Dukes Of Hazzard actor John Schneider made his first Hollywood appearance since the devastating death of his wife Alicia Allain – and insisted her passing would lead to “remarkable and great things”.
Speaking exclusively on video on DailyMail.com, a tearful Schneider reflected on his struggle to lose his wife, music and film partner, to cancer in February.
Schneider, 63, who is most famous as Bo Duke from the iconic American action TV series, is determined that his life will be about helping others deal with grief, though he admits he will never recover from his own loss on an “awful road”. .
He revealed that part of his healing process after Alicia’s death was to write a new We Are Still Us album to “honor” her, even though it tested him.
Schneider spoke as part of his first on-camera interview since his death at the Drinks With Dee Dee Sorvino cabaret show in Hollywood, where he supported the eponymous entertainer, who lost her husband, Goodfellas icon Paul Sorvino, one year ago.
Still in pain: Dukes Of Hazzard star John Schneider spoke exclusively to DailyMail.com at the Drinks With Dee Dee Sorvino cabaret show in Hollywood about his struggle to lose his wife Alicia Allain in February
Couple in love: Alicia, producer, actress and musical collaborator of her husband, died of breast cancer at 53; John and Alicia seen in May 2017 in Tucson, Arizona
Tribute to his love: Schneider performed his songs after completing an album called We’re Still Us, which is ‘all about’ his late wife
The country music artist’s goal is to encourage people to express their emotions for their loved ones while they’re alive, rather than when it’s too late.
Schneider, who appeared on Superman spin-off show Smallville, endured mixed emotions as he returned to work on his latest album.
For years, the married couple composed together, but vowed to continue their work and produce a tribute to their love in music.
Schneider said: ‘My wife Alicia and I made our own films and our own music, so we didn’t work for anyone. So that was very, very helpful.
“Now that, really, my good, good, much better half isn’t here, but expecting me, I’m trying to honor her professionalism and honor her skills,” he explained.
“I just finished a new album which I think is the best thing I’ve ever done. It’s all about her, it’s called We’re Still Us.
The actor added that he was “very proud” of the result of the music.
“And I believe it helps, but honestly, I can’t think of a time when it doesn’t hurt like hell,” he said of the difficult topic.
Classic: Schneider is best known as Bo Duke from the iconic American action television series The Dukes Of Hazzard
Similar struggles: Schneider spoke at the Drinks With Dee Dee Sorvino cabaret show in Hollywood as part of his first on-camera interview since Alicia’s death (pictured with Dee Dee)
Painful but heartwarming: Schneider explained of the album: ‘It hurt so much to write. It hurt so much to sing. But the end product is going to be healing for those going through this’
Schneider explained of the album: “It hurt so much to write. It hurt so much to sing.
“But the end product will be the healing of those who go through this; of which, statistically speaking, two people get married, one of them will die first.
“We all think that cancer and the loss of your spouse are things that only happen to other people,” he warned. “No, these are things that can happen to you – in my case, way too early, (at) 53.
“She and I are going to do great, remarkable things because of it, not in spite of it, but because of it,” he continued. “And I can’t wait to see what those things are, but I will.”
Actress Allain, known for her roles in Leather Jackets, Caged Fear and The Badge. passed away after a courageous four-year battle with breast cancer
According to a report by Fox40 Jackson NewsAllain was diagnosed with HER2 negative stage 4 breast cancer in 2019. Reports claimed doctors had given the actress five years to live.
Allain and Schneider, who married in 2019, have worked together on eight films, as well as several musical projects.
The Dukes of Hazzard star regularly posts notes and letters online to Alicia about her loss.
“Every day I write a letter to heaven,” he said.
What could have been: “We all think that cancer and the loss of your spouse are things that only happen to other people,” he warned. “No, these are things that can happen to you – in my case, way too early, (at) 53”
Always on his mind: The Dukes of Hazzard star regularly posts notes and letters online to Alicia about her loss. ‘Every day I write a letter to heaven,’ he said
Helping hand: He admitted he never dreamed in his ‘wildest imagination’ that he ‘would be a well-educated support system for people who have lost the love of their life’
“What I’ve found is that there’s – there’s a huge demographic of people who have lost a spouse out there, and people are afraid to talk about it. So we really don’t have any support system,” he said, adding that “we need it.”
‘Now, did I ever dream in my wildest imagination that I would be a well educated support system for people who lost the love of their life? No, but that’s where I am.
With tears in his eyes, he added: “So that’s what I’m going to do.”
Schneider shared that he hopes his healing journey will make others realize the importance of their relationships.
“I think people need to know that it’s okay to love someone so much,” he said. “In fact, that’s how you should feel about your spouse.
“A lot of people say, ‘I wish my wife felt that for me.
“Well, maybe they do and you’re too busy in life to realize it,” he continued. “So if I can help a couple out there realize that they are perfect, it won’t have been in vain.” ‘
Later onstage, Schneider added, “I’m so thankful that Alicia never, ever, ever wondered for a second.”
Schneider said he expects to find Allain in paradise one day: “I haven’t lost her. I know where she is and one of these days—if I’m not mistaken—I’ll find her there. It’s up to me now.
“She went home in February of this year,” he said, visibly moved. ‘It’s hard. Nothing prepares you for it.
Schneider spoke while supporting Dee Dee Sorvino, the co-founder of Sorvino Vino, at the iconic American Legion Post 43 in Hollywood.
Words of wisdom: Schneider shared that he hopes his healing journey will make others realize the importance of their relationships. “I think people need to know that it’s okay to love someone so much,” he said.
Waiting for D-Day. Schneider said he hoped one day to find Allain in paradise: “I haven’t lost her. I know where she is and one of these days—if I’m not mistaken—I’ll find her there. It’s mine now’
Dee Dee performed a range of show tunes and classic hits reflecting her extraordinary marriage to film star Paul, who was the father of Oscar-winning actress Mira Sorvino. The touching performance earned him a standing ovation, with many onlookers moved to tears.
“In commemoration of the one year anniversary of Paul’s passing, I had a desire to do something special,” Dee Dee said. “I believe playing the Legion is something my late husband would have wanted me to do”
Schneider reflected, “She and Paul were, and I believe still are, a lovely couple, and we have something in common. She lost Paul. I lost my fiancée. We kind of support each other, which is a good thing.
For more details on Dee Dee’s projects, visit www.sorvinovino.com.
