30+ Country Celebrity Couples Whose Breakup Saddened Everyone
A celebrity relationship that is often reported on is easy to become invested in. After all, we often see these people everywhere thanks to television and social media, with how many amazing artists there are in the world, there are bound to be the same duos who seem like they are completely meant for each other. Sadly, not every relationship is meant to endure forever, and occasionally the breakups you read about in the news can surprise you. Of course, if you are familiar with the celebrities you see, such as musicians from your preferred genre, the impact is greater as you connect with these people on a different level. These are a few of the most unexpected and heartfelt splits in country music history.
Blake Shelton And Miranda Lambert
Few splits in the country music industry generated as much media attention as Blake Shelton and Miranda Lambert’s divorce in July 2015. The couple was married for four years until they separated, but fans had previously seen them together, including a cooperative role in a 2005 CMT special. The former couple has said, “This is not the future we envisioned and it is with heavy hearts that we move forward separately.” We hope for nothing else but the best for the future relationships between these two amazing artists!
Kimberly Perry and J.P. Arencibia
Even if you are unfamiliar with Kimberly Perry, you will undoubtedly be familiar with The Band Perry. The band’s lead singer is Perry. Perry and J.P. became engaged in 2013. Arencibia plays baseball.
Kimberly Perry And J.P. Arencibia
Less than a year later, in 2014, the couple wed. But it wasn’t meant to be, and in March 2018, she filed for divorce. Perry said, “Yet it’s true, my marriage has come to an end. I’m confident that out of these ashes, beauty will emerge.
LeAnn Rimes and Dean Sheremet
LeAnn Rimes and Dean Sheremet wed in 2002 when they were each 19 and 21 years old. To the sadness of their fans, the two split up in 2009.
LeAnn Rimes And Dean Sheremet
The two made a joint statement in which they claimed that “This decision was amicable, and we remain committed and caring friends with great admiration for one another.” However, as soon as the divorce became known, suspicions of infidelity continued to circulate. Since 2011, Rimes has been wed to Eddie Cibrian.
Tish and Billy Ray Cyrus
It may seem odd to include something like this. After all, Tish and Billy Ray Cyrus have been wed since 1993 and are still together today. But once upon a time, the couple was divorcing.
Tish And Billy Ray Cyrus
Billy Ray Cyrus was the one to file the divorce papers in 2010, but he later withdrew the action. The two categorically refuted rumors that Tish had an affair with Bret Michaels and said, “We are trying to work through some personal matters.”
Trisha Yearwood and Robert Reynolds
From 1994 to 1999, Trisha Yearwood was wed to Robert Reynolds, her second husband, for a period of five years. While they were together, they made a cute couple.
Trisha Yearwood And Robert Reynolds
Their breakup occurred at the same time that Yearwood’s friendship with Garth Brooks, whom she was dating at the time and later married in 2005, received more attention in tabloids. Yearwood stated: “Since I do hang onto the past with my fingernails, divorce was difficult,” she continued, “Even though I have no clue what my future holds on a personal level, I’m feeling good about things”
Randy Houser and Jessa Lee Yantz
In 2011, Randy Houser and Jessa Lee Yantz got hitched for the first time. They would receive a son just a year later. This public portrayal of a flawless marriage, meanwhile, was destroyed in 2014.
Randy Houser And Jessa Lee Yantz
At that point, it was established that Yantz had not only requested a divorce from Houser but also a restraining order. Only two years had passed since the couple’s wedding when this all occurred.
Randy Travis and Lib Hatcher
The manner in that Randy Travis and Lib Hatcher first connected feels like something from a movie. He won a talent contest conducted at her nightclub in 1975 when he was just getting started.
Randy Travis And Lib Hatcher
He began to play at the club more frequently as a result. She intervened and took over as his manager as his career began to take off; she even helped him obtain his first record deal. They got hitched in 1991 and separated in 2010.
Sara Evans and Craig Schelske
Although Sara Evans and Craig Schelske were a cute couple, they eventually got divorced after exchanging many accusations.
