Country Stars Whose Marriages Have Stood The Test Of Time
on Dec 28, 2023 • Updated Oct 01, 2024
Country Star Marriages That Define The Term “Relationship Goals”
Country stars often sing about everlasting love and marriage in their songs. Many artists pull from personal experience when they sing these lyrics, since they’ve been married for multiple decades and counting.
Being married is hard work for all couples. It must be extra challenging for celebrities due to their fast-paced lives and time spent away from home.
But despite any challenges the world has thrown their way, some country stars’ marriages have stood the test of time. We wanted to recognize a few country couples who inspire us with their long-lasting unions.
Just a few things to note before we continue. For staters, this list only covers couples married for 25 years or more.
A previous version of this list did not include couples in which one of both members had passed away. But we’ve since expanded the list to include such couples.
Lastly, this list BY NO MEANS features every country couple married for 25 years or more. But please feel free to share your favorite couple if they do not appear in this list.
With those points out of the way, let’s look at all of the lovebirds below!
Alan & Denise Jackson
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Alan Jackson and his wife Denise are high school sweethearts. They married on December 15, 1979.
The couple shares three daughters: Mattie, Ali, and Dani. They also welcomed their grandson, Jackson, just two days before their 43rd anniversary in 2022.
George & Norma Strait
Like Alan and Denise, George Strait and his wife Norma are also high school sweethearts. They eloped to Mexico and married on December 4, 1971.
George and Norma have two children: Jenifer and Bubba. Sadly, Jenifer was killed in a car accident in 1986 at the age of 13.
Despite everything they’ve been through, George and Norma have one of the longest marriages in country music history. George sweetly sang “I Cross My Heart” to Norma during a concert on their 50th anniversary in 2021.
Tim McGraw & Faith Hill
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Tim McGraw and Faith Hill make a country music power couple! They wed on October 6, 1996.
Tim and Faith share three daughters: Gracie, Maggie, and Audrey. They’ve recorded numerous duets together, toured together, and starred together in the Yellowstone prequel series 1883.
Kris Kristofferson & Lisa Meyers
Kris Kristofferson was married twice before he met law student Lisa Meyers at a gym in Malibu, California, in 1982. The two instantly connected and were married in February of the following year.
The Highwaymen member already had three children from his previous marriages. He welcomed five more children with Lisa, and they raised them at their home in Hawaii.
Later in life, Lisa supported Kris as he struggled with his health. He was initially diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease before being correctly diagnosed with Lyme disease instead.
Kris and Lisa were married for 41 years before he passed away on September 28, 2024 at the age of 88.
Johnny Cash & June Carter Cash
Johnny Cash and June Carter married on March 1, 1968 in Franklin, Kentucky. Johnny had four daughters with his first wife, Vivian, while June had two daughters (one from each of her previous two marriages).
Together, Johnny and June welcomed a son, John Carter Cash, on March 3, 1970.
Over the years, the couple recorded a number of iconic duets, such as “Jackson,” “It Ain’t Me Babe,” and “‘Cause I Love You.”
Johnny and June were married for 35 years before June died on May 15, 2003. Johnny passed away just four months later, on September 12, 2003.
Clint Black & Lisa Hartman Black
Speaking of power couples! Clint Black and Lisa Hartman Black have been married since October 20, 1991. They share one daughter, Lily Pearl.
Clint and Lisa are known for their iconic duet “When I Said I Do.” They now tour the country together and even made an appearance on The Masked Singer as the Snow Owls in 2020!
Martina & John McBride
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Martina McBride married her husband, John, on May 15, 1988. She took his last name, and it became her stage name too.
The couple shares three daughters: Delaney, Emma, and Ava.
Loretta Lynn & Oliver “Doolittle” Lynn
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Loretta Webb married her husband, Oliver “Doolittle” (or “Doo”) Lynn on January 10, 1948 when she was 15 years old. They went on to welcome six children together and were married for 48 years before Doo died in 1996.
“I married Doo when I wasn’t but a child, and he was my life from that day on,” Loretta wrote in one of her books. “But as important as my youth and upbringing was, there’s something else that made me stick to Doo. He thought I was something special, more special than anyone else in the world, and never let me forget it.”
Loretta passed away in 2022, 26 years after losing her beloved husband.
Waylon Jennings & Jessi Colter
Waylon Jennings and Jessi Colter became outlaw country’s biggest power couple when they married on October 26, 1969. Waylon had five children from his previous marriages, while Colter had a daughter from her first marriage.
Together, Waylon and Jessi welcomed a son, Waylon Albright, on May 19, 1979. He’s now known as Shooter Jennings.
Over the years, Waylon and Jessi recorded a number of hit duets such as “Storms Never Last,” “Deep in the West,” and “Suspicious Minds.”
