Metallica rocker, 62, proposes to girlfriend, 46, while swimming with sharks

Metallica frontman James Hetfield got engaged to Adriana Gillett.

On Sunday, his girlfriend of over two years took to Instagram to share photos from the rock star's romantic underwater proposal while they were scuba diving with whale sharks.

In one underwater photo, the 62-year-old musician could be seen holding up a handwritten note alongside his now-fiancée showing off the ring box.

The journalist-turned-fashion designer, who is 16 years his junior, called it 'the BEST birthday trip surprise' in her caption. 

This comes just weeks after Hetfield and his bandmates — Lars Ulrich, Kirk Hammett and Robert Trujillo — announced a Metallica residency at the Sphere in Las Vegas.

'Swimming with whale sharks on Friday the 13th with the most unique, special, and romantic proposal a Pisces could ever imagine,' she continued.

Throughout her caption she sprinkled a bevy of fitting emojis, including a diamond ring, an aqua blue heart as well as a whale and a shark.

'In a sea full of fish, we caught each other,' she added. 'Thank you God for putting us together.'

While Hetfield does not have a personal Instagram account, the official Metallica account also shared the exciting news alongside the same photo and the caption: 'She said yes!'

Photographer Lee Jeffries, who has worked with the band for portraits and tour photos over the years, left a comment on Gillett's post to congratulate the couple. 

'Such amazing news! I've witnessed the beautiful connection you share, and it's something truly real… built on depth, understanding, and the experiences of lives already richly lived,' he wrote.

'Perhaps even shaped by the chapters that came before, which make what you share now feel all the more meaningful,' he continued.

'The way you connect with each other is genuinely special,' Jeffries added. 'What a way to propose!'

Hetfield was previously married to Francesca Hetfield, née Tomasi, from 1997 to 2022. 

The Grammy winner and the costume designer share three adult children — daughters Cali, 27, Marcella, 24, and son Castor, 25. 

Hetfield and Francesca met in 1992 and got married five years later.

Over the years, he credited his then-wife for helping him with his sobriety and anger management issues, per TMZ. 

At the time, Francesca opened up about her feelings on their separation following a longtime marriage. 

'After 30 years of ups and downs but always with a lot of love, I am extremely saddened that my marriage has come to this,' she told TMZ. 

Hetfield met the London-born Gillett shortly after their divorce. 

Since then, Gillett frequently shares social media posts showing off their extravagant getaways and updating fans on their relationship. 

In addition to their upcoming nuptials, Hetfield and his Metallica bandmates will be kicking off a European leg of their M72 World Tour on May 9 in Athens, Greece. 

In the fall, the heavy metal group will begin a Las Vegas residency at the Sphere, extending into next year. 

Their sold-out residency will start on October 1 later this year and continue until March 13, 2027.