Sara Evans And Craig Schelske
Schelske said that she had confessed to cheating on him when he filed for divorce in 2006. Additionally, Evans had already charged Schelske with cheating. She had claimed at the time that he had an affair with their nanny, but both he and the nanny denied this.
Sandy Mahl and Garth Brooks
Before becoming so well-known, Garth Brooks wed Sandy Mahl as his first wife. The two got divorced in 2000 after getting married in 1986.
Sandy Mahl And Garth Brooks
When questioned about the choice, Brooks stated “Sandy and I both agree that we need to get divorced.” He has also said that even if their marriage couldn’t be saved by his time off the road, he is grateful for the closer relationship it allowed him to have with Mahl’s kids.
Willie Nelson and Shirley Collie
Even those who are not fans of country music are familiar with the music of Willie Nelson. Shirley Collie Nelson and Nelson were married in 1963, but she left him in 1971, which shocked a lot of people.
Willie Nelson And Shirley Collie
At that time, it was revealed that Nelson was the father and Connie Koepke was expecting. He then wed Koepke in 1971, but the couple later got divorced in 1988. After that, he wed Annie D’Angelo in 1991, who is still his wife today.
Julia Roberts and Lyle Lovett
When Julia Roberts and Lyle Lovett got married, their fame was almost at its peak. It follows that it is not surprising that their marriage was closely scrutinized.
Julia Roberts And Lyle Lovett
Not to mention that it was a simple tale to be sucked into! After only three days of dating, the two got married. Additionally, during the one-and-a-half years of their marriage, their occupations frequently kept them apart. “We remain close and in great support of each other,” they declared.
Denise and Alan Jackson
A country music couple’s separation is typically a fairly final decision. For Denise and Alan Jackson, who was first married in 1979, this wasn’t the case.
Denise And Alan Jackson
After he was unfaithful in 1997, the marriage underwent a three-month separation. Denise stated, “The greatest blessings in my life have come out of my worst shattering. His betrayal and our separation were what led to this new, passionate love relationship with God and also led to us being able to have the kind of marriage that we both always wanted.”
Rodney Crowell and Rosanne Cash
It’s hardly surprising that Rosanne Cash entered the music business. She did have Johnny Cash as a father, after all! Cash wed the musician and songwriter Rodney Crowell in 1979.
Rodney Crowell And Rosanne Cash
On a musical as well as a personal level, it seemed like a perfect fit. But like many well-known couples, they had a bumpy road. After their eventual divorce in 1992, Cash left their Nashville home for New York.
Kacey Musgraves and Ruston Kelly
Before filing for divorce in July 2020, Kacey Musgraves and Ruston Kelly had been wed for just over 2.5 years.
Kacey Musgraves And Ruston Kelly
But throughout that time, when they walked the red carpet together, they won over fans’ hearts. They jointly issued the following statement, “We believe that we were put into each other’s lives for a divine reason and have both changed each other infinitely for the better.”
Shania Twain and Mutt Lange
In 1992, Shania Twain wed Mutt Lange, also known as Robert John Lange. Their tale came to a sudden and distressing end in 2008.
Shania Twain And Mutt Lange
Twain learned at that time that Lange had been having an extramarital affair with Marie-Anne Thiébaud, one of her closest friends. Interestingly, Twain would later wed Thiébaud’s ex-husband after their marriage was annulled! She stated, “I’m not even really confused because it’s obvious life just has to play out the way it’s meant to.”
Janis Oliver and Vince Gill
When they were both in committed relationships with other people, Vince Gill and Janis Oliver first crossed paths. They were actually both married! After their divorces, they nevertheless got married.
Janis Oliver And Vince Gill
In 2000, they were first spotted together. Her marriage before meeting Gill was rocky for a while, but Oliver has made it clear that it didn’t end because of him. But in the late 1990s, the couple’s marriage would break up after 11 years.
Lauren Alaina and Alex Hopkins
The first time Lauren Alaina and Alex Hopkins met was on July 5, 2012. They would begin dating openly by October.
