Sweethearts

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A Love Story Hidden for Decades

The Timeless Love Story On-Screen & Off Between Jeanette MacDonald and Nelson Eddy - 30th Anniversary Edition!

Experience the riveting tale of Hollywood’s golden couple, their passionate love story, and the trials they endured.

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Sweethearts

"Sweethearts" is a Must-Read For:

Hollywood History Buffs

Those who enjoy a timeless, true love story, hidden in plain sight for decades!

Those curious as to whether 1930s movie stars Jeanette MacDonald and Nelson Eddy loved each other off-screen and if so, what went wrong?

  • Updated edition – and a Best Seller for over 30 years!
  • Based on private letters, diaries, unpublished memoirs and 200+ interviews
  • Authorized by Jeanette MacDonald’s sister to finally tell the truth
  • Fully documented with more than 50 pages of source notes
  • Soon to be a motion picture
Grab Your Copy Today

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Their Story

This book was first published in 1994. It has been updated over the years to include documentation that surfaced after each edition was released. If you have read an earlier version, it is highly recommended to read the new Anniversary edition, which includes the latest information, research and more photos.

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What their friends said...

Merv Griffin: “Was there something between them? They always sang so close together.”

Jimmy Stewart: “Well…”

June Allyson: “Everyone at the studio knew about it.”

Irene Dunne: “Yes, dear, it’s true but I don’t think the public needs to know.”

Jimmy Stewart:  “No, they didn’t hate each other. They couldn’t have sustained all their musicals if they did. They did not hate each other. Well… I can’t really say from any personal experience except for the one movie I was in with them [Rose-Marie]… but it was the exact opposite.”

Spencer Tracy: “They get more out of a look than I get out of the whole sex act.”

Joanne Woodward (discussing their on-screen chemistry in I Married an Angel): “In filming love scenes, there is a difference between acting and being. They were being.”

Van Johnson: “Yes, they loved each other and had so much against them. When Nelson was in L.A. he’d take a walk after dinner. Sometimes we would make bets about where he’d walk to.”

Female fan: “You followed him?”

Van Johnson: “He’d go to Jeanette’s house. Sometimes he’d go in the door or sometimes he’d climb in a window. Later we would see Nelson and his wife singing at the piano.”

Female fan: “His wife?”

Van Johnson: “The redhead WAS his wife.”

Debbie Reynolds: “Did Mayer take MacDonald off of Balalaika because he wanted to cool things off between MacDonald and Eddy? Well, yes – Mayer was king of MGM and as you know, it’s always good to be king.”

Miliza Korjus (had the MGM dressing room next to Jeanette’s in 1938): “What a tragic love story. I could never love like that. If only you’d seen them together. Their love was so strong, it was not of this world, beyond a physical love. A love like that rarely occurs, but it is very taxing. Look at Jeanette, it ruined her health, and she’s gone now. I’m still here and healthy. So who’s to say whether it was a blessing or not?”

Lawrence Tibbett, Jr: “I was kind of afraid to say anything. But you do know, you’ve done your homework.”

Al Caiazza (Jeanette’s 1956 TV co-star): “And in her house, I’ll never forget. A servant came to the door and said, ‘Yes? May I say who’s calling?” My father said, “Al Caiazza and family.” “Come right in.” And there was a big picture of Nelson Eddy, a huge picture, in his mounted police uniform, right inside the door. As you go in, it was like a little hallway. And right on the wall to the right was a HUGE picture of Nelson Eddy. Maybe four feet by three feet. A colored picture like a painting of a picture….My father looked at it and said, “I wonder how Gene Raymond lives with that?”

Howard Keel (starred in the remake of Rose-Marie): “I arrived [at MGM] much later but people were still talking about how badly Mayer had treated them.”

Theodore Paxson (Nelson’s longtime accompanist when asked about Jeanette – after a long pause): “That’s a story that can’t be told in our lifetime.”

