Judge Greg Mathis is opening up like never before. The TV icon, known for his courtroom authority and sharp honesty, recently got personal about almost losing his wife and how it changed him.

Judge Greg Mathis Opens Up About Almost Losing His Marriage

In a recent interview with People, Mathis and his wife, Linda Reese Mathis, shared how close they came to divorce and what it took to fight for reconciliation after nearly 40 years of being together.

“When she filed for divorce, it was like the worst pain I’ve ever experienced,” Mathis said. “[I] felt like I did when I lost my mother. That’s the feeling I had. And I’d do anything to get my mother back,” he said. “So I did anything to get my wife back.”

In August 2024, Linda filed for divorce, citing “irreconcilable differences” after 39 years of marriage. The news shocked fans who had followed their love story since Mathis’ early days as a TV judge and activist.

But behind the scenes, Mathis admits he had stopped being fully present.

“I was gone too much,” he said. “I wasn’t giving her the attention she deserved. I thought working hard was enough — but it wasn’t.”

Linda, for her part, told People she filed not out of anger, but out of self-preservation.

“I needed to take care of myself,” she explained. “I’d supported him for so many years — I just needed to breathe.”

After months of painful reflection, the couple reconciled. Mathis said he had to make real lifestyle changes, cutting back on travel and public appearances to be home more often.

“We’re learning each other again,” he said. “After decades together, you can take things for granted. This time, I’m not doing that.”

The pair appeared together on The Tamron Hall Show, smiling and hand-in-hand, sharing that their relationship is now “progressively great” and rooted in renewed respect.

Mathis has often spoken about faith and integrity, but this chapter revealed a new kind of leadership — one grounded not in authority, but vulnerability.

“I had to look in the mirror,” he said. “It wasn’t about being right, it was about being real.”