Lisa Pemberton is a Canadian make-up artist who is best known to the wider public as the third wife of the legendary singer Paul Anka. While Anka spent more than six decades in the global spotlight, Pemberton built a quieter career behind the camera before their high-profile romance put her name in the headlines.
If you are searching for her, the short answer is this: Lisa Pemberton and Paul Anka married in 2016 after years together, and although that marriage ended in 2020, she remains a figure of curiosity for fans of the “Diana” and “My Way” hitmaker. This article tells her full story — her work, her relationship with Anka, and the life she has led away from the cameras.
Lisa Pemberton: Quick Profile
| Full Name | Lisa Pemberton |
| Nationality | Canadian |
| Profession | Make-up artist |
| Known For | Being the third wife of singer Paul Anka |
| Former Husband | Paul Anka (married 2016, separated 2020) |
| Stepson | Ethan Anka (Paul Anka’s son) |
| Met Paul Anka | 2010, at a mutual friend’s wedding |
| Children Together | None |
| Public Profile | Private; rarely seeks the spotlight |
Who Is Lisa Pemberton?
Lisa Pemberton is a Canadian creative professional who has worked for years as a make-up artist. Unlike her famous former husband, she never sought celebrity, and most of what is publicly known about her flows from her relationship with Anka.
She is frequently described as warm, grounded and elegant — a woman who built her own working life rather than relying on the fame around her. Paul Anka himself once described her as a “great lady,” a phrase that has stuck to her ever since.
Her Career as a Make-up Artist
Long before she became known as Mrs Anka, Lisa Pemberton worked in the film and television industry as a make-up artist. It is skilled, behind-the-scenes work — the kind that helps actors look their part while the artist themselves stays out of view.
According to industry listings, her credits include work in the make-up departments of several major productions. She reportedly came to the craft after an earlier career path entirely, which speaks to a willingness to reinvent herself — a quality that clearly carried through the rest of her life.
Because she keeps her professional profile low-key, the full scope of her filmography is not widely publicised. What is clear is that she was an established working professional in her own right, not simply a celebrity’s partner.
How She Met Paul Anka
Lisa Pemberton and Paul Anka first crossed paths in 2010 at a mutual friend’s wedding. The meeting sparked a relationship that would last for years before the couple decided to make it official.
For Anka, who had already been married twice, the romance represented a fresh chapter later in life. The pair dated for around six years, taking their time before deciding to wed — a measured approach for a man whose life had often played out very publicly.
The 2016 Wedding
In October 2016, Lisa Pemberton and Paul Anka married in a glamorous ceremony at the Four Seasons Hotel in Los Angeles. Photographs from the day showed a radiant bride and a beaming groom, and the wedding was covered by major entertainment outlets.
It was, by every outward sign, a joyful celebration. The couple appeared together at red-carpet events afterwards, and for a time they looked every bit the contented pair.
Paul Anka: The Man She Married
To understand Lisa Pemberton’s place in pop-culture history, it helps to know just how big a star Paul Anka is. Born in Ottawa in 1941, Anka became a teen idol in the late 1950s with his self-penned hit “Diana,” one of the best-selling singles of all time.
He followed it with classics such as “Put Your Head on My Shoulder” and “Lonely Boy,” and went on to write some of the most famous songs in popular music. Most notably, he penned the English lyrics to “My Way,” the anthem made immortal by Frank Sinatra.
Decade after decade, Anka kept performing and writing, cementing his status as one of the great survivors of show business. Marrying a man with that kind of legacy inevitably drew attention to Lisa — attention she never appeared to seek.
The Separation
Sadly, the marriage did not last. After roughly four years together as husband and wife, Lisa Pemberton and Paul Anka separated in 2020. As with many of the details of her life, the couple kept the specifics private.
Anka has spoken in interviews, in his characteristically candid way, about reaching a point where he wanted a different kind of happiness in his later years. The split appears to have been handled with dignity on both sides, and there was no drawn-out public feud.
| Milestone | Year |
|---|---|
| Met Paul Anka | 2010 |
| Married Paul Anka | 2016 |
| Separated | 2020 |
A Stepmother Figure
Although Lisa and Paul did not have children together, she stepped into a parental role within his family. She helped raise Anka’s son, Ethan, born during his earlier marriage. Blending into an established family is rarely simple, but by all accounts she embraced it warmly.
That willingness to support and nurture, even in a marriage that ultimately ended, fits the picture friends and reporters have painted of her: caring, steady and far more interested in family than in fame.
Lisa Pemberton’s Net Worth
Many people searching for Lisa Pemberton also wonder about her wealth. The honest answer is that no verified figure for her personal net worth has been made public, and the numbers that circulate online are estimates at best.
As an established make-up artist who was also married to a hugely successful musician, she is understood to be comfortable. But like so much about her, the precise details of her finances are something she has chosen to keep private.
Where Is She Now?
Since the separation, Lisa Pemberton has stepped back from the public eye almost entirely. She does not court media attention, give frequent interviews or cultivate a celebrity profile, preferring instead to get on with her own life quietly.
In an industry that often rewards those who shout the loudest, her low-key approach stands out. She appears content to be remembered simply as a talented professional and a “great lady” — on her own terms, away from the noise.
Paul Anka’s Marriages: Where Lisa Fits In
Lisa Pemberton holds a specific place in Paul Anka’s personal history as his third wife. To appreciate that, it helps to know the full picture of his marriages.
Anka was first married to Anne de Zogheb, a model, from 1963 to 2000 — a union that lasted nearly four decades and produced five daughters. After that came a brief second marriage to Anna Aberg, with whom he had his son Ethan. Lisa, whom he wed in 2016, became the third woman to share his name.
Each chapter of his romantic life unfolded against the backdrop of an extraordinary career, and Lisa’s was no exception. Stepping into that history, with its grown children and decades of fame, would have required real poise — something those who know her say she has in abundance.
Life Out of the Spotlight
One of the most striking things about Lisa Pemberton is how little she has used her connection to fame. There is no reality show, no tell-all memoir and no carefully managed celebrity brand. Instead, there is a working make-up artist who happened to share part of her life with a music icon.
That restraint has, if anything, made people more curious about her. In a celebrity culture built on oversharing, a person who simply declines to perform stands out. Lisa seems entirely comfortable with that — happy to let her work and her character speak for themselves rather than chase headlines.
It is a refreshing reminder that not everyone touched by celebrity is chasing it — some people simply want a normal, meaningful life, and that is exactly what Lisa appears to have chosen.
Why People Still Search for Her
Years after her marriage to Paul Anka ended, Lisa Pemberton’s name continues to attract searches. Part of that is simply the enduring fascination with Anka himself, whose songs remain woven into the fabric of popular music.
But part of it is Lisa’s own quiet appeal — the sense of a real, accomplished woman behind a famous surname. For fans wanting to understand this chapter of Anka’s life, she is a key figure, and one whose grace under pressure has earned her lasting respect.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Lisa Pemberton?
She is a Canadian make-up artist, best known as the third wife of singer Paul Anka.
When did Lisa Pemberton and Paul Anka marry?
They married in October 2016 at the Four Seasons Hotel in Los Angeles, after meeting in 2010.
Are Lisa Pemberton and Paul Anka still together?
No. The couple separated in 2020 after about four years of marriage.
Do they have children?
They had no children together, but Lisa helped raise Anka’s son, Ethan.
What does Lisa Pemberton do for a living?
She works as a make-up artist in the film and television industry.
In the end, Lisa Pemberton’s story is that of a private, accomplished woman who shared a chapter of her life with one of music’s true legends — and who, win or lose in love, has always carried herself with quiet grace.
