Valerie Bertinelli's Boyfriend Uses Cheeky Photo with a Special Backstory to Wish Her a Happy 64th Birthday

Bertinellli turned 64 on April 23 — and her boyfriend, Mike Goodnough, was one of the first to wish her well on social media

Valerie Bertinelli has much to be thankful for this year.

On Tuesday, April 23, the actress turned 64 — and marked her birthday by reposting well wishes on her Instagram Story. One of the reposts included a sweet message from her boyfriend Mike Goodnough, who goes by Hoarse Whisperer on social media.

Goodnough used a photo of Bertinelli from the 2024 Oscars red carpet with her tongue sticking out. "Happy Birthday" was written on top in bold font.

The photo was one that Bertinelli used to hint at their relationship on March 12. On her own Instagram feed, she posted the picture and wrote, "I fucking love my life right now. Not something I ever thought I'd say two years ago."

"And hey, thank you all for staying on this ride with me," she added at the time. "Sticking with me through the tears to get to the joy on the other side."

The next day, on March 13, Bertinelli told USA TODAY that she was dating again after finalizing her divorce from her husband of 10 years, Tom Vitale, in November 2022.

In her recent PEOPLE cover story, the former Food Network star spoke about her then-unnamed partner, saying that her “belly is flip-flopping” over the new relationship.

Related: Valerie Bertinelli and Boyfriend Mike Goodnough Go Instagram Official — with a Taylor Swift-Themed Caption!

On Saturday, April 20, the Indulge cookbook author and Goodnough finally went Instagram official. Her Instagram post featured a selfie of herself and her boyfriend, marking his introduction on her social media page.

"🎶 I’ll drink what you think and I’m high from smokin’ your jokes all damn night 🎶," Bertinelli wrote in her caption, using lyrics from Taylor Swift's new song "So High School" off of her recently released album, The Tortured Poets Department.

Though she announced her relationship in March, Bertinelli kept Goodnough's identity private.

Related: Valerie Bertinelli Says ‘It’s Sad’ Food Network Is ‘Not About Cooking and Learning Any Longer’

“I’m in love,” she told PEOPLE. “It’s a seesaw of emotions because I was adamant I was never falling in love again."

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After Bertinelli and Goodnough stepped out publicly for the first time for a filming of The Drew Barrymore Show in April, he posted online that he was her new man.

“I am Valerie Bertinelli’s boyfriend … and that may well be among the most surreal sentences I’ve ever pecked out. But it’s true … and nothing about our actual relationship seems surreal. It just seems … good … lucky … a gift,” he wrote on his Substack called Hoarse Whisperings.

“I just adore her. I’m so glad we’re together,” Goodnough added.

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