People had long been speculating who Carly Pearce is dating ever since her divorce from ex-husband Michael Ray, which was finalized in September 2020.
Pearce posted an Instagram Story selfie of herself and Riley King, a former Major League Baseball player. In response to questions about her reported romance, the two-time ACM Award winner remained tight-lipped but revealed that she is engaged to a man “All I can say is that I’m content. That makes me very delighted, that’s for sure.”
“I think anytime you go through something painful and unexpected, you have a decision to make: Is this going to define you or refine you and for me, I feel like this chapter in my life refined me and will only make me better in my next chapter,” she shared while celebrating the release of 29: Written in Stone. “And I think, hindsight is always 20/20. And for me, I learned a lot through that relationship. Now, I know better as I enter into a new one.”
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While accepting her Female Vocalist of the Year award at the 2021 CMA Awards, Carly Pearce couldn’t keep her excitement in check. The 31-year-old singer was so overtaken with emotion that she turned and kissed her new partner, Riley King, on live television.
Carly told ET’s reporter, “I honestly felt like I was out of my body” after receiving the award. I’ve always desired this and seeing my name called out in front of me, I don’t know, it’s just wild.”
The kiss between Pearce and King, who sat next to King at the event but did not walk the red carpet, was all Pearce could talk about.
The 2021 CMA Awards saw Pearce accompanied by her new partner, Riley King, after she divorced Michael Ray in 2020. As soon as she found out she had won the award, Pearce rushed over to kiss the former MLB star on the cheek.
Until now, the couple had kept their romance under wraps, with Pearce releasing only a few Instagram Stories of the two of them together. A cute selfie from when they were in Houston for Pearce to sing the National Anthem at World Series Game 6 was one of King’s latest Instagram posts coming up to the CMAs.
That she got the night she deserved this year professionally is comforting no matter what happens in Pearce’s private life. It was a highlight of ABC’s live awards event when she broke down, wept, and was in absolute shock at the platform.
During her acceptance speech, she said, “I’ve had a busy year and I just want you guys to know that this means everything to me.” You saved my life, and I just want you all to know that country music is all I’ve ever wished for in the world, and I just hope you know that country music is all that I love, so thank you very much.”
Pearce stated of her relationship with King, ” “We met through mutual friends a long time ago, but I think it was necessary for me to keep this one to myself for a while. But I’m not trying to hide in any way; I’m just trying to be more aware of my personal life and protect my heart a little more.”
Riley couldn’t help but brag about his girlfriend when she performed in the MLB playoffs, despite Carly’s best efforts to keep their romance hidden.
“World series game 6,” he wrote on Nov. 2. “I’m glad my girlfriend is a lot cooler than I am.”
Riley was a member of the Kansas City Royals baseball team, before landing a job in real estate,