On May 9, 2005, country star Kenny Chesney and Oscar-winning actress Renée Zellweger shocked the world by getting married in a quiet beach ceremony in St. John, Virgin Islands. But what stunned the public even more was how short-lived the union turned out to be. Just 128 days later, the couple filed for an annulment.
The reason given? “Fraud.”
The word itself ignited a media frenzy. Rumors swirled — was it about Kenny’s sexuality? Was there a betrayal? Or had the entire relationship been a publicity stunt? For years, neither Kenny nor Renée clarified what that cryptic reason meant, choosing to protect their privacy and each other. But behind closed doors, both reportedly struggled with the emotional fallout.
In later interviews, Kenny admitted he “panicked” and was “not ready for marriage.” Renée, for her part, called the experience “a miscommunication of intentions.” They had married fast, on a wave of excitement, only to realize they were two different people chasing two very different lives.
Now, two decades later, the annulment remains one of the most mysterious celebrity breakups of the 2000s. While both have moved on — Renée with new roles and Kenny with a music career still going strong — fans still wonder: What really happened during those 128 days ?
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