Country music stars Jason Isbell and Amanda Shires are officially ending their marriage. Isbell, aged 45, filed for divorce from Shires, 41, on December 15, just before what would have been their 11th wedding anniversary, as per court documents obtained by PEOPLE magazine.
The couple, who share an 8-year-old daughter named Mercy, have been a musical duo since they tied the knot in February 2013. Shires has been a vital part of Isbell’s band, the 400 Unit, playing fiddle and providing backup vocals, while Isbell contributed his guitar skills to Shires’ country supergroup, The High women.
Despite publicly celebrating their 10-year milestone on social media in February 2023, with Isbell expressing his love for Shires on Instagram, cracks in their relationship had been evident since the release of Isbell’s album Reunions in 2020. Their marital struggles, including Shires suggesting marriage counseling in an email to Isbell, were even documented in the 2023 documentary Running With Our Eyes Closed.
In interviews, Shires emphasized the universal challenges of relationships, regardless of fame, and the difficulty of maintaining a marriage. Isbell, who has been sober since 2012, admitted to pushing his loved ones away during the stressful period of producing his album. Shires, at one point, moved out to a hotel for 10 days in 2020 due to tensions in their relationship but later returned.
Their marital issues were also reflected in Shires’ 2022 song “Fault Lines,” where she candidly shared her feelings of disconnect and vulnerability during the pandemic. She described her song selection process for the album as being driven by a choice to be open and vulnerable in her art.
The 45-year-old Grammy-winning Americana singer has officially initiated divorce proceedings from his 41-year-old fiddle-playing singer/songwriter wife, as revealed in documents obtained by WhiskeyRiff on February 7th. The filing, dated December 15, 2023, occurred in Williamson County, situated outside of Nashville.
Fans keen on the couple’s dynamics may not be taken aback by their separation. There have been no recent photographs of the duo together, and a birthday tribute to Isbell shared on Shires’ social media earlier in the month was swiftly removed.
As a musical duo, Shires and Isbell were a force to be reckoned with, frequently collaborating on various projects. Shires often graced the stage with Isbell’s band, the 400 Unit, providing fiddle accompaniment. Their onstage chemistry, notably showcased during performances of Isbell’s beloved track “Cover Me Up,” was undeniable.
While Isbell recently ventured into acting with his debut in the Academy Award-nominated film “Killers of the Flower Moon,” Shires took a break from her solo endeavors to co-found the country supergroup The Highwomen alongside Maren Morris, Brandi Carlile, and Natalie Hemby. Leading up to the split, she has been sharing new solo material on her social media platforms.
An apparent indicator of their shifting relationship dynamics was Shires’ absence from the audience during Isbell’s Grammy wins on February 4th, where he scooped up awards for Best American Roots Song and Best Americana Album.
The marriage between Jason Isbell and Amanda Shires, prominent figures in country and Americana music, has come to an end. Isbell filed for divorce from Shires after nearly 11 years of marriage on December 15, 2023, as confirmed by court records reviewed by Rolling Stone. Isbell, a highly acclaimed singer-songwriter leading the 400 Unit for the past decade, and Shires, known as a respected solo artist and member of the Highwomen supergroup, were unable to reconcile their differences.
Their relationship traces back over two decades, beginning in 2003 when Isbell first noticed Shires playing fiddle in Billy Joe Shaver’s band. They formally met a year later, with Shires performing in the Thriftstore Cowgirls and Isbell with Drive-By Truckers. Despite initial humorous encounters, they stayed in touch, and Shires contributed to Isbell’s 2011 album “Here We Rest” before officially becoming a couple that same year.
As their careers intertwined, they faced challenges typical of a two-career music family, compounded by Isbell’s early struggles with alcoholism. Shires supported Isbell through his rehabilitation, but their marriage remained under strain. Despite the public speculation fueled by their respective songs, such as Shires’ “Fault Lines,” which hinted at marital issues, the couple seldom confirmed the inspirations behind their music.
Tensions between them escalated during the production of Isbell’s 2020 album “Reunions,” culminating in Shires feeling sidelined and temporarily leaving their home. Their struggles were further highlighted in the HBO documentary “Running With Your Eyes Closed,” released a few months after their 10th wedding anniversary, showcasing the strain on their relationship both in the studio and in person