Valerie Bertinelli Pokes Fun at ‘Younger’ Boyfriend in Birthday Post

  • Valerie Bertinelli shared an adorable birthday tribute to her new boyfriend, Mike Goodnough.

  • Fans loved the playful post, which poked fun at their age difference.

  • The pair unexpectedly found love and are very happy.


This year has been full of new beginnings for Valerie Bertinelli—from starting a sobriety journey to unexpectedly finding love. And to celebrate the latter, the Indulge cookbook author shared a precious candid with her boyfriend, Mike Goodnough, to wish him a happy birthday and playfully poke fun at their age difference.

In the photo, the pair posed selfie-style. Bertinelli gave Goodnough a peck on the cheek and a cloudless sky served as their background. “If there’s one thing about Mike (there are many things) he’s not fond of backlighting,” she wrote. “I, on the other hand, think backlighting is beautiful. As evidenced by this picture…that Mike took. Sometimes it pays to listen to your elders.”

She continued: “Happy birthday Mike ♥️ You may be another year older, but you’re still younger than me. 😆” (Bertinelli is 64, and Goodnough just turned 54.)

Fans thought the post was adorable, and congratulated them both on their steady partnership. “Beautiful couple💞. Happy Birthday Mike!🎉🎂🎈,” one person commented. “Y’all are too cute!” another added. “Happy Birthday to the couple who has given us the best love story to follow since @nicholassparks! ✨💕📚,” someone else wrote.

Who is Valerie Bertinelli’s new boyfriend?

Bertinelli and Goodnough, who is a writer and photographer, went public with their relationship in April. The same month, Bertinelli revealed to People that she was “in love,” and that the romance found her when she least expected it. It’s a seesaw of emotions because I was adamant I was never falling in love again,” she said. “I was supposed to die with my six cats and my dog, and very happily live the rest of my years alone.”

Her connection with Goodnough started platonic, a friendship that began years ago, and then, things evolved. “It’s crazy the comfort level,” she continued. “As new and unexpected as it all is. It feels incredibly right.”

Bertinelli believes that it was her personal healing journey that led her to love. It all started after she and her ex-husband Tom Vitale divorced in 2022. “I wanted my life to be different than it was and I wanted to be a whole and emotionally healthy human being... I really thought I had conquered most of my demons,” she captioned a separate Instagram dedicated to Goodnough. “Learning to trust again after having that trust destroyed is not an easy thing. Those demons want to protect you from being vulnerable and emotionally exposed ever again. This man is worth fighting the rest of my demons for. He is the most thoughtful, kind, gentle, intelligent, funny, and grateful man I’ve ever met.”

Before Bertinelli wed Vitale, she was married to Eddie Van Halen from 1981 to 2007.

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