Inside Country Music's Most Jaw-Dropping Relationship Breakdowns: Shania Twain, Kelsea Ballerini, and More

Many of the most beloved songs in country music revolve around heartbreak. The real-life relationships that serve as inspiration for these songs can be just as intense and dramatic.

One such example is Shania Twain, who experienced the devastating betrayal of her husband, Robert “Mutt” Lange, in May 2008. Lange had an affair with Twain's former personal assistant, Marie-Anne Thiébaud. The infidelity ultimately led to the end of Twain's marriage, and she channeled her pain into her music.

Twain explained to The Guardian in April 2018 that she had written a song about her friend who cheated on her, and it was filled with strong language. She admitted to hating her friend and felt that using explicit language accurately conveyed her feelings towards her. Similarly, Kelsea Ballerini found solace in writing poetry to express her emotions after her divorce from Morgan Evans in August 2022.

"Years of therapy sessions spent facing me / The truth, although difficult to accept, was not difficult to uncover / Darling, were you taken by surprise or were you simply unaware?" Ballerini croons on her 2023 hit "Blindsided."

Keep scrolling to discover some of the most tumultuous country music breakups in history:

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Messiest Country Music Splits: Shania Twain and Robert ‘Mutt’ Lange, Kelsea Ballerini and Morgan Evans, More

Some of country music’s greatest songs are about heartbreak — and the relationships that inspired them can be just as dramatic.

Shania Twain personally experienced the harsh reality when her husband of 15 years, Robert "Mutt" Lange, had an extramarital affair with her former personal assistant, Marie-Anne Thiébaud, in May 2008. As a result of this betrayal, Twain and Lange decided to end their relationship. Twain channeled her pain into her music and wrote a song for her album Now (2017), where she candidly expressed her feelings towards her cheating friend with strong language. In an interview with The Guardian in April 2018, Twain confessed that she despised her former friend, hence using expletives like "f—ks" in the song as they accurately conveyed her intense hatred.

Kelsea Ballerini transformed her pain into poetic expression following her separation from her former spouse, Morgan Evans, in August 2022.

In her song "Blindsided" released in 2023, Ballerini lyrically conveys the sentiment of their years spent seeking guidance in therapy: "Through countless therapy sessions we shared / Uncovering the undeniable truth, easily unveiled / Darling, were you caught off guard or intentionally unaware?"

Scroll down to see some of the messiest country music splits of all time:

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Johnny Cash and Vivian Liberto

The singer known as the "Man in Black" was married to Liberto for thirteen years, from 1954 to 1967. However, their relationship faced challenges due to Cash's fame, busy tour schedule, and growing affection for June Carter. Despite having four daughters together, their efforts to keep their marriage intact were unsuccessful. In the summer of 1966, Liberto decided to file for divorce, and the following year, their separation was finalized.

In her 2008 memoir, titled "I Walked The Line: My Life With Johnny," Liberto detailed their downfall. According to her, things took a dark turn when the family relocated to Encino, California, in the summer of 1958. Cash's alleged abuse of pills exacerbated his already problematic drinking habits, as claimed by his ex-wife. It was during the same year that Liberto was introduced to June Carter, who Cash eventually left his wife for and went on to marry in 1968.

"Once June arrived, she had an unwavering determination to be with Dad, and she succeeded. She made herself incredibly accessible, to the point where he actively pursued her as well." Cindy, the daughter of Liberto and Cash, revealed this in her book. Carter and Cash passed away in May and September 2003, respectively, while Liberto passed away in May 2005.

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George Jones and Tammy Wynette

The country music superstars, known for their hit songs "If Drinkin' Don't Kill Me" and "Stand By Your Man," had both been previously married twice before they exchanged vows in February 1969. The following year, they welcomed their only child together, daughter Tamala. Despite their legendary status in the industry, their marriage was turbulent off stage.

In 1973, Wynette filed for divorce after enduring years of arguments and her allegations of excessive drinking on Jones' part. Although they briefly reconciled, their divorce was finalized in March 1975, officially ending their marriage. In her autobiography, Stand by Your Man, published in 1979, Wynette revealed that Jones had once pursued her around their home with a loaded rifle during their more tumultuous years. In his memoir, I Lived to Tell It All, published in 1996, Jones refuted these claims.

Despite their romantic breakup, the musicians came together again in 1976 to collaborate on the duets "Golden Ring" and "Near You." They continued to produce music as a team for several years and even embarked on a joint tour in 1995. Unfortunately, Wynette's passing occurred in April 1998, while Jones departed in April 2013.

