Surprisingly, World of Dance Judge Ne-Yo and Wife Crystal Smith Met Through Work
While it’s the season 3 contestants that get the praise (and tough love) on World of Dance, it’s easy to forget that hard work also goes into everything that goes down behind the judge’s panel. Jennifer Lopez, Derek Hough, and Ne-Yo balance their judging responsibilities with other projects, and when the cameras dim, they do exactly what we all do at the end of a long work day: go home.
Which got us wondering: what’s Ne-Yo, born Shaffer Chimere Smith, up to when he’s not sporting one of the many cool hats he regularly styles his outfits with?
The 38-year-old singer, dancer, and three-time Grammy winner first became known for writing hit songs like Mario’s “Let Me Love You” and working with music legends like Mary J. Blige. And it’s his 2006 debut album In My Own Words-not to mention songs such as “So Sick” and, most recently, “Push Back” off of Good Man-that he’s grown successful for.
However, life at home appears to be a little more down to earth with wife Crystal Smith and their two children. Below, everything we know about Ne-Yo’s wife and his private life.
Ne-Yo wed wife Crystal Smith in 2016.
The couple tied the knot in a beachside ceremony in L.A. in February 2016. At the time, she was expecting their first child together, Shaffer Chimere, and she wore a Jean-Ralph Thurin gown that complemented her maternity fashion, according to People.
“When I went to my first fitting, I had actually just found out the day before that I was pregnant, so from the beginning of the whole dress process, we knew that it would be a growing belly,” she told People at the time. “I’m gonna be honest: I’m nine months pregnant-I’m nervous about falling on my face!” She gave birth to Shaffer Chimere three weeks after the wedding.
They met in 2015.
Ne-Yo and Smith, previously Crystal Renay, met in 2015 while he worked on his album Non-Fiction and she worked as a model. “Our meeting was initially strictly business, and I had planned on shooting a short film with the album,” he told People. “We met at a restaurant, but she showed up two hours later. She explained later why that was: She was just trying to get some info on me: who I was, if it was really going to be a business meeting or if I was some creep.”
Ne-Yo said that after several hours, things became “personal” and that they started to get to know each other. They began dating two weeks after the meeting, he described their relationship as “bliss ever since, I can’t lie.”
It was love at first sight.
“I was fighting it because when we met, I had been single for about a year and a half, and I was enjoying being single. I’m not normally the kind of guy to jump into a relationship quickly,” he told People, saying that she “threw a wrench in all my singleness.”
They have two children together.
In addition to little Shaffer Chimere, Ne-Yo and Smith also welcomed son Roman Alexander-Raj Smith in June 2018. Up until Roman’s birth, Smith experienced several pregnancy complications which led to an unexpected birth.
“I had a ironclad birth plan and I was determined to do it my way. But God had other plans apparently,” she shared on Instagram. “A routine doctors visit on Thursday and I was rushed straight to the hospital and surgery less than an hour later! Roman wasn’t doing well in my womb and had to be taken immediately or the doctors feared the worst. Scariest moments ever!!! But he’s here and he’s healthy and we are so happy!!!!!”
Ne-Yo has two children from a previous relationship with Monyetta Shaw, Mason Evan and Madilyn Grace.
Their sons together have their very own Instagram account.
Separately, Ne-Yo's other two children, Mason and Madilyn, also have their own account.
Crystal Smith has been on reality TV.
In addition to being a model, Smith also appeared on E!’s short-lived reality series, The Platinum Life.
He often boasts about his love on Instagram.
To celebrate their wedding anniversary earlier this year, he posted photos from their wedding day, calling it “One of the best days of my life.” He continued, “I’m so happy with you, ALL OF YOU. Every single side. Can’t you tell?...”
And she regularly does the same.
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