“When you have a broken heart – at least when I do – you got to get it out of your system. You want people to sympathize with you. I was at rock bottom, in the middle of hell.”

Rumors of a breakdown dogged Blake Shelton and Miranda Lambert’s brief marriage. Both are now contentedly wed to separate partners.

Given their prominent positions in the music industry, it is understandable why Blake Shelton and Miranda Lambert fell in love so soon.

Even though he was still married when he met her, their shared love of music drew them together. Their love affair ended in divorce eventually.

Blake Shelton and Kaynette Williams during the 38th Annual CMA Awards at the Grand Ole Opry House November 9, 2004 in Nashville, Tennessee. | Source: Getty Images

Following their introductions at CMT’s 100 Greatest Duets Concert, the two musicians first came into contact with one another in 2005.

From the beginning, she was drawn to him, but he ignored her because he was married. In a similar vein, Shelton was instantly smitten with the “Drunk” singer.

The beginning of their romantic tale

In a subsequent interview, Lambert claimed to have seen Shelton’s wedding photo in Country Weekly and to have known he was married. She continued, saying:

“I should have known better—this is forbidden. For crying out loud, my folks work as private detectives. I’ve witnessed affairs my entire life. I am one of the few who can truly know better than this.

Even still, she was powerless to ignore the “inevitable chemistry” they shared from the start. Shelton separated from his wife Kaynette Williams a year later and went after Lambert.

Shelton asked Lambert to marry him in 2010, but he did so in remembrance of her father. The “God’s Country” singer gave Lambert’s father a call to get his OK before proposing on May 9 and bringing out a platinum and diamond ring that he had personally picked out.

“It’s so much more perfect than I could have picked myself, but we’ve been together for five years, so he knew exactly what I wanted,” Lambert remarked. The country music artist cherished the casual party that was the proposal.

Apart from that specific instance, 2010 was an exceptional year for Lambert, as she achieved her first number one song, “White Liar,” in January and won both Album of the Year and Top Female Vocalist at the ACM Awards.

Miranda Lambert and Blake Shelton at LP Field during the 2010 CMA Music Festival on June 13, 2010 in Nashville, Tennessee. | Source: Getty Images

The pair married in 2011, but problems soon arose in their union. Rumors of a breakup surfaced in 2013, which the couple refuted.

In order to demonstrate that there were no secrets in their marriage, the “The Voice” judge at the time said that his wife had access to his phone anytime she wanted. He declared:

We truly do have that level of trust. Nothing is hidden. “Go search through my drawers or my computer if you feel like it,” is what I’ll say, and it’s been extremely helpful since I don’t want her to ever question anything.

Even though there were still rumors in 2014, the pair didn’t seem to be affected and even made jokes about the supposed divorce. In the past two years, Lambert joked, “I think I’ve had like five sets of twins and we’ve been divorced four times, and one of us had a $100 million divorce.”

Shelton and Stefani were married in a modest chapel on the “Home” singer’s property in July 2021 in a private ceremony held in Oklahoma.
The pair sent heartfelt wishes on social media to commemorate their third wedding anniversary the same year.

Miranda Lambert and Blake Shelton during the 45th Annual Academy of Country Music Awards concerts at the Fremont Street Experience during the on April 17, 2010 in Las Vegas, Nevada. | Source: Getty Images

Lambert acknowledged that marriage was difficult, but he also stated it was a wonderful gift that shouldn’t be taken too seriously. She continued, saying:

It is our constant goal to be together. On our anniversary, I wouldn’t want to be on the other side of the nation! That moment is precious.

However, the pair soon shown that there was turmoil in paradise, proving the claims to be real. Gwen Stefani collaborated with Shelton as a coach on season nine of “The Voice” in April 2014.

After four years together, Shelton and Lambert announced their divorce within a year. They said in a statement that was released:

We are actual individuals with actual lives, families, friends, and coworkers. As a result, we respectfully request your understanding and privacy in this very private situation.

The couple disclosed that they were surprised by the split and that they had to take a risk by choosing to continue living their lives on their own.

Both before and after the publishing of the statement, Shelton and Lambert said nothing about the matter. They had ten wonderful years together, including their courtship phase.

LIFE AFTER PARTNERSHIP

Shelton quickly started dating Gwen Stefani, his co-star on “The Voice,” following their breakup. On November 4, 2015, they made their relationship official via Shelton’s agent, who stated:

“Gwen and Blake have been friends for a long time, but they recently started dating.”

