Who Is Blake Shelton's First Ex-Wife?
It's probably safe to say that when people hear Blake Shelton's name, his ex-wife Miranda Lambert also comes to mind. That's because once upon a time, Shelton and Lambert were one of country music's hottest couples, having been married from 2006 to 2015. Unfortunately, the two called it quits and went on to date other people, with Lambert marrying former NYPD officer, Brendan McLoughlin, in 2019. "This is not the future we envisioned," their representatives told Us Weekly at the time. "And it is with heavy hearts that we move forward separately. We are real people, with real lives, with real families, friends, and colleagues."
However, many people don't know that the "God's Country" singer was married to a woman named Kaynette Williams before Lambert. Williams has stayed out of the spotlight ever since she and Shelton divorced back in 2006, which is probably why some fans haven't heard her name before. With that in mind, let's take a closer look at Williams and Shelton's relationship.
How Blake Shelton and Kaynette Williams' love story began
Blake Shelton and Kaynette Williams were high school sweethearts in Ada, Okla., according to Country Fancast. Years later, Shelton got down on one knee and popped the question. "I asked her to marry me, and she said yes. It was early one morning back in December, and we ended up spending the day with some friends and kind of having a party all day and had a good time," he told CMT in a 2003 interview (via Country Fancast).
Naturally, Shelton proposed in the most country way ever. He added, "I got in from hunting that morning and asked her to marry me, and we went back out hunting." The former couple tied the knot in Gatlinburg, Tenn., on Nov. 17, 2003, during Shelton's break from touring with fellow musician Toby Keith.
Shortly after Shelton's nuptials, the country crooner couldn't help but gush over his wife. "I knew Kaynette was the one," he told Country Weekly, per the outlet. "Just because I can't explain it. I can't say it's because we get along or because of the way she looks. It's just something I feel — you know what I mean? It's nothing more than just knowing you're right."
Williams was very supportive of Shelton's career as she was his road manager before their divorce.
How Miranda Lambert changed everything
Unfortunately, Kaynette Williams and Blake Shelton did not go off riding into the sunset. Instead, Shelton caught feelings for someone else: Miranda Lambert. The singers first met at the CMT's 100 Greatest Duets concert in 2005, where they sang "You're the Reason God Made Oklahoma."
Lambert knew Shelton wasn't available at the time, as she told Dateline in 2011 (via E! News), "I had seen their wedding pictures in Country Weekly. I knew better, like, 'this is off-limits.'" Making matters more complicated? Lambert was engaged to Jeff Allen McManus during this period.
In 2011, Shelton revealed in an interview with VH1's Behind the Music (via Entertainment Weekly) that he "never had that kind of experience with anybody" on stage before. "I was a married guy, you know? Standing up there and singing with somebody and going, 'Man, this shouldn't be happening.' Looking back on that, I was falling in love with her, right there on stage," he recalled.
In the end, Shelton and Williams filed for divorce in 2006.
Despite being happy in his new relationship with Lambert, he noted the split from Williams "was easily the toughest thing that I've been through," according to a 60 Minutes interview in 2014 (via E! News). He continued, "I put my divorce up there with my brother's death. That was a tough, tough call to make."
Blake Shelton and Kaynette Williams have moved on
Although Blake Shelton's marriage to Miranda Lambert didn't work out — the two divorced in 2015 after four years of marriage — the country stars both found their happily ever afters. Shelton is currently dating singer Gwen Stefani, who he met on The Voice, and as we mentioned earlier, Lambert secretly got married to Brendan McLoughlin in 2019.
As for Kaynette Williams? It seems as though she is doing just fine. According to Country Fancast, Williams is living in Kansas, where she is a teacher and is married to Cody Joe Scheck, a rodeo champion. "Happy birthday to my best friend and amazing husband, Cody Scheck! I love you more than words!!!" she captioned a photo of Scheck in March 2020 on her Facebook page. It appears the two both enjoy the outdoors and horses, as Williams' photos suggest.
All's well that ends well, as the saying goes.