About
Courtney Alexis Stodden (born August 29, 1994) is an American television personality, model, singer-songwriter, and animal-rights advocate. They first drew international notice in 2011 after marrying actor Doug Hutchison at just 16, a controversial union that thrust the Washington-state teenager onto talk shows, red carpets, and reality TV. Over the years Stodden has parlayed that notoriety into a steady media career—appearing on series such as Couples Therapy and Celebrity Big Brother—while releasing a string of pop singles ranging from the early viral hit “Don’t Put It on Me” to 2024’s dreamy “Flower Child.” In 2021 Stodden came out as non-binary and now prefers they/them pronouns. Their most recent life chapter includes a whirlwind romance with four-time Emmy-winning producer Jared Safier, culminating in an intimate Palm Springs wedding in late 2024.
Before Fame
Raised in the small coastal town of Ocean Shores, Washington, Stodden was home-schooled in a conservative Christian household headed by parents Alex John Stodden and Krista Keller. A natural performer, they hosted a local cable-access program at 14 and entered pageants the following year, winning the Miss Ocean Shores Teen USA title and competing at the 2010 Miss Washington Teen USA finals. Around the same time, Stodden began writing pop songs—posting early tracks like “Car Candy” and “Crazy” on MySpace and local radio. That fledgling music hustle, plus a stint in an online acting workshop run by Doug Hutchison, set the stage for the headline-making romance that would catapult them into the spotlight.
Trivia
- Reality-TV regular: Stodden survived 21 days in the Celebrity Big Brother UK house in 2013 and later popped up on Celebrity Ex on the Beach and The Mother/Daughter Experiment.
- Viral protest: In June 2024 they went TikTok-viral by flushing the five-carat engagement ring from ex-fiancé Chris Sheng down a toilet, calling it “spring cleaning for the soul.”
- Music milestones: Aside from “Flower Child,” 2024 also saw the club single “Freak Alert.” Earlier standouts include “Pleasure” (2021) and the body-positivity anthem “Daddy Issues” (2018).
- Animal advocate: A longtime vegetarian, Stodden once rocked a lettuce bikini for PETA and frequently promotes cruelty-free beauty products on social media.
- Pronouns & identity: After years of being labeled a “teen bride,” Stodden publicly embraced a non-binary identity in 2021, explaining that gender fluidity helped them reclaim personal agency.
Family Life
Courtney is the youngest of three siblings; their mother Krista initially acted as manager before the pair amicably split paths in 2015. The family dynamic became tabloid fodder in 2011, when 51-year-old actor Doug Hutchison wed the 16-year-old singer in Las Vegas with parental consent. The marriage was on-and-off until a final divorce in early 2020. Stodden later suffered a tragic miscarriage in 2016, a loss they have spoken about openly while advocating for mental-health awareness.
Love resurfaced in 2021 with entrepreneur Chris Sheng, whose beach-side proposal produced a headline but not a wedding—Stodden ended the engagement in July 2023, citing incompatibility. Months later they began dating producer Jared Safier; the pair became engaged in June 2024 at the Beverly Wilshire Hotel and tied the knot that November in a 20-guest ceremony featuring vegan fare and vintage silk. The couple splits time between Los Angeles and Palm Springs with rescue pups Blue and Bambi.
Associated With
- Doug Hutchison – Actor and former husband whose age-gap marriage with Stodden ignited global debate and reality-TV opportunities.
- Chris Sheng – Entrepreneur and ex-fiancé; their two-year engagement ended in 2023.
- Jared Safier – Four-time Emmy-winning producer and current spouse; the duo plans to collaborate on Safier’s upcoming film In the Red.
- Chrissy Teigen – Model who apologized publicly in 2021 for past cyberbullying of Stodden, prompting broader conversations about online harassment.
- Gary Busey, Charlotte Crosby & other CBB housemates – Fellow contestants from Celebrity Big Brother season 12, where Stodden’s bubbly persona and rhinestone bikinis became fan favorites.
