Who Is Kimberly Williams-Paisley Dating?
Kimberly Williams-Paisley is not dating anyone. The question comes up because she plays romantic leads and keeps a relatively low profile, but the answer has been the same for more than two decades: she is married to Brad Paisley, and happily so. The couple celebrated their 23rd wedding anniversary in March 2026, with Kimberly posting a sweet anniversary tribute on Instagram joking that "math isn't our strong suit" after twenty-something years together. In an industry where marriages are measured in months, the Paisleys are an institution - two people who found each other through a movie, a music video, and a broken heart, and never looked back. If you are looking for dating drama here, you will not find it: this is one of Hollywood's rare boring-in-the-best-way love stories.
The Father of the Bride Connection
The origin story is almost too perfect to be true - except Brad Paisley has told it himself, on the record, to Hoda Kotb on TODAY. In college, Brad took his first serious girlfriend on a first date: pizza and the 1991 hit Father of the Bride, starring a young Kimberly Williams as Annie Banks, the bride-to-be. Brad has said he spent the entire movie mesmerized by the actress on screen rather than the girl beside him. That relationship eventually ended badly - the girlfriend cheated on him with his best friend after he moved to Nashville, a heartbreak Brad later called "the best gift she could have ever given me" because it set him free. His songwriter friends, trying to help him get over it, suggested he recreate the date: go back to the same theater a year later and watch Father of the Bride Part II. He did. And somewhere in that strange ritual of closure, the seed was planted: the girl on the screen would one day become his wife.
The Music Video That Started It All
Years later, Brad was casting the music video for his 2002 single "I'm Gonna Miss Her (The Fishin' Song)" - a goofy, chart-topping hit about a man who chooses fishing over his girlfriend. He needed an actress, and he thought of Kimberly Williams. She took the role, they met on set, and the chemistry was immediate and real. What makes the story sing is the symmetry: the woman he had watched on a movie screen during a doomed college date was now standing in front of him, laughing through takes. They began dating shortly after the video shoot. By all accounts it was a whirlwind done right - two successful, grounded people in their early thirties who recognized something rare. Friends from that era describe Brad as completely smitten, and Kimberly has said she was struck by his humor and decency.
The Surprise 2003 Wedding
On March 15, 2003, Brad Paisley and Kimberly Williams married in a surprise ceremony in the chapel at Pepperdine University in Malibu, California. Kimberly retold the story in a 2026 iHeartCountry interview, describing how the couple kept the wedding intimate and unexpected - no massive celebrity guest list, no magazine exclusive, just a genuine celebration with the people who mattered most. The "surprise" element has become part of Paisley lore: even some guests did not know what they were attending until they arrived. It was a fitting start for a couple whose entire romance had unfolded unconventionally - from movie-screen crush to music-video meet-cute to secret chapel wedding. Twenty-three years later, the marriage has outlasted nearly every celebrity union of its era.
Their Two Sons
Brad and Kimberly are parents to two sons: William "Huck" Huckleberry Paisley, born in February 2007, and Jasper Warren Paisley, born in April 2009. The family is based in Nashville, Tennessee, where the Paisleys have built a life notably insulated from Hollywood chaos. Both parents have spoken about raising the boys with as much normalcy as fame allows - school, sports, and family dinners rather than red carpets. The couple are also serious philanthropists: they opened a free grocery store in Nashville for families in need and have supported the Michael J. Fox Foundation, among other causes. Kimberly, a New York Times bestselling author (Where the Light Enters, about her mother's battle with a rare brain disease), has said motherhood reshaped her priorities and her work, pulling her toward projects with heart. The boys have occasionally joined their parents at events - including the Michael J. Fox Foundation benefit the couple attended in April 2023 - but for the most part the Paisleys have kept them out of the spotlight, a deliberate choice in a town where celebrity children often become content. Brad has said fatherhood changed his songwriting, and Kimberly has said it changed her acting - both describe their sons as the best thing they have made together, wedding included.
23 Years: "Don't Leave"
Asked in 2026 for the secret to 23 years of marriage, Kimberly gave an answer that went viral for its simplicity. Speaking to Fox News Digital at the TCM Classic Film Festival, she credited advice she once heard from Jamie Lee Curtis: "Don't leave." "I thought that was really, actually brilliant," she said. "Just know there's gonna be ups and downs and don't give up. That was our secret." She elaborated that longevity also takes deliberate effort: "We find time, we have to be deliberate about it... when we have the downtime, we really make the most of it." The quote ricocheted across country media - Movieguide, Backstage Country, and Beliefnet all picked it up - because it felt honest rather than performative. No 5-step plan, no branding: just stay, and mean it. For her March 2026 anniversary post, she wrote: "23 years today (we think, but math isn't our strong suit). Find yourself someone you can laugh with, do some good with, and hang on tight with."
What She's Doing in 2026
Professionally, 2026 finds Kimberly Williams-Paisley busier than she has been in years. She stars as Cammie Raleigh in ABC's 9-1-1: Nashville alongside LeAnn Rimes, Chris O'Donnell, and Jessica Capshaw - a role that has her back on network television in a big way, with the show already renewed for a second season in 2026-27. Earlier in 2026, she teamed with Brad for a playful crossover promoting his American Idol guest mentor gig, answering a fake 9-1-1 call from her real-life husband. Beyond acting, she remains an advocate for caregivers and brain-disease research through her writing and philanthropy. And through it all, the marriage hums along - the rare Hollywood love story that started with a movie ticket and never needed a sequel.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Kimberly Williams-Paisley dating?
Nobody - Kimberly Williams-Paisley is not dating anyone because she is married. She has been married to country music star Brad Paisley since March 15, 2003. The couple celebrated their 23rd wedding anniversary in March 2026 and remain one of country music's most enduring couples.
Who is Kimberly Williams-Paisley's husband?
Brad Paisley, the Grammy-winning country singer-songwriter behind hits like "Whiskey Lullaby," "Ticks," and "I'm Gonna Miss Her." The West Virginia native is one of country music's biggest stars, with dozens of chart-topping singles. He and Kimberly have been married since 2003 and share two sons.
How did Kimberly Williams-Paisley meet Brad Paisley?
Brad first noticed Kimberly when she starred as Annie Banks in Father of the Bride - he took his college girlfriend to see the film on a first date and could not take his eyes off the screen. Years later, when casting the music video for his 2002 single "I'm Gonna Miss Her," he thought of Kimberly. She took the role, they started dating, and the rest is history. Brad told the full story to Hoda Kotb on TODAY.
When did Kimberly Williams-Paisley get married?
March 15, 2003. The wedding was a genuine surprise - a small, intimate ceremony in the chapel at Pepperdine University in Malibu, California. Kimberly later described telling the story of the surprise wedding in a 2026 iHeartCountry interview, explaining how the couple kept the plans quiet and intimate.
Does Kimberly Williams-Paisley have children?
Yes, two sons with Brad Paisley: William "Huck" Huckleberry Paisley, born in February 2007, and Jasper Warren Paisley, born in April 2009. The family is based in Nashville, Tennessee, where the couple are deeply involved in philanthropy, including a free grocery store for families in need.
How old is Kimberly Williams-Paisley?
Kimberly Williams-Paisley is 55 years old. She was born on September 14, 1971, in Rye, New York. She turned 55 in September 2026.
Is Ashley Williams related to Kimberly Williams-Paisley?
Yes - Ashley Williams is Kimberly's younger sister. Ashley is also an actress, known for roles in How I Met Your Mother, The Jim Gaffigan Show, and numerous Hallmark movies. The sisters are close and have occasionally worked together.