Pop star Fergie admitted all the horrible headlines about her marriage over the years were tough to handle, but she and Josh Duhamel have grown closer in their relationship because of it - although, not at first.
"Tell me, nine months into your marriage rumors begin to swirl about him being with a stripper. How was that for your marriage? How did you all get through that? Obviously you got through it. You're still here," Oprah asked Fergie on this weekend's "Oprah's Next Chapter."
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"It was difficult," the singer replied.
Asked by Oprah if it helped the couple "re-evaluate" their marriage, Fergie explained it led to a positive effect.
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"Definitely. When you go through difficult times it really makes you stronger as a unit. As a partnership," Fergie replied. "It does for us anyways. Our love today is a deeper love."
Fergie said the two - who tied the knot in January 2009 -- have learned how to handle their partnership better because of what they went through.
"We're strong today because of anything difficult that's happened with us. We deal with it. We communicate. Communicating's the most important thing," she said.
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"Oprah's Next Chapter" airs Sunday, Oct. 21 at 9 ET/PT on OWN.
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