Carly Pearce Reflects on Her Marriage and Growth

Carly Pearce recently opened up about her marriage in a podcast interview, revealing a pivotal moment shortly after saying “I do.” The 36-year-old country artist disclosed that on her wedding night, she realized that the union was a mistake. “He made it very clear to me that I had made a very big mistake,” she shared.

She described feeling a duality within herself, likening it to “Jackal and Hyde.” Looking back, she recognized that while it was a painful experience, her brief marriage provided valuable lessons about herself. “I’m thankful for my very short marriage because it taught me a lot about myself. It also gave me the album ’29,'” Pearce said.

Discussing her marriage and subsequent divorce, Pearce reflected on her newfound strength and clarity. “This is not what I deserved,” she stated, emphasizing that she took control of her life.

Pearce noted, “I blew up my life to get out of there.” She didn’t adhere to societal pressures to stay in the marriage or her faith-based views on divorce. For her, it was simply time to move on.

Married briefly to fellow country artist Michael Ray from October 2019 to June 2020, Pearce later drew inspiration from her experiences, channeling her emotions into her third album, “29.” This album features tracks like “What He Didn’t Do” and “Next Girl.” Interestingly, Pearce initially thought her story was unique, only to discover it resonated with many others.

Although she struggled with communication, songwriting became her outlet. “I need to write it down to process it,” she admitted, leading her to pen six emotionally charged songs about divorce, which she initially thought was excessive.

She earned a Grammy Award for Best Country Duo/Group Performance for the song “Never Wanted to be That Girl,” featuring Ashley McBryde.

In 2025, Pearce confirmed a new relationship with entrepreneur Jordan Kercher, sharing a cozy selfie on Instagram. Reflecting on her time on the dating app Raya, she expressed her surprise at finding someone like him: “I never thought I would meet a real person on Raya,” she mentioned, feeling happier than ever.

Recently, Pearce also used her platform to raise awareness about health issues. After facing a serious misdiagnosis related to pericarditis, she encouraged her followers to be proactive about their health. “I felt ignored by doctors,” she recalled. Her journey through this medical nightmare, she hopes, will inspire others to advocate for themselves.