Wife Gabrielle Increases Dwyane Wade’s Worries After Putting On Massive Display of Love

When your spouse’s tribute steals the spotlight, even a Hall-of-Famer starts to worry. As Gabrielle Union mounted a surprise vocal performance for their 10th anniversary—complete with professional backup singers and a pink sequin gown—Dwyane Wade watched from the stage, equal parts pride and panic. With their 11th milestone approaching, the question is no longer about love but outdoing each other, and Wade’s private struggles may have just raised the stakes

Weathering all the ups and downs in their marriage, the couple has stuck together for more than 10 years. The two got married in August 2014 in an intimate wedding in Miami. In 2018, they welcomed daughter Kaavia via surrogacy. The 6-year-old turned teary-eyed during their big anniversary event last year. What is Union planning for this year? Is she competing to beat Wade by giving him the best gift?

This year, she appears to be sitting back—or perhaps planning a surprise. Be that as it may, Union went on to add that the game is still on for Wade. “Luckily for me, I don’t. My husband? Good luck for him,” Union told Marie Claire. Since Union had the ultimate surprise last year, it would be quite difficult for Wade to top it this time. For the Riff Raff actress, effort means a lot. So, when it comes to gifts, she prefers ones that are curated with love, thought, and care.

She meant the same when she made a heartwarming gesture for her husband. She sang Twain’s hit 1997 ballad “You’re Still the One” at their anniversary event. If you ask about effort, just know, Union took vocal lessons to sing the song. Clad in a shimmery pink gown, Union serenaded her off-white–suited husband.

Union quipped that her vocal tribute was ‘cost-effective’—though her background singers certainly weren’t. “This year I sang and I saw some comments of like ‘she sang for their 10 year.’ Yes, I did because it’s cost-effective. Now, were those background singers that I brought in from the United States cost-effective? No, no, they weren’t, but they maybe sound a lot better, and it’s really about being thoughtful. I want effort,” Union said.

They co-posted a carousel on Instagram, captioning it with heartfelt reflections on 10 years of marriage. However, like any other couple, their successful marriage has also faced trials and tribulations. They worked through it together and finally opened up about it.

Dwyane Wade on marriage’s toughest years

We often see lively pictures of the couple enjoying time together on their social media, from dinner dates to romantic walks. But they have also been together through both the tough and the good times. So, during Wade’s tribute post for his wife on their 10th anniversary, he made a point to show his love. 

“It was year nine of our marriage and … year nine was very hard,” Union told Today with Jenna & Friends on February 26, 2025—just weeks after Wade’s public disclosure of his kidney cancer diagnosis. At the time, Wade had already quietly undergone surgery on December 18, 2023, to remove 40 percent of his kidney after doctors discovered a cancerous tumor during a routine scan. Facing kidney cancer tested them both—the Miami Heat legend hid his vulnerability, while Gabrielle Union grappled with isolation. 

Wade himself opened up about the emotional toll that the diagnosis took on their marriage. “Being faced with your own mortality in your early forties… you’re like, ‘Am I going to be here to see my family?’” He reflected, admitting he buried his fears to shield Union and their children. Meanwhile, Union grappled with isolation: learning of Wade’s condition only when he was already in recovery, she told People the secrecy compounded her fear and left her feeling helpless

Through counseling, late-night conversations, and leaning on close friends, the couple rebuilt trust and communication. By Valentine’s Day 2025, Union confirmed Wade is cancer-free, and they’ve emerged more united than ever. As Wade noted on The Today Show, “Trusting God for this outcome and having Gabrielle by my side has been my greatest strength.” Their journey through illness and vulnerability, they say, proves that the small, unseen moments—comforting each other in tears, debating life’s unpredictabilities—are what truly sustain a marriage.