Miranda Lambert and husband Brendan McLoughlin have offered rare insight into their marriage over the years.
While the couple immediately made headlines for their whirlwind romance — Lambert and McLoughlin tied the knot after meeting two months prior — both had been involved in other relationships first.
The country singer for her part, was known for her high-profile romance with Blake Shelton. Lambert and Shelton were married for four years before announcing their split in 2015.
“This is not the future we envisioned,” they said in a joint statement Us Weekly. “And it is with heavy hearts that we move forward separately. We are real people, with real lives, with real families, friends and colleagues. Therefore, we kindly ask for privacy and compassion concerning this very personal matter.”
A source exclusively told Us at the time that there were “no hard feelings” between the pair. “They want to move on as friends, and they are doing just that,” the insider shared.
The “Drunk” performer went on to date fellow musician Anderson East from 2015 to 2018. One month after they parted ways, Lambert was linked to Evan Felker amid his marriage to wife Staci Felker. After the Texas native and Evan pulled the plug on their romance in August 2018, the Turnpike Troubadors singer reconciled with Staci.
Meanwhile, McLoughlin welcomed a son with ex Kaihla Rettinger in November 2018, days after he met Lambert.
The New York native’s brief romance with Rettinger happened while he was still in a relationship with then-fiancée Jackie Bruno. Jackie’s mom, Carol Bruno, exclusively told Us at the time, “[Brendan] tried to deny it and then begged her to stay with him. She was only going [abroad] for a few months to play [soccer], he was begging her to marry him before she left, even though he knew the girl was pregnant.”
McLoughlin went on to cross paths with Lambert on the set of Good Morning America later that year. The duo exchanged vows in January 2019 after less than one year together.
“In honor of Valentine’s day I wanted to share some news. I met the love of my life. And we got hitched!” the “Hell on Heels” singer announced via Instagram in February 2019. “My heart is full. Thank you Brendan Mcloughlin for loving me for … Me.”
The Grammy winner later opened up about how quarantining with her husband amid the COVID-19 pandemic helped their marriage. “If newlyweds can survive a pandemic then I think we’re good, you know?” she joked during an interview on New York’s Country 94.7 in June 2020. “It’s a good test. The first month I had a lot of fun. Well, not fun, but I was like, ‘OK, we’re off. We’ll probably be back on the road in a couple of months.’ … There’s stuff to do, it’s just the adjusting of not knowing when I’m going to work again. It’s uneasy.”
According to a second source, the former police officer has remained a “ride or die” presence in his wife’s life. “He’s super supportive of her career and is with her every step of the way,” the insider shared in October 2022.
While Lambert loves being a stepmom to McLoughlin’s son, the duo have been looking forward to expanding their family since tying the knot.
“They would love to have a baby together in the near future,” the insider continued. “Miranda has always had that caring and nurturing side to her — especially after taking care of so many animals — so she’s ready for that next step.”
The source noted that the “If I Was a Cowboy” songstress is “a really great” stepmother to McLoughlin’s child, adding, “They keep that part of their life private out of respect for Landon’s mother, but they’re both very much part of his life.”
As McLoughlin continued to publicly support Lambert’s career, a third insider said the songwriter liked that her husband wasn’t in her job industry. “Miranda loves having a husband who isn’t in the spotlight and doesn’t even care about things like that. He’s low-key and down-to-earth just like her and they couldn’t be a more perfect match,” the source detailed in April 2023. “It’s nice being able to have some privacy and not have every detail about their relationship scrutinized. They complement each other on every level and Miranda feels like she finally found her soulmate.”
The insider concluded: “Miranda and Brendan are doing amazing and even though it’s been a few years since they got married, they still feel like newlyweds.”
Scroll on for Lambert and McLoughlin’s sweetest quotes about their marriage:
