Country musician Kellie Pickler has broken her silence six months after her husband Kyle Jacobs’ death by suicide. She told People Magazine, “One of the most beautiful lessons my husband taught me was in a moment of a crisis, if you don’t know what to do, ‘Do nothing, just be still.’ I have chosen to heed his advice.”
She continued, “Thank you to my family, friends, and supporters for the countless letters, calls and messages that you have sent my way.” The 37-year-old said the support “has truly touched my soul, and it’s helping me get through the darkest time in my life. As many of you have told me, you are all in my prayers.” The singer also told People Magazine that she’s planning an “intimate memorial” for her husband, which will happen later this fall.
Pickler and her husband were married in 2011 in a surprise New Year’s Day ceremony. The “American Idol” alum shared multiple posts dedicated to Jacobs, whom she’s called “my love” over the years. In 2016, she shared a sweet birthday post for Jacobs on her Instagram, writing, “Happy birthday to my loving husband and best friend. You are truly my greatest treasure. I love you so much!”
In 2017, Pickler posted about how he proposed to her. She wrote, “One of the most special days in my life will always be June 15th. It is my grandmother’s birthday, and it’s also the day my husband Kyle proposed.” She said they were in Florida’s Rosemary Beach in 2010 on what he said was only a “vacation.”
She gushed, “That evening, after a romantic dinner, we took a sunset stroll on the beach. Little did I know, he had secretly planted a small wooden box in the sand. It looked like it had washed up from the sea, but upon opening it, I found a true treasure. Inside contained a journal that Kyle had written for me, a seashell with my grandmother’s name ‘Faye’ written on it, and a beautiful engagement ring.”
Pickler said after he got down on one knee and she screamed, “YES!!!” they watched the sunset “slowly paint a colorful end to a beautiful day. Pickler continued, “What was so incredible is that Kyle didn’t realize that THAT day was also my grandmother’s birthday. It was like my beautiful angel, the one I call mom, was giving us her blessing. So, Kyle and I like to celebrate June 15th as a couple. Still and forever crazy in love. It’s #OurDay.”
Sadly, Jacobs was found dead in his home from a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head in February after Pickler woke up and couldn’t find him. She called 911 when she couldn’t open the door to an upstairs room, where he was eventually found. He was 49. Jacobs moved to Nashville, Tennessee, in 2000. In 2004, he was co-writer on “American Idol” alum Kimberly Locke’s No. 1 single “8th World Wonder.”
He went on to co-write Garth Brooks’ 2007 hit “More Than a Memory,” which became the first song to debut at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart in its history. Despite their “American Idol” connection, the couple met at a Nashville bar in 2008.
In 2020, Jacobs co-produced Brice’s album “Hey World.” In his last Instagram post, he celebrated the album receiving an RIAA platinum certification, writing, “Platinum?! SWEEEET!!! An amazing crew of incredibly talented peeps put this one together. Deeply honored to be a creative part of it. Thank you Jesus!!!”