HOLLYWOOD, Calif. — Bret Michaels has shot down rumors that he recently got engaged to Kristi Lynn Gibson, his on-and-off girlfriend of 16 years and mother of their two daughters, Raine Elizabeth, 10, and Jorja Bleu, 5.
"No. We are not engaged yet," the 47-year-old rocker said on Wednesday's CBS Early Show, where he was on hand to promote his new CD, Custom Built.
"What happened is she has a beautiful promise ring. A promise ring, a friendship ring with benefits," Michaels continued. "So, it's – that's what we call it."
While Michaels said the couple's relationship remains a "work in progress," he did sound open to the idea of getting married in the future.
"She's a beautiful woman," Michaels said of Gibson. "She's strong. I love her. We respect each other. And I think that's the start of a great relationship."
Michaels said he's continuing to bounce back from his nearly fatal brain hemorrhage in April. He also opened up about possibly replacing Simon Cowell on American Idol.
"[When] I went back on Idol, I said 'thank you' to three generations of awesome fans," he said of his well received appearance on the show's May finale. "It was the only standing ovation of the night, you know, for everyone that was out there. It was a great feeling."
"You know what it was? It was very real," he added. "I walked out, no big hype, same way I always walk out, I played real music. Everyone wants real music. That's why pop music shows are being canceled. They want to see Dave Matthews, Bret Michaels and Lynyrd Skynyrd. ... We'll see. We're working on that."
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