William Hung Opens Up About His Marriage to Wife Hannah Du on Their One-Year Anniversary (Exclusive)
The former 'American Idol' contestant gushed over his wife, saying he's "ready to thrive" with her
William Hung/Instagram
William Hung and wife Hannah DuWilliam Hung is happy in love!
The former American Idol contestant, 41, is opening up about celebrating his first anniversary with his third wife, Hannah Du, whom he married last May.
"The best way to make happy memories is to create them with the people you love," Hung — who now works as a statistical analyst for the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department — tells PEOPLE of celebrating the milestone.
In a loving tribute to Du posted on his Instagram on May 6, he continued to praise his partner.
"Wow! I can’t believe today is my 1st wedding anniversary with Hannah!" he wrote alongside photos of the couple in Yunnan, China.
He continued, "What an amazing first year we had together. I am so grateful to find her. We went through our ups and downs, but I am now ready to thrive together."
Hung's marriage to Du marks the third time he has walked down the aisle.
In January, the Hong Kong native, who was raised in Van Nuys, California, spoke to PEOPLE about how his second marriage to Jian Teng, whom he wed in 2014, ended in divorce due to his gambling addiction.
"I quit my job to become a professional poker player for a while," he said of how he developed a problem with gambling. "I'd been doing it on the side for a while, and was earning way more doing that than I was at my regular job."
He recalled that it was going well for a time, but then he got into sports betting. "The whole gamut. I know better [now]," he said. "And I paid for it."
After his life took a downward spiral, he posted a letter on his LinkedIn about his issues with gambling.
"Things went downhill fast when my ex-wife found out about you," he wrote in the letter. "I came home from work one day, and she started asking me all these questions about why I was so nervous about every sports game and why I was always tired."
He added, "How do you think that went. With all of the money I could have used to improve our life, gone? I'll give you a hint: It ended with her asking for a divorce."
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But in May 2023, Hung announced on Instagram that he was engaged again to Du, writing: "Hey everyone, I have some exciting news to share with you! I am getting married! That's right, the lovable American Idol contestant who captured your hearts with unforgettable performances is tying the knot with my sweetheart."
The couple went on to seek donations to help fund their nuptials.
This year also marks the 20th anniversary of Hung's American Idol audition, which went viral. At the time, the singer won over the hearts of America after the judges skewered him for his mediocre version of Ricky Martin's "She Bangs."
"I may not be the best singer, but I sing from the heart," he told judges Paula Abdul, Randy Jackson and Simon Cowell, receiving praise for his positive attitude.
Hung still maintains that upbeat attitude, and told PEOPLE he believes it's why he initially got famous.
"Most people would be angry or upset, or throw their water bottle at him," he said of Cowell's cruel words about his performance. "I didn't see the need to do that, and people seemed to like it."
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