A sad situation getting even harder.
Kyle Jacobs, the singer-songwriter husband of American Idol star and country singer Kellie Pickler, was found dead at the couple’s Nashville home on February 12, 2023 after a self-inflicted gunshot wound.
The 49-year old songwriter, originally from Bloomington, Minnesota, had written hits like “More Than a Memory,” which was recorded by Garth Brooks, and Lee Brice’s “Rumor,” along with songs that have been recorded by Tim McGraw, Jo Dee Messina, Clay Walker, Trace Adkins and many others.
Jacobs married Pickler in 2011, and the couple starred together in the CMT reality show I Love Kellie Pickler.
Since his death, Pickler has kept a low profile, making only one public appearance at a tribute to Patsy Cline earlier this year, where she honored her late husband before performing her song “The Woman I Am.”
“I’d be lying if I didn’t say I was not incredible nervous right now. It’s been the first time I’ve been up on stage in a while.
I will say that I am incredibly honored to be a part of honoring Ms. Patsy Cline. She is a huge reason why I fell in love with music.
My husband and I actually wrote this song together, gosh, over a decade ago. The last time I was here in the Ryman Auditorium was with him on a date night. And I know he is here with us tonight.”
But unfortunately, it seems that things have gotten messy behind the scenes as Kellie and Kyle’s family deal with his estate.
According to In Touch, Pickler has filed a lawsuit against Kyle’s parents, Reed and Sharon Jacobs, over a dispute that has arisen regarding the late songwriter’s property.
Reed and Sharon were appointed co-administrators of their son’s estate after Kellie declined to serve as administrator, but Pickler alleges that her in-laws entered her house and took various items without her consent, and have refused to provide her with a list of what was removed from the home.
She also claims that the parents have served her with a subpoena for items to be delivered to them, items which Pickler claims are either not in her possession or whose ownership is in dispute. The items include Kyle’s gun collection, swords, a Rolex watch, multiple guitars, baseball cards and a piano, among other things.
In response, Reed and Sharon claim that Pickler is in violation of the subpoena by refusing to turn over items that belong to the estate, while admitting that they visited the home to collect items but that it was at the invitation of Pickler and her counsel. They claim that the only items taken were selected by Kellie, and therefore they should not have to provide an inventory of the property that they removed from the home.
The parents also claim that Kyle and Kellie entered into a prenup prior to their marriage that laid out ownership of the property.
Kyle’s parents are asking that Pickler’s petition be dismissed.
It’s obviously a sad situation for all involved. Kellie lost her husband and the parents lost their son, so I’m sure this isn’t making anything any easier for anybody.