The end of Joaquín Sabina’s stage career has once again sparked public interest in his personal life, which for decades remained in the shadow of his brilliant artistry. His tours across Spain and America made him an unconventional father and partner, yet he always managed to maintain a warm relationship with Isabel Oliart, the mother of his daughters, Carmela and Rocío. The daughters themselves have also always avoided the spotlight, choosing to stay out of their father’s fame.
Sabina has been married twice. His first marriage, to his childhood sweetheart Lucía Correa in 1977, did not stand the test of time and ended in 1985. He then had a brief romance with model Cristiana Subíllaga, after which Isabel Oliart entered his life. Their relationship, lasting from 1986 to 1998, was never officially formalized but brought them two daughters. Today, like his colleague Joan Manuel Serrat, Sabina is looking to enjoy a well-deserved retirement.
Joaquín Sabina is now happily married to Jimena Coronado, a Peruvian photographer. Despite a twenty-year age gap, the couple made their union official in Madrid on June 29, 2020. Jimena has become an integral part of the musician’s family. Notably, Isabel Oliart—who never sought media attention—attended the wedding of her former partner, highlighting their excellent relationship. Furthermore, up until 2020, they also shared business interests: Isabel’s name appeared in several companies connected to Sabina.
Isabel Oliart is the daughter of prominent Spanish politician Alberto Oliart and his wife Carmen de Torres Flores. Their large family had six children, but they suffered a terrible tragedy: two sons died in traffic accidents. Alberto Oliart himself passed away in February 2021 due to complications from COVID-19. He was born in Mérida on July 29, 1928, earned a law degree in Barcelona, and built an outstanding career in public service, eventually reaching the Supreme Court.
Isabel’s father’s career path is impressive. He held executive positions at the railway company RENFE, served as general director of Banco Hispanoamericano, and sat on the boards of many major companies, including Metro de Madrid. In 1977, Adolfo Suárez appointed him Minister of Industry and Energy, and later, Minister of Health. However, his most crucial role in the country’s history came in 1981, when after the attempted coup on 23-F, President Calvo Sotelo entrusted him with the position of Minister of Defense during one of the most turbulent periods for Spanish democracy.
With the rise to power of the Socialists led by Felipe González, Oliart’s political career came to an end. He left major politics and dedicated himself to livestock farming at his estate in Badajoz. However, in 2009, during the government of José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero, he made an unexpected return to public service, becoming the head of the RTVE corporation. In July 2011, he resigned for personal reasons. Alberto Oliart left behind a memoir, “Against Oblivion,” which was awarded the prestigious Comillas Prize.
Incidentally, Joaquín Ramón Martínez Sabina, known worldwide as Joaquín Sabina, was born in the city of Úbeda (province of Jaén, Andalusia). He is one of the most iconic figures in Spanish-language music over the past fifty years. His work blends elements of rock, flamenco, bolero, and singer-songwriter traditions. Sabina is renowned for his profound, ironic, and poetic lyrics, which have earned him acclaim not only as a musician but also as an outstanding poet of his generation. Over his career, he has released more than twenty studio albums and performed thousands of concerts around the globe.