Lauren Alaina And Alex Hopkins
Hopkins was even cited as claiming that he would do “anything to make her smile” at one point in their sweet relationship. A few years later, in July 2018, the couple even revealed that they were engaged! However, they canceled the union in January 2019. They stated: “While we still have a love for each other, we’ve grown into very different people.”
Lucy Hale and Skeet Ulrich
Although Lucy Hale is most known for her work as an actress, the celebrity has also had success as a singer. She also spent some time with Skeet Ulrich. Although it attracted some notice, the relationship ended up being brief.
Lucy Hale And Skeet Ulrich
Before fans realized that the couple had broken up, they had only been dating for approximately a month. They aren’t routinely seeing one other, and Lucy is currently concentrating on herself, but a close friend of Hale said, “They are still friends and in touch,” but it’s nothing serious.
Carly Pearce and Michael Ray
For a brief while, the romance between Carly Pearce and Michael Ray appeared to be modern. Through her comments on his Instagram photos, they first connected. They first revealed that they were dating in July of 2018.
Carly Pearce And Michael Ray
They declared their engagement in December, and everyone began to anticipate their nuptials. Those wedding bells did ring, but they weren’t sustained. Only eight months after getting married, the couple divorced, with Pearce initiating the process.
Jerrod Niemann and Morgan Petek
Prior to being married, Jerrod Niemann and Morgan Petek had a long-term romance. At the tail end of 2013, they made their engagement public. The pair got hitched in October of the following year.
Jerrod Niemann And Morgan Petek
Along with the romance, Petek’s performance on the TLC program Say Yes to the Dress had drawn attention. But in December 2018, the two reached a divorce agreement. About four years into their marriage, this brought an end to it.
Jason Aldean and Jessica Ussery
In 2001, Jason Aldean wed Jessica Ussery. For admirers, everything appeared to be ideal as the two rapidly created a family. That is, until rumors about Aldean and Brittany Kerr, an American Idol candidate, began to circulate.
Jason Aldean And Jessica Ussery
Aldean first acknowledged the transgression in 2012, claiming that he had “acted inappropriately,” and then filed for divorce from Ussery in 2013. Aldean and Kerr began dating soon after and got hitched later. They have two children collectively.
John and Elly Schneider
John Schneider is well-known for his work as a country music performer as well as an actor. Elvira, also known as “Elly,” Schneider, was a former love interest of his. After 21 years of marriage, Elly finally requested a divorce in 2014.
John And Elly Schneider
Unfortunately, the two haven’t maintained good relations either; according to John, their estrangement is largely due to the substantial alimony he pays. She described the reason for the divorce as being irreconcilable differences.
Jake Owen and Lacey Buchanan
When Lacey Buchanan first met Jake Owen, they were both working on the set of his music video for the song “8 Second Ride.” She would later appear in “Barefoot Blue Jean Night,” and the couple soon announced their relationship.
Jake Owen And Lacey Buchanan
They were married in May 2012, but he acknowledged that they were having marital issues in July 2015. They ended their relationship in August, three years and one daughter later.
Narvel Blackstock and Reba McEntire
Fans of country music will recall that Reba McEntire once wed her manager and bandmate, Narvel Blackstock.
Narvel Blackstock And Reba McEntire
They began working together in 1980 and got married in 1989. Fans were thus shocked when the couple revealed their impending divorce in 2015. A declaration read, “Despite this being the end of their marriage, they continue to support each other. They have worked together for 35 years and will continue to do so.”
Natalie Maines and Adrian Pasdar
In 1999, Natalie Maines of The Chicks met Adrian Pasdar, her future ex-husband. Traditionally, they were introduced at a wedding of a couple of their common friends. They were married for 17 years before officially filing for divorce in 2017.
Natalie Maines And Adrian Pasdar
Although painful, this divorce didn’t take place in front of the public. Maines maintained her privacy by noting that a divorce is a private matter and that they wouldn’t be commenting on it. As a result, she kept her comments regarding her divorce to herself.
Eddie and Tracy Montgomery
After 20 years of marriage, Eddie and Tracy Montgomery separated in 2010. This put an end to their romance. It didn’t appear to be a simple split either.
Eddie And Tracy Montgomery
In particular, Tracy discovered her ex-husband publicly accusing her of deserting him after his cancer diagnosis while the couple was still married. However, she asserts that there are two sides to every story” and that, “It’s what the public doesn’t know that finalized an extremely difficult decision that I was forced to make.”
Rhonda and Trace Adkins
In May 1997, Trace and Rhonda Adkins got married. When Rhonda was employed at Arista Records, Trace had the opportunity to meet her. When the couple announced their divorce in 2014, fans were heartbroken.
Rhonda And Trace Adkins
Even though they were untrue, there were even rumors that the divorce had been postponed. Trace’s attorney stated, “The Adkins have settled their divorce amicably. Rhonda and Trace made this decision together in the best interest of their family.”
Jana Kramer and Mike Caussin
It was well observed when Jana Kramer and Mike Caussin got married. The main drawback was that it frequently made news for a split, in part due to this. The initial breakup between the two happened in 2016, although it was only temporary.
Jana Kramer And Mike Caussin
After six years together, they announced their divorce in 2021. Kramer has made suggestions in her online writing that their final breakup might have been caused by infidelity once more.
Jana Kramer and Brantley Gilbert
The union of Jana Kramer and Brantley Gilbert received a lot of media attention. They actually had a lot of support from the country music community as a pair. In September 2012, they initially admitted to being romantically involved.
Jana Kramer And Brantley Gilbert
They had just known each other for three months when they first ran into each other at the CMT Music Awards that year. They announced their engagement in 2013. However, they broke up before everyone could enjoy their special day.
Kenny Chesney and Renee Zellweger
Fans were intrigued as soon as this actress and this country music singer made their relationship public. Additionally, their fast-paced love tale kept everyone interested. They started dating in January 2005 and got hitched in May.
Kenny Chesney And Renee Zellweger
But it wasn’t intended to survive very long. In reality, only four months after their wedding, Zellweger filed paperwork to dissolve the union. They claimed in a joint statement that they “value and respect each other and are saddened that their different objectives prevent the success of this marriage.”
Joe Jonas and Taylor Swift
Even though Taylor Swift now mostly performs mainstream music, we can’t forget about her earlier career as a country singer. She dated Joe Jonas for a brief yet memorable time in her career.
Joe Jonas And Taylor Swift
Swift’s meteoric rise to fame and Jonas’ notoriety, particularly from his work on Disney, attracted a lot of attention. Swift revealed that Jonas dumped her after a brief phone call that lasted just 27 seconds while speaking to Ellen Degeneres on her talk show.
Kelly Clarkson and Brandon Blackstock
When Kelly Clarkson and Brandon Blackstock began dating in 2012, she was at the height of her fame. Blackstock was known as Reba’s former stepson in addition to his career as a music manager. A year after they began dating, in October 2013, they got married.
Kelly Clarkson And Brandon Blackstock
Clarkson didn’t formally file for divorce until 2020; she described the reason as irreconcilable differences. After Clarkson asked for a certification that she was legally divorced, it was formalized in August 2021.
George Jones and Tammy Wynette
To put it mildly, George Jones and Tammy Wynette were a well-known couple. Even on stage, they collaborated. Early in 1969, the couple got married, beginning a relationship that would last just six years.
George Jones And Tammy Wynette
Following revelations of Jones’ alleged use of domestic abuse, the two decided to get divorced in 1975. Until they went on tour together in the 1990s, the two were generally still at odds.
Alison Krauss and Pat Bergeson
With a lengthy career, Alison Krauss is well known for her bluegrass-influenced country music. Even the International Bluegrass Music Hall of Fame has included her.
Alison Krauss And Pat Bergeson
Pat Bergeson, a different country artist renowned for his prowess on the harmonica and the guitar, wed Krauss in 1997. Sadly, the union wasn’t intended to endure. The couple divorced in 2001 after spending a few happy years together and even after having a son.