What Happened Between Zac Brown and His Wife?

Written by Jeff Campbell in Band Members,Country Last Updated February 1, 2023

Zac Brown of the country-rock band Zac Brown Band ended his 12-year-old marriage with his wife, Shelly Brown, in 2018. His fans were heartbroken to hear the news and wanted to know: what happened between Zac Brown and his wife?

Zac Brown and his wife announced their split in October 2018 after the toll of hard-partying, near-arrests, and the stress of Shelly having to handle a big family by herself while Zac toured constantly likely drove them apart.

The couple gave out a joint statement announcing their separation.

They also told People Magazine that they feel blessed to have been on an incredible journey together all these years, and sometimes the journey begins to lead in different directions.

Zac described his separation as the next venture.

It’s been a few years since Zac and Shelly separated, and the couple’s commitment to keeping their existing bond stronger has been giving other couples some major co-parenting goals.

Let us dig deeper to find more details.

Who was Zac Brown’s wife?

Zac Brown’s wife was Shelly Brown, whom he had met while his fame was still rising. The couple tied the knot in 2006 and have five children. Shelly also owns an established jewelry brand.

But Shelly Brown is much more than just Zac Brown’s ex-wife.

While Zac moved ahead towards securing a successful career in music, Shelly announced the launch of her lifestyle brand jewelry collection. The two decided to raise a family along with their respective businesses to keep.

According to multiple magazines, Shelly Brown’s jewelry collection is a perfect combination of glam meets Boho-chic. The line makes bold statement pieces and draws inspiration from life at home and on the road.

Shelly talked to PRNewswire:

“I was inspired to craft a collection of jewelry that spoke to these influences; something that reflects the duality of our lifestyle, pieces that you can wear with a t-shirt and jeans or with a cocktail dress, day-to-night, or work-to-play.”

She also said that she enjoys mixing materials and textures, which give her collection a chic yet relaxed vibe.

As of now, her collection comprises rings, earrings, necklaces, and bracelets. Designing at a young age has offered her the opportunity to explore professional options quite early.

I am sure ZBB fans appreciate Shelly Brown’s ambition, and her dedication proves that she is more than Zac’s ex-wife. She is a businesswoman and an entrepreneur.

Why did Shelly Brown divorce Zac Brown?

Shelly Brown may have divorced Zac Brown due to excessive drinking and possible drug use. But Shelly Brown and Zac Brown announced their separation in a joint statement, so it is unclear who asked for a divorce.

But it is a little telling that Zac recently said:

“I decided 2 years ago (in 2017) that there were some parts of myself that I didn’t want to be anymore. Some mornings on the road you wake up with some . . . headaches.”

(source)

Now that’s hardly specific, and he didn’t go into detail. But it certainly implies that he may have been partying, drinking a lot, and maybe doing drugs.

And all the while, his wife Shelly was at home, alone and unsupported for long periods, with their 5 kids; not an easy job!

But ultimately, they led a whirlwind life together, growing into a beautiful family.

However, the couple also faced a timeline of hurdles over these years. They arrived at the decision that divorce was the best way to avoid further conflicts.

The couple’s divorce also served as inspiration for some of the songs on Zac’s solo album Controversy and also for The Owl. The singer-songwriter revealed that his writing process helped him cope with the challenges of divorce.

Zac was candid in an interview with CBS in 2019, and here is what he said about his breakup:

“You know, there are lots of things that you don’t ever foresee. But you know, when you live in something long enough that it’s not working anymore, and that the differences that are there are greater, and that it’s healthier to not live in conflict than it is to try to stay.”

He also added:

“No matter how many mistakes, or whatever — and she was the one. And, you know, we have five amazing, beautiful children together. And that was the reason that we were together.”

Even after the divorce, the couple has a fantastic relationship and puts their kids first.

Did Zac Brown struggle with divorce?

Zac Brown opened up about his divorce and said he struggles to this day. It was a difficult decision for the couple, and they never thought life would lead them this way. However, both are glad to be friends and successful co-parents.

For Zac and Shelly, putting their kids first allowed them to understand and deal with their conflicts. Zac and Shelly are giving their best to raise the kids together.

This is what Zac told a magazine:

“I put my kids first always, and I put them first when I’m making my schedule, but it’s kind of erratic. So to be home and just be super present and consistent with my kids has been great for them, and it’s been great for me,”

Between writing music and spending his time in his at-home studio, Brown enjoys fatherhood without any remorse.

According to him, he couldn’t have a more amazing mother for his kids. Their kids are their priority, and they’ve got steadiness and love from both sides. And feel a little closer as a unit together.

Nothing is more important than that.

Who has custody of Zac Brown’s kids?

Zac Brown and Shelly Brown share custody of their five children, Justice (14), Lucy (13), Georgia (11), Joni (10), and Alexander (7). But the kids stay with Shelly full-time while Zac is touring.

The singer is making sure to ensure spending extra time with his kids. He says: “I have an amazing relationship with my kids.” Zac even celebrated his son Alexander’s birthday, so his kids don’t miss their father on such important occasions.

Zac told People Magazine:

“We set up a whole party, and all the children and my ex-wife joined to have fun. Military crawls, obstacle courses…we had an awesome time.”

Celebrating such moments is often hard for anyone, but Zac provides a creative outlet to all his feelings by turning them into songs.

Zac told a magazine that 95% of the song-making process is based on personal experiences.

Luckily, I covered some more details for his fans in a recent article to give you a peek into ZBB’s songs. Do they write their own songs, or does some Nashville hotshot tell them what songs to sing? And do the other guys in the Zac Brown Band even play on their records?

Just click that link to read it on my site.

For now, the couple’s fans wish Zac Brown and Shelly Brown the best as they continue to co-parent and go their separate ways career-wise.

Did Zac Brown and his wife reconcile?

Zac and Shelly Brown did not reconcile, and while they are friends and successful co-parents, there is no sign of them planning to remarry.

The couple did not give out any details of the reason they were separating.

But both are glad to have shared a great decade. Of course, life will be rearranging a bit, but the love, care, and respect for each other will never go away.

The duo hasn’t talked about the matter right now. But to believe the outlet reports, Zac’s infamous presence at a drug bust back in 2016 could have been a potential reason.

Zac wasn’t arrested in the bust, but it may have been the last straw in the challenging year.

In addition, if you believe the latest reports, both are happy in their careers. And both share a great friendship. But they have not been open about joining back the husband-wife status.

Zac Brown opens up about new album, divorce and surprising collaborations

Conclusion

Zac Brown may be one of the most famous singers in today’s country and southern rock scenes. But when it comes to his personal life, not everything is sunshine and roses. Zac’s life at the home front was full of conflicts and arguments.

The couple was going through some tough times, which finally resulted in filing for a divorce in 2018, bringing their 12 years of marriage to an end.

From love-at-first-sight to having a beautiful family with five children, the couple lived a whirlwind life together.

But 2018 brought an end to this lovely couple’s relationship, which they announced through a joint statement. Millions of fans were heartbroken to hear the news, but the couple is all on good terms and committed to giving their children the best of life’s experience through co-parenting.

All his fans sent their great wishes to honor the family’s decision.

Photo which requires attribution:

Zac Brown Band Rocks the Marne by DVIDSHUB is licensed under CC2.0 and was cropped, edited, and had a text overlay added.

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