Widow, 44, of late Louisiana Gov. is set to marry his best friend – a 79-year-old politician

The widow of the late Louisiana Gov. Edwin Edwards, who died at age of 93, is now set to wed his best friend John Alario – another senior state politician.

Trina Edwards, 44,  plans to marry 79-year-old Alario – a close friend of her late husband – in New Orleans on June 1 after he proposed last August. Edwards died on July 12, 2021.

Alario is a former Louisiana State Senate president and House Speaker, and Trina even suggested to her late husband while he was alive that she might marry Alario once he had passed.

Edwards initially said no – because Alario ‘has no money’ – but later told Trina to do what she wanted. 

The pair – whose former partners have both passed away – will be officiated by Louisiana Supreme Court Chief Justice John L. Weimer in the ‘short, private ceremony’ in the building’s courtyard, reports The Advocate. 

Long-time hairdresser Trina has previously been open about having a ‘type’ – and said that she had conversations about her obvious age-gap relationship with Edwin, where they discussed her remarrying once he passed away.

New love: John Alario, 79, is pictured with his new fiancée Trina Edwards, 44. Trina revealed that after her husband’s death, she was bombarded with suitors blowing up her phone – including lawyers and politicians – hoping to get a date with her. But it was John’s invitation to a football game that kickstarted their new love, and half a year later they were officially a couple

Former Louisiana Gov. Edwin Edwards poses with his wife Trina Edwards in 2014. They started speaking while he was in prison. They share one son together. Edwards died in 2021, and now Trina is remarrying 

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Last year, she admitted that ‘older men treat you better,’ after going through a divorce years ago with the father of her two grown sons. Trina also said that she ‘got grief for dating so soon after he died.’   

Trina revealed that after her husband’s death, she was bombarded with suitors blowing up her phone – including lawyers and politicians – hoping to get a date. 

But it was John’s invitation to a football game that kickstarted their new love, and half a year later they were officially a couple. 

Trina added: ‘Edwin is a hard act to follow, but John keeps up pretty well.’  

Speaking about her new fiancé, Trina said: ‘John has so many amazing qualities. He’s smart and funny. He’s always kind and has such a wonderful and loving spirit.

‘He’s a great dad so I have no doubt he will be a great stepfather to Eli. I feel blessed to have found someone to love, who loves not only me but also my children. I am looking forward to this next chapter in our lives. I truly am lucky!’

John Alario has one daughter, who is 54, and Eli is the nine-year-old son Trina shared with her late husband Edwin. 

Speaking about her new fiancé, Trina said: ‘John has so many amazing qualities. He’s smart and funny. He’s always kind and has such a wonderful and loving spirit’

Last year, Trina told Jim Engster during a candid interview on his Talk Louisiana show: ‘[Edwin] would say, “I think you should marry so-and-so after I die.” 

‘And I’d say, “No, he’s not my type.” And one time I said, “What about John Alario?” And he said, “Oh, no. Not him.”

‘And I said, “Why’s that?” He said, “He doesn’t have any money.” I said, “Well, you don’t have any money.” He said, “Oh, yeah. I guess you’re right. Do what you want.'” 

She also revealed that she somewhat regretted exhuming Edwin’s remains to have them cremated after his death – which caused friction between her and his daughters.  

Edwards, a four-term governor who served eight years in prison for corruption, was married three times and has five children before his death in July 2021. 

His four eldest children – Anna, Victoria, Stephen and David – are from his first marriage to Elaine Edwards. The couple – who met in high school and were married for 40 years – divorced in 1989 and she died in 2018.

Edwards then wed Candy Picou in 1994 but she divorced him following his racketeering trial and conviction, which saw him imprisoned in 2004. 

It was while Edwards was behind bars that he struck up a relationship with Trina Grimes Scott who – at 51 years his junior – began writing to him in jail.

Trina, who has two sons in their 20s from a previous relationship, says Edwards told her he was going to marry her the second time they met. She says she began writing to him after reading one of the governor’s books, and being wowed by his intellect.  

On his release, the couple wed and welcomed a son Eli, who is now nine, using sperm the governor froze a decade earlier after reversing a vasectomy.