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Sara Evans and Craig Schelske

Evans made headlines in October 2006 when she pulled out of Dancing With the Stars for personal reasons. It was later revealed that on the same day, she filed for divorce from Schelske. The couple, who got married in 1993, have three children together.

Following their divorce, things quickly turned bitter as Evans claimed in court documents from October 2006 that her estranged husband had been verbally and emotionally abusive towards her. The singer also accused Schelske of frequently watching pornography on their family computers and having explicit photographs of himself with other women on his computer. In response, Schelske issued a statement denying all the allegations.

Schelske countered Evans' accusations of infidelity by claiming that the country singer herself had been unfaithful. Ultimately, Evans was granted primary custody of their children and agreed to a $600,000 alimony settlement with her ex.

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Shania Twain and Robert 'Mutt' Lange

The Grammy winner crossed paths with the music producer in June 1993, swiftly embarking on a joint endeavor for her album, The Woman in Me, which was released in February 1995. As they collaborated, their professional bond blossomed into romance, leading to Twain and Lange tying the knot in December 1993. Their partnership extended to the joyful arrival of their sole child, son Eja, in August 2001.

However, in May 2008, their marital harmony shattered when Lange was accused of engaging in an extramarital affair with Twain’s friend and former personal assistant, Marie-Anne. To compound the situation, Marie-Anne was married to executive Frédéric Thiebaud at the time. Lange vehemently denied the allegations, but ultimately, he and the country singer finalized their divorce two years later.

Amid the commotion, Twain initiated a romantic relationship with Frédéric after developing a strong bond in the aftermath of their individual breakups. The two tied the knot in January 2011. Meanwhile, Lange remains in a committed relationship with Marie-Anne.

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LeAnn Rimes and Dean Sheremet

Rimes tied the knot with her backup dancer Sheremet in 2002. However, their marriage crumbled after Us magazine exposed Rimes' affair with Eddie Cibrian in March 2009. The affair unfolded while they were filming the Lifetime movie Northern Lights. Shortly after the revelation, Sheremet filed for divorce in December of that year. In the same year, Cibrian also ended his marriage to Brandi Glanville and later married Rimes in 2011.

Throughout the years, the Real Housewives of Beverly Hills star, Glanville, has had a tumultuous relationship with Rimes. However, in June 2021, Glanville shared on the "Hollywood Raw" podcast that she and Rimes have developed a strong bond and get along well, especially when it comes to coparenting their two sons together with Cibrian, Mason and Jake. Glanville emphasized their mutual love for the children.

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Jason Aldean and Jessica Ussery

After being married to Ussery for over ten years, the "Dirt Road Anthem" singer made headlines in September 2012 when photographs surfaced of him kissing Brittany Aldean (formerly Kerr), a former contestant on American Idol. One month later, the musician publicly acknowledged his infidelity and apologized on Facebook, confessing, "I messed up." Following the scandal, Jason and Ussery, who have two daughters named Keeley and Kendyl together, decided to separate in January 2013.

Us announced their separation in April 2013, revealing that the "She's Country" singer had filed for divorce after almost 12 years of marriage. In March 2014, Us confirmed that the "Burnin' It Down" singer was in a relationship with Brittany, whom he later married the next year. Since then, the musician has become a father to son Memphis and daughter Navy with his second wife.

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Blake Shelton and Miranda Lambert

The Voice coach and the singer of the song "Bluebird" announced their separation in July 2015 after being married for four years. Despite denying rumors of trouble in their relationship, the news of their breakup was quickly followed by reports that their divorce had already been finalized.

Shortly after, Shelton began a relationship with Gwen Stefani in November 2015, and the couple got married in July 2021. On the other hand, Lambert found love with Brendan McLouglin and the couple tied the knot in January 2019 after dating for less than three months. Lambert's relationship with McLoughlin came after she made headlines for allegedly having a fling with Evan Felker while she was still dating Anderson East. Lambert and East separated in the summer of 2018.

Shelton spoke about his divorce from Lambert, describing how he hit rock bottom like anyone would in such a devastating situation. He expressed gratitude for meeting someone, Stefani, who was going through the same experience at the same time. Stefani had divorced her ex-husband Gavin Rossdale in August 2015.

Lambert, on the other hand, explained in a CBS News interview in May 2022 that she chose not to be dishonest in her post-breakup songs, which ultimately aided in her healing process. She shared that she has learned a lot about herself and has reached a point of acceptance and peace with who she is.

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Jana Kramer and Mike Caussin

After news broke that the former NFL player Caussin had been unfaithful, the "I Got the Boy" songstress separated from him in 2016. Caussin then sought treatment for sex addiction, and in 2017, the couple renewed their vows. However, despite their efforts, their marriage came to an end in April 2021 due to Caussin's repeated infidelity, bringing their nearly six-year union to a close.

"According to a source who spoke to Us in April 2021, Jana reached her breaking point when she once again discovered that [Mike] had been unfaithful. The source mentioned that everything seemed to be going well for the couple until Jana uncovered evidence of a recent affair. In July 2021, the couple finalized their divorce and agreed to co-parent their children, Jolie and Jace.

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Evan and Staci Felker

We reported in April 2018 that Evan was dating Lambert after they met during her Livin' Like Hippies Tour, which took place from January to June of that year. This relationship caused speculation because Evan was still married to Staci and Lambert was still together with her then-boyfriend Anderson East.

Following the alleged cheating scandal, Evan and Staci ended their relationship and finalized their divorce in August 2018. In the same month, Lambert stated in an interview with The Tennessean that she was happily single. The singer of "If I Was a Cowboy" later married McLoughlin in January 2019 after a whirlwind romance.

The Felkers, on the other hand, announced their reconciliation in March 2021, revealing the birth of their first child, daughter Evangelina. In June 2020, Evan and Staci made it known that they had remarried. Fast forward to September 2022, and the couple joyfully welcomed their second child, son Everett.

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Natalie Maines and Adrian Pasdar

The lead singer of The Chicks filed for divorce from her husband in 2017 after being married for 17 years. Their divorce was finalized in 2019 after a lengthy legal battle. During this time, her ex-husband requested a monthly payment of $60,000 from her, despite having a prenuptial agreement. He argued that she was the main source of income and that he had sacrificed his career to take care of their children. These claims were made in court documents. Although the details of their divorce settlement have not been made public, the singer seemingly alluded to the difficult proceedings in the band's 2020 album, Gaslighter. In the title track, she sings about giving away all her money and her ex-husband's alleged infidelity.

On the track "Everybody Loves You," Maines appears to confront Pasdar's public image. She questions, "Why does everyone adore you? / They remain unaware of my experiences," while reflecting, "This is my physical self, and I am attempting to / Find forgiveness, yet I am reluctant to / This is my physical self, and it holds animosity towards you."

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Kelly Clarkson and Brandon Blackstock

In June 2020, it was confirmed that The Voice coach had filed for divorce from the talent manager after being married for nearly seven years. The couple then engaged in a two-year legal dispute, which concluded in March 2022.

Before finalizing their divorce, Blackstock declared that he intended to leave the entertainment industry and pursue a full-time career as a rancher. He argued that in order to succeed in this endeavor, he needed to retain ownership of the Montana property, despite Clarkson's desire to sell it. In August 2021, a judge ruled that Blackstock could remain on the ranch, but he was responsible for all expenses related to its maintenance.

Five months later, the singer of the song "Since You've Been Gone" agreed to grant her former spouse a 5.12 percent share of the property in Montana, which amounts to $908,800 out of its total value of $17,750,000. Blackstock was permitted to remain on the land until June 2022 and had to pay rent to Clarkson until he secured alternative accommodation.

Based on court documents obtained by Us, Clarkson was instructed in March 2022 to provide Blackstock with monthly child support payments of $45,601 until their children, River and Remington, reach the age of 18. Additionally, the host of the talk show agreed to pay her ex-husband $115,000 per month in spousal support until January 2024. She also made a one-time payment of $1,326,161 to him.

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Sara Evans and Jay Barker

In 2008, Evans tied the knot with Barker, a year following the finalization of her divorce from Schelske. After being married for 14 years, the couple decided to split in April 2021. According to court documents obtained by Us, Evans disclosed that Barker had been residing in Alabama for approximately three months post their separation. The pair officially filed for divorce in August of the same year.

In January 2022, there was a tumultuous turn in the divorce proceedings when the former football star was taken into custody for reportedly attempting to harm the "A Little Bit Stronger" singer by using a vehicle against her. Barker was subsequently released after posting a $10,000 bond. In June 2022, it was confirmed that Barker, following his arrest for an alleged act of domestic violence stemming from the earlier vehicle incident, pled guilty in the best interest of all parties involved. As part of his sentence, he was placed on one-year probation and required to surrender all weapons while completing a 26-week program aimed at addressing issues related to abusive behavior.

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Kacey Musgraves and Ruston Kelly

The couple announced their separation in July 2020, ending their nearly three-year marriage. In a vulnerable moment, Musgraves posted a photo on Instagram showing herself in tears with glitter streaming down her face. Alongside the image, she expressed that she wished tears could actually sparkle. Kelly, her ex, responded to the post with a muscle emoji and an orange heart.

A couple of months later, the estranged duo engaged in a series of enigmatic text messages, leading some fans to speculate about a possible reconciliation. In August 2020, the "High Horse" singer tweeted, "It is what it is," prompting Kelly to respond, "It doesn't have to be." However, despite these hints, the couple finalized their divorce during the same month.

However, it wasn't until February 2021 that the singer of "Golden Hour" publicly acknowledged the breakup. Musgraves explained to Rolling Stone, "It's a situation where two individuals deeply love each other, but for various reasons, it just didn't work out. I mean, seasons change. Our season changed... There is a part of me that questions the institution of marriage as a whole."

In September 2021, Musgraves provided fans with further insight into the decline of her marriage through her release of Star-Crossed. The title track showcases her singing, "Allow me to paint the picture / Two lovers torn apart at the seams / They awoke from their idyllic dream / Only to be swallowed by darkness."

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Joe Rooney and Tiffany Fallon

In 2006, the Rascal Flatts guitarist tied the knot with Fallon. Throughout their marriage, they became parents to son Jagger and daughters Raquel and Devon. However, in January 2021, news broke that the musician had filed for divorce from his wife. Over the following months, both parties accused each other of infidelity, and Fallon claimed that Rooney's "persistent alcoholism and misuse of drugs" were the reasons behind their separation.

While Rooney admitted his guilt for driving under the influence and colliding with a row of trees in September 2021, he firmly refuted Fallon's allegation of his "persistent inebriation and misuse of narcotics."

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Billy Ray and Tish Cyrus

The "Achy Breaky Heart" singer married Tish in December 1993 and became the adoptive father of her children, Brandi and Trace, from a previous relationship. They later had three children together, Miley, Noah, and Braison. Billy Ray also has a son named Christopher Cody with Kristen Luckey, whom he dated before Tish. Billy Ray initially filed for divorce from Cyrus vs. Cyrus star in October 2010 but withdrew the filing in March 2011, stating on The View that he wanted to reunite his family and that things were going well.

However, two years later, Tish submitted her own paperwork stating "irreconcilable differences" in the June 2013 documentation. Us magazine later confirmed the reconciliation of the couple the following month. Despite undergoing therapy and working through many of their problems, Us magazine confirmed in April 2022 that Tish filed for divorce for the third time. In her filing, the actress stated that she and the country singer have been living separately and have not "cohabited as a married couple for more than two years."

Both Billy Ray and Tish have since moved on in their romantic lives. The singer of "Old Town Road" became engaged to Firerose in the autumn of 2022, while Tish confirmed her relationship with Dominic Purcell in November of the same year. Tish married Purcell in August 2023, and Billy Ray followed suit, marrying Firerose in October of that year.

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Kelsea Ballerini and Morgan Evans

After a marriage that lasted almost five years, the country singers made their separation public in August 2022. Following the announcement, the divorce was officially concluded three months later. Both artists subsequently expressed their emotions regarding the breakup through their own respective breakup songs, delving into the drama surrounding their farewell.

Evans questions in “Over For You,” released in fall 2022, how long the other person has been waiting to remove their pictures and hiding their own emotions. He wonders about the sincerity of their past declarations of love, and contemplates how long they have truly moved on.

In February 2023, Ballerini unveils her six-track EP titled Rolling Up the Welcome Mat, which narrates the decline of their relationship. Reflecting on their current state, she admits in “Mountain With a View,” released on Valentine’s Day, that she still wears the ring but believes she is lying to herself. She acknowledges that they have stopped making an effort and realizes that their love was stronger at a younger age, indicating that it is now over for her.

In a February 2023 interview on the "Call Her Daddy" podcast, the singer of the song "Hole in the Bottle" discussed how the couple had changed over the course of their marriage before ultimately deciding to separate. Ballerini acknowledged that both she and her ex-husband had their flaws, and that the dissolution of their relationship was not one-sided. She admitted to having checked out of the relationship a while ago and felt the need to take ownership of that. Furthermore, she expressed her frustration that he was now taking half the house, even though he hadn't contributed financially to it.

In this article

Blake Shelton

Brandon Blackstock

Jana Kramer

Jason Aldean

Kelly Clarkson

Kelsea Ballerini

LeAnn Rimes

Mike Caussin

Miranda Lambert

Morgan Evans

Natalie Maines

Sara Evans

Shania Twain