Country music stars, like any celebrity in any genre, unfortunately sometimes experience short-lived marriages.
When we talk about topics like this, it’s crucial to handle it with respect for the privacy of these folks. Here is the lowdown on a few country music stars who’ve had brief marriages.
1. Kenny Chesney and Renée Zellweger
Country singer Kenny Chesney and actress Renée Zellweger had a whirlwind romance and surprised many by getting married in May 2005. However, their marriage was short-lived, and they annulled it just four months later, citing fraud as the reason.
2. Jake Owen and Lacey Buchanan
Country singer Jake Owen married model Lacey Buchanan in 2012, and they had a daughter together. However, their marriage lasted only three years, and they divorced in 2015.
3. Blake Shelton and Kaynette Williams
Before his high-profile marriage to Miranda Lambert, Blake Shelton was married to Kaynette Williams. Their marriage was short-lived, lasting from 2003 to 2006.
4. Jason Aldean and Jessica Ussery
Jason Aldean was married to Jessica Ussery for over a decade, but their marriage faced challenges after Aldean was photographed kissing another woman in 2012. The couple tried to work through it but ultimately divorced in 2013.
5. Kid Rock and Pamela Anderson
Kid Rock and Pamela Anderson had a brief and tumultuous marriage. The two got married on July 18, 2006, in a private ceremony in Saint-Tropez, France. Their union, however, was incredibly short-lived, lasting only 122 days. In November of the same year, both Anderson and Kid Rock filed for divorce, and the marriage was subsequently annulled.
6. Carly Pearce and Michael Ray
Carly Pearce and Michael Ray’s relationship, lasting only 282 days, took an unexpected turn. After dating for 18 months, they married in October 2019. Things appeared harmonious until the COVID-19 pandemic hit in 2020. On June 19, 2020, Carly filed for divorce.
7. Tammy Wynette and Michael Tomlin
Tammy Wynette’s fourth marriage to real estate developer Michael Tomlin lasted only 44 days. They hastily wed in July 1976 after a brief courtship, but by September of the same year, Wynette had the marriage annulled. Reports circulated, claiming Tomlin fired a gun into the air along her Florida beachfront, an allegation he denied.
8. Zac Brown and Kelly Yazdi
Zac Brown and Kelly Yazdi’s marriage lasted less than 120 days. They quietly wed in Coweta County, Georgia, on August 31, 2023. Unfortunately, by the end of the same year, they had separated, and Zac’s team informed TMZ of their ongoing divorce proceedings.
Country music also has its fair share of songs that touch on the theme of failed relationships and short marriages.
While these songs often reflect the emotions and experiences of the artists, it’s important to note that not all of them directly correspond to the artists’ personal lives. Here are a few country songs that touch on the topic of short-lived marriages:
“D-I-V-O-R-C-E” by Tammy Wynette (1968)
Tammy Wynette’s classic song tells the story of a couple going through a divorce, spelling out the word “divorce” to protect their young child from the emotional impact of the situation.
“She Got the Goldmine (I Got the Shaft)” by Jerry Reed (1982)
This humorous song by Jerry Reed tells the story of a man who divorces his wife and is left with little more than the shaft, while she ends up with the goldmine.
“Why’d You Come in Here Lookin’ Like That” by Dolly Parton (1989)
While not explicitly about a short marriage, this song by Dolly Parton tells the story of a woman who encounters her ex-husband with his new love at a social gathering, and she’s left questioning the choices he made.
“You Never Even Called Me by My Name” by David Allan Coe (1975)
Co-written by Steve Goodman and John Prine, this humorous song mentions a short marriage among its many country music clichés.
“Stand by Your Man” by Tammy Wynette (1968)
While not directly about a short marriage, this iconic song addresses the theme of standing by your man despite challenges and difficulties in a relationship.