Celebrities

5 Country Stars Who Married Their Childhood Sweethearts—and Are Still Together Decades Later

From high school to Hollywood, these country couples prove true love stands the test of time

By Raquel Lekic May 3, 2025

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Luke Bryan and Caroline: college love that came back around

Caroline Bryan and Luke Bryan, 2024 Taylor Hill/WireImage

Luke Bryan, known for hits like “Country Girl,” “Most People Are Good,” “Buy Dirt” and “Play It Again,” found love in the crowd of a college bar when he first locked eyes with the woman who would eventually become his wife, Caroline. Though they had an on-again-off-again relationship for a bit while college students, they eventually went their separate ways while she finished college and he went off to Nashville, only to be reunited again years later. Their second shot at romance proved to be magic, and almost 19 years later, this couple is as happy as can be.
George Strait and Norma: from teen romance to 50+ years of marriage

Norma Strait and George Strait, 2017 Terry Wyatt/Getty Images for Country Music Hall Of Fame & Museum

High school sweethearts George and Norma Strait met as teens, and while it’s been quite some time since those early days as young lovers, this pair has proven that true love never dies. Together over 50 years, this couple eloped in Mexico back in 1971—and the rest is history! Since tying the knot back then, their family grew with children of their own, plus a few grandbabies!
Dierks Bentley and Cassidy: middle school sweethearts turned soulmates

Dierks Bentley and Cassidy Black, 2018 Michael Tran/FilmMagic/Getty Images

Dierks Bentley, known for hits like “Drunk On a Plane” and “Somewhere On a Beach,” first met his sweetheart in middle school! "We met in eighth grade, back in Arizona. It’s a pretty crazy story of just going back and forth with the right time or the wrong time, or right place, wrong time, all that stuff," the singer told The Boot. "Finally, I was playing a show in Las Vegas, and opening for George Strait, and she walked on the bus. I kind of knew that that was the moment." Together, they have three kids.
Thomas Rhett and Lauren Akins: a grade school crush that lasted

Thomas Rhett and Lauren Akins, 2022 Jason Kempin/Getty Images

Marrying the girl you fell for in elementary school isn’t usually the norm, but for Thomas Rhett, when you know, you know. These two childhood friends enjoyed a close friendship growing up, even dating when they were teens for a bit, but after spending some time apart, they eventually found their way back to each other! The couple got married in 2012 and since then, Rhett has become a girl dad to four lovely little ladies!
Alan Jackson and Denise: high school love that still burns bright

Alan Jackson and Denise Jackson, 2011 Frazer Harrison/ACMA2011/Getty Images for ACM

Country star Alan Jackson married his wife, Denise, in 1979, but the two were high school sweethearts before that! "We spend a lot of time together. We get up in the morning and drink coffee together and talk, and I can't go to bed at night if she's downstairs watching television. We go to bed together, unless I'm out of town," Jackson told The Boot. "It's just little things, I think, that have helped us more than anything. If you can last until you're 40 years old, hopefully you'll be mature enough to figure out the rest of the years."

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