Gwen Stefani, Adam Levine, Pharrell Williams, and Blake Shelton during "The Voice" Season 7. | Source: Getty Images

The couple claimed that their congruent divorces and life events strengthened their bond.

Shelton eventually told Lambert about his divorce in 2020. Details regarding their breakup were disclosed in his song “If I’m Honest.”

He answered, “Maybe not specifics.” However, you get the gist of it. It is my chronicle of divorce, but perhaps even more than that, it is also my record of happiness and infatuation.

He’s got to admit that his second divorce has devastated him to the point of no return. Even though Shelton did not create the song “She’s Got a Way With Words,” which describes a partner who strayed and lied, he isn’t stopping people from believing it was a reflection of his own relationship. He declared:

“You have to let go of it when you’re feeling down, or at least that’s how I feel. You want to be able to relate to other individuals. I was in the midst of hell, at my lowest point.

But there was also someone who understood him quite well. It was a day he will never forget. “Gwen, who I didn’t really know, had these enormous tears in her eyes when I looked at her. It struck me, “Wow, she really feels bad for me.”

Miranda Lambert and Brendan McLoughlin during the 54th Academy Of Country Music Awards at MGM Grand Garden Arena on April 07, 2019 in Las Vegas, Nevada. | Source: Getty Images

The singer of “Candyman” had recently filed for divorce from Gavin Rossdale, her husband of 20 years. Later, she spoke with Shelton by herself, and that’s when their close relationship began.

As time went on, their friendship grew; they went from communicating their understanding to exchanging emails once a week. He declared:

“Then I wake up, and she’s my entire world, and I wonder if she feels the same way about me.”

Shelton and Stefani were married in a modest chapel on the “Home” singer’s property in July 2021 in a private ceremony held in Oklahoma. Luckily, Stefani’s family and kids adore her new husband and have a wonderful impact on her. Says she:

“I’ve never had a more feminine style. I think it’s because I have a pretty macho man and I’m genuinely in love. Now that I’ve let that side of myself show, I enjoy it.

Within three months of their first date, Lambert also wed Brendan McLoughlin, an officer in New York City. Even though he was married when they initially met, their love remained. It was made public in 2022 that the couple was attempting to conceive.

My Mother Kicked Me Out of the Church for Getting Pregnant Out of Wedlock

The day I revealed my pregnancy in church started with morning sickness and ended with my mother disowning me. But what happened next made my mother change her decision.

I’m a sophomore in college studying psychology, and that’s where I met Glenn last fall. We started out as study buddies in our Intro to Research Methods class, but there was something special about him from day one.

He had this gentle way of explaining complex topics that made everything click, and his smile? It could light up the whole lecture hall.

A boy smiling | Source: Midjourney

A boy smiling | Source: Midjourney

“Faith, you’re starin’ again,” he’d tease me during our study sessions, and I’d feel my cheeks burn red every single time.

“Can’t help it if you’re distracting,” I’d shoot back, and we’d both laugh like we had the best secret in the world.

We went from sharing coffee after class to spending hours at the campus diner. We’d pick at endless plates of waffle fries while sharing our life stories.

A girl sitting in a cafeteria | Source: Midjourney

A girl sitting in a cafeteria | Source: Midjourney

Glenn told me a bit about his family and how he enjoyed playing in the fields as a kid. Meanwhile, I opened up about losing my dad when I was five. That’s when things started shifting from friendship to something more.

“Your dad would be so proud of you,” Glenn said one evening, reaching across the table to squeeze my hand. “Following your dreams, helping people through psychology…”

A boy talking to his girlfriend | Source: Midjourney

A boy talking to his girlfriend | Source: Midjourney

The first time he kissed me on the porch swing outside my mama’s house, I swear I saw stars. But when I told Mama about Glenn, she just pressed her lips together and said, “That’s nice, sugar. Don’t forget you’ve got that big exam coming up.”

That’s my mama, Claudia, for you. Since Daddy passed, she’s thrown herself into two things: raising me and adoring nature.

Never dated, and never seemed interested in finding love again.

A woman smiling | Source: Midjourney

A woman smiling | Source: Midjourney

Sometimes I catch her looking at Daddy’s photo on the mantle with such longing that it breaks my heart. I wish she’d give herself permission to be happy again, but we don’t have the kind of relationship where I can say that.

“Mama,” I tried once, “don’t you ever get lonely?”

“I’ve got you,” she replied, smoothing down her skirt. “That’s all the company I need.”

Everything was sailing smoothly until that morning I woke up feeling too sick.

