit: Getty Images Joan Bennett Kennedy, best known as the former wife of late Senator Ted Kennedy, died in October 2025. She was 89. The late musician and advocate lived a life away from the spotlight following her and Ted's divorce in the '80s. However, as a former member of the extensive Kennedy family, she remains a recognizable name. Below, Hollywood Life has compiled five facts about Joan, her marriage to Ted and her life. Joan & Ted Kennedy Didn't Separate Until After His Campaign Joan and Ted separated in 1978 but didn't legally split until 1981.