Waylon and Jessi were married for 32 years before Waylon passed away on February 13, 2002. Jessi remarried on Valentine’s Day in 2023, when she said “I do” to horseman and designer Arlin Brower.
Travis & Theresa Tritt
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Travis Tritt was married twice before he met and fell in love with his wife Theresa. They married on April 12, 1997.
The Tritts have three kids: daughter Tyler and sons Tristan and Tarian.
Toby Keith & Tricia Covel
Toby Keith and his wife, Tricia, married on March 24, 1984. She and their children use his legal last name, Covel.
After they married, Toby adopted Tricia’s daughter Shelley. They later welcomed two more children: daughter Krystal and son Stelen.
Tricia serves as the Vice President on the board of Toby’s charity, The Toby Keith Foundation.
The couple was married for just shy of 40 years when Toby passed away on February 5, 2024 at the age of 62. Shortly before he died, Toby praised Tricia for being “the best nurse” and source of strength throughout his battle with stomach cancer.
Ricky Skaggs & Sharon White
Ricky Skaggs was previously married to Brenda Stanley, and they had two kids named Andrew and Mandy. He then married Sharon White of The Whites on August 4, 1981.
Together, Ricky and Sharon have two kids: daughter Molly and son Lucas.
Both Ricky and Sharon are members of the Grand Ole Opry. How impressive is that?
Barbara Mandrell & Ken Dudney
Country singer Barbara Mandrell married Ken Dudney on May 28, 1967, when she was 18 years old. Ken left his career as a Navy pilot to support his wife as she chased a career in country music.
The couple shares three children: two sons and one daughter. Their names are Matthew, Nathan, and Jamie. They’ll celebrate 57 years of marriage in 2024.
Ronnie & Janine Dunn
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Brooks & Dunn’s Ronnie Dunn married his wife, Janine, on May 19, 1990. It was the same year that Brooks & Dunn formed as a duo.
Ronnie and Janine have three kids: daughters Haley and Whitney and son Jesse.
Kix & Barbara Brooks
Ronnie’s duo partner Kix Brooks has been married to his wife, Barbara, since August 1, 1981. They share two children: son Eric and daughter Molly.
The fellas in Brooks & Dunn clearly know how to make love last!
Linda Davis & Lang Scott
Country signers Linda Davis and Lang Scott married in August 1984. They often sing with their two daughters, Hillary and Rylee.
Hillary is actually one of the three members of Lady A! Though she went solo to record a gospel album in 2016, and her family joined her on the record. The project, called Love Remains, won the Grammy for Best Contemporary Christian Music Album.
Marty Stuart & Connie Smith
Marty Stuart first met Connie Smith when he was 12 years old. She was already famous at the time, and came to work at a fair in his hometown. He recalled telling his mother he was going to marry Connie one day.
He was first married to Johnny Cash’s daughter, Cindy, from 1983-1988. Then, just as he told his mother he would, he married Connie on July 8, 1997.
George and Nancy Jones
George Jones was married three times and had four children before he met and fell in love with Nancy Sepulvado. They tied the knot on March 4, 1983.
George always gave credit to Nancy for saving his life. In his 1996 autobiography, he said:
“No teenage boy ever fell harder for a girl than I feel for Nancy Sepulvado. When I met my future wife on a blind date in November 1981, I had no idea that someday she would save my life…They say love can change the world. I’m here to testify that it changed one man…finally the power of love from one woman, Nancy Jones, made the difference.”
George and Nancy were married for 30 years before he passed away on April 26, 2013.
Willie Nelson & Annie D’Angelo
Willie Nelson Talks His 31-Year Marriage with Wife Annie D'Angelo: 'My Lover, Nurse, Bodyguard' (Exclusive) https://t.co/a4msz8OM2V
— People (@people) May 11, 2023
Willie Nelson was married three times before he met and fell in love with his wife Annie D’Angelo. They married in 1991.
The couple shares two sons, Lukas and Micah. Willie has six additional children from his other relationships.
“I call her my pet rattler,” Willie said about Annie during an interview with PEOPLE. “She’s my lover, my wife, nurse, doctor, bodyguard.”
Dolly Parton & Carl Dean
Dolly Parton with her husband Carl Dean.
They’ve been married since 1966. pic.twitter.com/SCJRudGJAu— Eric Alper 🎧 (@ThatEricAlper) November 1, 2022
Dolly Parton married Carl Dean on May 30, 1966. Although Dolly is one of the most recognizable and beloved celebrities in the world, Carl keeps out of the public eye.
While their lifestyles and personalities are exact opposites, Dolly says that’s what makes them such a strong couple.
“He loves to hear about the things I do,” she told Parade. “I love to hear about the things he does. So we enjoy each other’s company. We get along good. He’s got a great sense of humor. We’ve just been best buddies and best friends and, evidently, it’s working!”
Hats off to all of these couples! May they enjoy many more happy years together.