Sunlight passing through curtains | Source: Pexels

Sunlight passing through curtains | Source: Pexels

I swear I couldn’t even move, and the thought of having breakfast nearly made me puke.

Oh no… I thought. The nausea, the fatigue… Does it mean I’m pregnant?

That was the first thing that came to my mind because Glenn and I got intimate a few weeks earlier.

I was super scared, and my hands were trembling so bad I could barely open the drawer where I’d hidden the pregnancy tests.

“Please, please, please,” I whispered, watching that little window. “Please tell me I’m wrong!”

But two pink lines appeared clear as day, and my world tilted sideways.

A girl holding a pregnancy test | Source: Pexels

A girl holding a pregnancy test | Source: Pexels

I sank down onto my bathroom floor while my heart pounded inside my chest.

“This can’t be happening,” I muttered, staring at the test. “I’m only nineteen. I can’t have a baby. I can’t…”

A few minutes later, I found myself pacing the bedroom.

“How am I gonna hide this from Mama?” I asked myself. “She’ll never understand. A baby? Out of wedlock? In our family?”

I think I talked to myself for almost an hour while different scenarios played out in my mind. All of them resulted in my mother not speaking to me.

I was certain she’d never accept my baby.

A girl standing in her bedroom | Source: Midjourney

A girl standing in her bedroom | Source: Midjourney

I spent the next few days hiding in my room, coming up with every excuse I could think of to avoid facing Mama.

“Faith, honey! Dinner’s ready!” she called out one evening.

“Sorry, Mama, got this huge psychology paper due tomorrow,” I shouted back. “I’ll grab something later!”

The next morning, she knocked on my door. “Baby girl, I made your favorite pancakes.”

“Thanks, but I already ate a granola bar. Got an early study group meeting,” I lied, feeling guilty about the growing pile of excuses.

A girl talking to her mother | Source: Midjourney

A girl talking to her mother | Source: Midjourney

That evening, she tried again. “Faith? Mrs. Jones brought over her famous casserole…”

“Got finals coming up, Mama. Need to focus!” I called out.

By Thursday, Mama wasn’t having it anymore. She marched right up to my room and stood in the doorway.

“Now hold on just a minute,” she said, fixing me with that mom-stare that could melt steel. “Since when do you skip my pancake breakfasts? And don’t think I haven’t noticed you running to the bathroom every morning.”

A woman looking at her daughter | Source: Midjourney

A woman looking at her daughter | Source: Midjourney

“Just stressed about exams,” I mumbled, avoiding her gaze.

“Uh-huh,” she said, clearly unconvinced. “And I suppose stress is also why you haven’t touched your coffee in days? The same coffee you swear you can’t live without?”

“My study group suggested cutting back on caffeine.”

“My dear Faith,” Mama said slowly, “in all your years of schooling, I’ve never seen you skip meals during finals. Something’s going on with you, and we both know it ain’t just studying.”

But before she could press further, I grabbed my backpack. “Sorry, Mama, I’m late for the library. Group project!”

A girl looking at her mother | Source: Midjourney

A girl looking at her mother | Source: Midjourney

I practically ran down the stairs, leaving her standing there with that worried look I’d been trying so hard to avoid.

The following Sunday, Mama called up to my room, “Faith, honey! We’re gonna be late for service!”

“Coming!” I called back, fighting another wave of nausea. “Maybe I should skip today…”

“Skip church? Are you feeling poorly?” Mama appeared in my doorway.

“Just a little tired,” I lied, forcing a smile. “Been studying real hard.”

A girl looking away while talking to her mother | Source: Midjourney

A girl looking away while talking to her mother | Source: Midjourney

“You’ve been ‘tired’ all week,” she said, narrowing her eyes. “Something you want to tell me?”

“No ma’am,” I said quickly. Too quickly. “I’ll be ready in five minutes.”

The church was packed that morning, all our neighbors dressed in their Sunday best.

Mrs. Jones was wearing her famous pink hat, and Mr. Rodriguez had his grandkids with him. Everything was fine until halfway through the sermon when that familiar nausea hit me.

I must’ve turned green because Mama grabbed my hand.

A woman sitting in a church | Source: Midjourney

A woman sitting in a church | Source: Midjourney

“Baby girl, what’s wrong?” she whispered, her eyes narrowing. “Come to think of it, you’ve been actin’ strange all week…”

Maybe it was the guilt, or maybe it was just those pregnancy hormones, but I couldn’t hold it in anymore.

