Cowgirl Jonnie Jonckowski’s steamy fling with Neil Diamond sparked his split with his second wife, leading to a blockbuster $150 million divorce payout — and now the hitmaker’s former flame is telling all!
Ex-rodeo rider Jonnie insisted she has no regrets and still has fond feelings for the “Sweet Caroline” singer.
The former professional bull-riding champ told The National ENQUIRER in an exclusive interview: “We were in love at the time and it felt right.”
The pair hooked up in the early ’90s, triggering the end of Neil’s 25-year marriage to Marcia Murphey in 1994.
Jonnie confessed: “We were kindred spirits who were both living on the road and were lonely.”
She recalled, “We were very passionate,” and insisted, “I really believed his marriage was over.”
As his relationship with Marcia crumbled, Neil moved Jonnie into a lavish rented home in Bel-Air, Calif. But she yearned for a simpler life and their romance petered out.
The “Cracklin’ Rosie” singer later married for a third time, exchanging vows with documentary maker Katie McNeil in 2012.
Still Jonnie, now 65, admitted she was devastated to learn 78-year-old Neil was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease last year and will no longer tour.
“It ripped my heart out,” said Jonnie, whose life in the rodeo is being turned into a movie.
But she remained coy on whether or not the production will touch on her affair with the “Love on the Rocks” singer and said, “You’ll just have to see what magic the story brings to the screen.”
