John Legend Reflects on 12 Years of Marriage with Chrissy Teigen: We've 'Been Through All the Highs and Lows' (Exclusive)

John Legend and Chrissy Teigen's narration has seen it all.

In an exclusive question and reply pinch PEOPLE astatine nan Black Music Action Coalition (BMAC) Gala astatine The Beverly Hilton, wherever he received nan BMAC Quincy Jones Humanitarian Award, nan musician, 46, said he and woman Teigen, 39, "feel for illustration we've grown together arsenic a couple."

"And I deliberation being parents forces you to turn up, and it changes your priorities," he continued. "But also, [for] each nan joyousness we've knowledgeable together, we've besides had calamity together and challenges together."

"I deliberation each of that helps cement nan enslaved and nan narration that you have, because you cognize you tin spell done each this together pinch a partner, and I deliberation that's really been nan communicative of our relationship," Legend added. "We've grown up together and been done each nan highs and lows together."

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Teigen and Legend were legally joined astatine a New York City courthouse connected Sept. 10, 2013, with Irina Shayk serving arsenic their witness. Days later, nan couple wed in Lake Como, Italy. (They became engaged successful 2011 while vacationing together successful nan Maldives.)

Teigen and Legend past marked their tenth wedding anniversary in 2023 by renewing their vows successful Italy. The Cravings writer antecedently told PEOPLE nan arena was "so f------ saccharine and amazing.”

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According to Legend, his caller 12-year wedding day was a overmuch much low-key affair. "We had a bully meal date. It wasn't excessively crazy," he told PEOPLE.

The mates is parents to 4 children together: Luna Simone, 9, Miles Theodore, 7, Esti Maxine and Wren Alexander, some 2.

Teigen antecedently opened up astir her favourite representation from her nuptials to Legend successful an exclusive question and reply pinch PEOPLE.

“Something funny that happened during our vows, John’s uncle was nan pastor, and he was officiating our wedding, and I dropped nan ring,” she said. “I, of course, said, ‘Oh, s---,’ into nan mic, and he was conscionable a small taken aback by it. He was like, ‘That’s Chrissy.’ "

Recalling really Stevie Wonder performed “Ribbon successful nan Sky” for nan couple’s first dance, Teigen said, "I really wasn't dancing because I was conscionable — I'm excessively tense to creation successful beforehand of people."

She added, "That’s much of a regret of excavation than a cherished memory, that I didn’t really person a first dance.”