“Mom, I have something to tell you,” I whispered back, tears welling up. “I’m pregnant.”

The silence that followed felt eternal. Mama’s face went through about fifty different emotions in three seconds flat.

“What?” she gasped, loud enough for several heads to turn. “You’ve got to be kidding me.”

A woman sitting in a church, looking straight ahead | Source: Midjourney

A woman sitting in a church, looking straight ahead | Source: Midjourney

“No, I’m not joking,” I managed, my voice trembling. “I’m pregnant, and it’s Glenn’s.”

That’s when Mama lost it. She stood up and started yelling at me.

“Get out of the church right now!” she hissed. “Go home, pack your things, and don’t come back to my house! How could you do this? Did you even think about what our family and friends would say? Do you not know the traditions and values we hold!? Get out of my sight!”

A woman talking to her daughter | Source: Midjourney

A woman talking to her daughter | Source: Midjourney

I quickly stood up and began walking away while my tears blurred my vision. I could see how Mrs. Jones was staring at me with wide eyes.

But before I could reach the door, a familiar voice called out.

“Stop right there, young lady.”

It was Pastor James, and he was looking at my mother with the kind of stern expression I’d seen him use during particularly passionate sermons.

A priest looking straight ahead | Source: Midjourney

A priest looking straight ahead | Source: Midjourney

“Claudia,” he said gently, walking down the aisle toward us, “would you abandon your daughter when she needs you the most? Isn’t this the time to show love and forgiveness?”

“But she’s having a child out of wedlock!” Mama protested. “I never—”

“That shouldn’t be an issue, Claudia,” Pastor James interrupted softly. “Sometimes the greatest blessings come in unexpected packages. Remember, Claudia, when your husband passed away, this congregation wrapped their arms around you and Faith. Shouldn’t we do the same now?”

A priest talking to a woman | Source: Midjourney

A priest talking to a woman | Source: Midjourney

Those words changed Mama’s thoughts. She looked at me and then burst into tears.

The next thing I knew, we were hugging right there in the middle of the church, both of us crying while the congregation pretended not to watch.

“I’m so sorry, baby girl,” she whispered into my hair. “I was just scared for you. I know how hard it is raising a child alone…”

“I’m not alone, Mama,” I said. “I have Glenn, and I have you… if you’ll still have me?”

But the story doesn’t end here.

A girl smiling | Source: Midjourney

A girl smiling | Source: Midjourney

A few days later, Mama insisted on meeting Glenn and his family.

“Time to do this properly,” she said, straightening my collar like I was still a little girl. “No more secrets.”

Glenn drove us to his place.

“You nervous?” I asked Glenn as we pulled up to his house.

“A little,” he admitted, squeezing my hand. “But it’s time our families met.”

You won’t believe what happened next. We pulled up to this beautiful house, and who opened the door? Pastor James.

The look on his face when Glenn called him “Dad” was priceless.

A man looking at his son | Source: Midjourney

A man looking at his son | Source: Midjourney

“Faith?” Pastor James said, looking between me and his son. “Glenn, son, is this your young lady?”

“Yes sir,” Glenn said, taking my hand. “Surprised?”

“Well, I’ll be…” Pastor James shook his head, then started laughing. “The Lord sure does work in mysterious ways.”

Looking back now, I can’t help but laugh at how everything unfolded. Sometimes the best blessings come wrapped in the scariest packages, and sometimes the people you think you barely know turn out to be your biggest supporters.

A girl looking straight ahead | Source: Midjourney

A girl looking straight ahead | Source: Midjourney

And Mama? Well, she’s already picking out baby names and knitting tiny booties.

And just yesterday, she said, “You know, sugar, maybe it’s time I started getting out more. Mrs. Jones’ brother just moved to town…”

Let’s see what happens next.

A woman standing near a window | Source: Pexels

A woman standing near a window | Source: Pexels

If you enjoyed reading this story, here’s another one you might like: Emma’s world was upended when her father abruptly called her home from university, only to demand she vacate her room for her reckless stepbrother. Months later, another urgent call revealed their family home in ruins, igniting a journey of redemption and rebuilding for them all.

This work is inspired by real events and people, but it has been fictionalized for creative purposes. Names, characters, and details have been changed to protect privacy and enhance the narrative. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental and not intended by the author.

The author and publisher make no claims to the accuracy of events or the portrayal of characters and are not liable for any misinterpretation. This story is provided “as is,” and any opinions expressed are those of the characters and do not reflect the views of the author or publisher.

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