Patti LaBelle, 71, Dating Her 41 Year Old Drummer

According to a new report, the singer, 71, has been datingher 41-year-old drummer, Eric Seats, who is 30 years her junior, for the past year and a half.

"She tried to keep it quiet, but everyone around her has figured things out now. She's completely smitten with him and they spend so much time together," a source close to the star told the Daily Mail.

Patti reportedly met Eric several years ago when he was first hired to be her band's drummer. Though the "Lady Marmalade" singer was just coming out of a relationship at the time, she allegedly found Eric to be very attractive and began chatting with him after her shows.

"It wasn't long before he was helping her heal her broken heart," the insider continued. "He made her feel at ease and she loved that he had such a vast experience working in the music business."

"Everything they do now, they do it together. She hasn't seemed this happy in years. Apparently those who know him say he's always dated older women," the source added of the couple.