Synopsis

This book was first published in 1994. It has been updated over the years to include documentation that surfaced after each edition was released. If you have read an earlier version, it is highly recommended to read the new Anniversary edition, which includes the latest information, research and more photos.

Grab Your Copy Today

Reviews

Praise for Sweethearts

“The star-crossed love affair of the century. Sharon Rich paints a story of love so passionate, volatile and ultimately futile, even Shakespeare’s frustrated lovers pale by comparison. At least Romeo and Juliet solved matters in less than a week. The account is anything but sugar-coated. Ms. Rich’s book certainly contains much to raise the eyebrows. She names names and pulls no punches. Still, this is not a sensational expose; one comes away feeling sorry for the protagonists, and wishing that their story could have had a happier resolution. Further, Ms. Rich appears to have scrupulously documented each element of her narrative. Nelson’s own letters, and the frequent comments of Jeanette’s older sister, Blossom Rock, give credibility to an amazing story.”

Rob Ray Past Times

“One of the finest books about Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer and Hollywood during the Golden Era. It is a bittersweet love story of a famous couple whose musical duets on the silver screen thrilled a generation of moviegoers. They were a once-in-a-lifetime experience. With the knowledge, thanks to Miss Rich, that the actors were in love off the screen, gives their films a heartbeat. Included are love letters, notes from diaries, and observations of those who kept their secret. You will enjoy every word of Sweethearts and you will find a new meaning when viewing their musicals. Then you’ll read it a second time.“

Jane Ellen Wayne The Golden Guys of MGM

“Offers considerable proof they may have been secret lovers for years.”

Robert Osborne

“That rarity among star bios, an absorbingly written, exhaustively researched, and fully sourced work.”

Preview American Film Institute

"One of Hollywood’s least well-kept secrets. Rich affords a long, exciting, revealing look at two of the most important screen personalities of the 1930s. Vital reading to anyone interested in film history, Hollywood, or popular culture.”

Mike Tribby Booklist

“A surprisingly interesting look at two people so wrapped up in make-believe that they began taking it seriously.”

Harry Bowman The Dallas Morning News

“A bonanza for MacDonald/Eddy fans, a pan full of nuggets for aficionados of Hollywood and MGM.”

Kirkus Reviews

“This book rings true. Fans will love it.”

John Smothers Library Journal

Sharon Rich

Sharon Rich is a best-selling author, film historian, and screenwriter. She is renowned for her biography of 1930s movie stars Jeanette MacDonald and Nelson Eddy, Sweethearts, described by Preview magazine as “That rarity among star bios, an absorbingly written, exhaustively researched, and fully sourced work.”

This book came about as a result of her 7-year friendship with Jeanette MacDonald’s sister, Blossom Rock, who turned over to Sharon photos, her personal phone book and contacts of people to interview. Blossom also answered questions and provided details later borne out by other sources. Sharon went on to interview most of the surviving friends, family, co-stars, fans and associates who agreed to speak candidly, even in an era when admittance of the forbidden MacDonald-Eddy love affair was still considered shocking and even dangerous.

Among her other projects, Sharon later annotated MacDonald’s unpublished autobiography and authored a book detailing Eddy’s early opera career, thanks to her access to his personal scrapbooks. Her extensive career includes collaborations with Hollywood insiders, uncovering untold stories that bring history to life. With a knack for blending meticulous research and compelling storytelling, Sharon’s works captivate readers and provide unique insights into the lives of iconic figures.

Website: sharonrich.com

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Got questions about ‘Sweethearts’? Reach out to us using the form, and we’ll respond promptly. Your feedback and inquiries are always welcome!

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© 2025 by Sharon Rich. All Rights Reserved.

Sweethearts

This book was first published in 1994. It has been updated over the years to include documentation that surfaced after each edition was released. If you have read an earlier version, it is highly recommended to read the new Anniversary edition, which includes the latest information, research and more photos.

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© 2025 Sweethearts. All Rights Reserved.