HARDY and his wife, Caleigh Ryan, were at each other’s sides on Wednesday (Nov. 9) evening during the 56th Annual CMA Awards. And it’s clear to see the happily married couple are still in the blissful honeymoon phase of their relationship after coming off what appeared to be an eventful wedding ceremony just mere days ago.
While speaking with Entertainment Tonight, HARDY opened up about the newlyweds’ nuptials, and admitted that he cried “his a** off” right before the pair said their “I Dos.”
“I made a joke, but the second I looked up at [Caleigh], I was already crying so bad that I couldn’t see her,” HARDY told ET’s Rachel Smith of the special day. “I had to wipe my tears away just to see what she looked like. It was awesome.”
“I knew I was going to,” he added. “I’ll cry, dude. I have no shame, but I’m an emotional dude, and it was all coming down on me. It was amazing.”
HARDY and Ryan tied the knot on Saturday (Oct. 29) morning in a beautiful, rustic ceremony at Diamond Creek Farms in Nashville, Tennessee. The pair celebrated with 350 guests but kept a few personal touches to themselves, including the exchange of wedding vows.
“We chose to exchange our vows privately during our first look, and it was literally the best moment of our lives,” Ryan said before sharing her favorite wedding day moment. “It was a huge party, so I kind of have to separate it into two, but hands down, of the day, our first look.”
As for the party portion of the wedding day, which included guests like Morgan Wallen, ERNEST, Lauren Alaina, Dierks Bentley, and more, HARDY admitted, “I don’t remember it. I’ll tell you that much.”
The lovebird’s latest appearance on the CMA award red carpet was their first as husband and wife, and they sure made a statement with their wardrobe. For the event, HARDY wore a suit jacket. His love, meanwhile, dazzled in a white floor-length gown fit for a bride! Ryan paired her dress with a sparkling silver choker necklace and wore her hair in a high bun. But the most important part of their looks was their wedding bands, which they flaunted for the cameras.
“It feels really good. I wanted to get the same one that my dad got, ’cause I always loved his, so I did,” Hardy said of his wedding band. “And I’ve been jealous that she gets to wear something that signifies it for a year, so I was really happy to get to put it on for the first time.”
HARDY was up for New Artist of the Year, Song of the Year for “Sand In My Boots” and Musical Event of the Year for “Beers On Me” going into the 2022 CMA Awards. During the show, he also performed a rousing rendition of his single “wait in the truck,” alongside fellow country artist Lainey Wilson.
For HARDY, the fun doesn’t stop. He and Ryan are currently enjoying time overseas, as he recently announced the newly married couple were departing for their honeymoon right after the 2022 CMA Awards.
“We’re leaving for L.A. tonight, after the awards because we’re going to Thailand for our honeymoon,” HARDY, who began dating Ryan in April 2018 after the two met on social media, shared. “It never stops.”
HARDY is gearing up to release his new album, The Mockingbird & The Crow, which is due out in January 2023 and available now for preorder.
Arriving on January 20, 2023 (via Big Loud Records), the mockingbird & THE CROW will feature 17 songs, including three duets, the chart-climbing “wait in the truck” with Lainey Wilson, one with Morgan Wallen and another with A Day To Remember’s Jeremy McKinnon.
“the mockingbird & THE CROW is, in my opinion, the best thing I’ve made so far,” HARDY shared in a press release. “I had a lot of time to get in the weeds making this record with some of my favorite people in Nashville, and it truly captures every part of who I am as an artist. I’m honored that I get to share it with you next year; can’t wait to hear what you think about it.”
The project will be half rock and half country and was recorded between Ocean Way and Blackbird Studios in Nashville, entirely produced by Joey Moi with co-production by HARDY and Derek Wells, and co-production on select tracks by David Garcia, Jordan Schmidt, Ben Johnson, Andrew Wade, Jeremy McKinnon, and Cody Quistad.
HARDY co-wrote every single track on the album alongside some of Nashville’s most sought after songwriters, including Ashley Gorley, Rhett Akins, Hillary Lindsey, Jessie Jo Dillon, David Garcia, Hunter Phelps, Jordan Schmidt, and more.
The award-winning singer/songwriter also announced a tour in support of the project, dubbed The Mockingbird & The Crow Tour.
The trek, which features support from Jameson Rodgers and Blame My Youth, kicks off on February 16 at Old National Centre in Indianapolis, Indiana, and continues through April 29, where the tour wraps up at The Pavilion at Toyota Music Factory in Irving, Texas.
HARDY’s headlining tour will visit several major cities along the way, including New York, Atlanta, St. Louis, Oklahoma City, New Orleans, Denver and more.
