“I was sitting on my own eating fish tacos, and she came over and introduced herself. I was obviously instantly attracted to her beauty, but I knew there was a big age difference. I never in my wildest dreams thought that someone that beautiful would be interested in me.”
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That was how David “Ace” Cannon described the moment he met his wife, Amanda Cannon, in the summer of 2017. Their love story was unconventional, marked by a 24-year age gap, public scrutiny, and unwavering devotion. Now, with Ace’s tragic passing, many are wondering about the woman who stood by his side and the family he leaves behind.
Who is Amanda Cannon?
Amanda Cannon, a personal trainer from Mooresville, North Carolina, first crossed paths with Ace after making a life-altering decision. Just days before her wedding to her college sweetheart, she called it off, feeling deep inside that it wasn’t meant to be.
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As she later recalled:
“In my last relationship, I was not myself. I constantly felt defeated and drained. I called the wedding off because, in my gut, I knew I had to.”
That summer, she walked into a bar, saw Ace, and decided to introduce herself. What started as a casual conversation turned into an undeniable connection.
“We traded numbers and we hit it off, we were instantly attracted to each other.”
Despite the significant age gap—Ace was the same age as Amanda’s mother—their chemistry was undeniable. They faced judgment from outsiders, with some accusing Amanda of being a “gold digger.” But she brushed off the negativity, insisting:
“Not every age gap relationship is predatory. I approached him. Love is love—you can love someone much older or younger. Maybe our souls met in a different time.”
Their Marriage and Family Life
Ace had been previously married to Shonnette Cannon, with whom he shared a son, Cade. After his divorce, he vowed never to remarry—until Amanda changed his mind. In February 2020, while dining near the Brooklyn Bridge in New York City, Ace played a song he had written for Amanda. As she listened through headphones, he got down on one knee and proposed.
“He put his headphones in saying, ‘I want you to listen to this.’ He then turned around on one knee and asked me to marry him.”
The couple tied the knot in January 2021 in an intimate beach ceremony in Jamaica, surrounded by their closest family members. Their love was evident, but they were about to face more challenges together.
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Becoming Parents Against the Odds
Amanda had always wanted children, but Ace had previously undergone a vasectomy. However, love has a way of rewriting the rules. He chose to have the procedure reversed so they could start a family together.
In June 2023, the couple welcomed their son. Ace, already a father, knew this experience would be different:
“I was 30 with my first child, and I will be 55 when this one is born. I’m much wiser, and I think it will play in my favor.”
Though they faced criticism about their age difference, Amanda remained unbothered.
“People make comments like he won’t be around for the baby for very long. You’re not promised your parents forever—he could live until he’s 90.”
Heartbreak and Resilience
While Ace and Amanda were building their future, they were also carrying deep grief. In July 2020, Ace’s daughter, Payton Cannon, tragically died in a car crash at the age of 21. Her passing devastated him, but it also reinforced his decision to have another child.
“Amanda and she were so close. As heartbroken as I am, it didn’t make me not want to have kids again. Payton used to say, ‘You can have another child, as long as it’s not a girl.’ And Cade said, ‘Have another child, as long as it’s not a boy.'”
Amanda, too, was impacted by Payton’s passing, stating:
“I learned a lot about Ace’s daughter dying. Life is short, and it’s not promised to anyone. As long as you’re happy and no one is being harmed, it’s okay to live your life.”
Together, they honored Payton’s memory through the Payton’s Promise foundation, a non-profit dedicated to causes close to her heart.
A Love That Defied Expectations
Throughout their relationship, Ace and Amanda challenged societal norms. They embraced their differences and found humor in them. More than once, strangers mistook them for father and daughter, something they laughed about rather than took offense to.
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Ace shared one memorable moment:
“One time we went to a baseball game, and someone wanted a photo with me. It was a listener of my radio show, and she said, ‘Oh my god, is that Payton?’—my daughter. She was so embarrassed when I told her it was my date. Her partner reached out and gave me a fist bump.”
Despite the public’s perception, their love endured. As Amanda put it:
“I did not at all feel like I was making the wrong decision. I had my gut telling me this is right.”
The Legacy He Leaves Behind
With Ace’s passing, Amanda now faces life without the man she called her soulmate. He leaves behind two sons—Cade and their infant child—as well as a legacy in Charlotte’s radio community. His voice, humor, and presence touched countless lives over 25 years on air, but his greatest role was that of a father and husband.
Amanda’s last words about their love reflect a truth that many who knew Ace would understand:
“Always listen to your gut. You don’t want to get to 90 years old and look back at your life thinking, ‘What if?'”
David “Ace” Cannon’s story was one of love, loss, and resilience. And though he is gone, his impact—both on air and in the hearts of his loved ones—will live on.
