COUNTRY BABY BOOM!
Miranda Lambert prepares to start a family with her married boyfriend, while pals say Carrie Underwood will welcome twin girls!
Posing in front of a mirror with “I do this thing called whatever I want” scrawled on it in lipstick, Miranda Lambert smiled slyly in a photo she posted on social media recently. She’s embraced her reputation as a rebel in the music biz — and, lately, in her personal life as well. In April, news broke that the “Vice” singer had been dating Turnpike Troubadours frontman Evan Felker since February, when his band started as an opening act for her Livin’ Like Hippies Tour. The only catch: He’s still married.
In mid-february, he served his wife, Staci Nelson, with a petition to end their 17-month marriage. Now he’s trying to fast-track the split. On May 15, the folk-country singer and guitarist filed a scheduling order to end the relationship, saying he feared Staci would “unduly delay” the divorce. (An Oklahoma judge is set to hear the motion on June 13.) There’s a reason Evan wants to make things official ASAP, according to sources. “While it’s only early days in her relationship with Evan, Miranda would love to have a baby with him,” a friend exclusively tells Life & Style. “Miranda would like him to be divorced first, but the truth is she doesn’t really care that it’s not official yet. She’s really happy with Evan and sees herself building a life and a family with him.”
MUST LOVE DOGS…AND BABIES
The pair, both 34, are going to be spending a lot more time together this summer. While the Turnpike Troubadours only joined Miranda’s tour for three dates this past winter, they’re set to open for her new Bandwagon Tour through July and August. “Evan loves the road like her,” says the friend. “He’s the perfect guy for Miranda. Even their families think they’re a great match because they have so much in common, like loving to write songs and hunting.”
Evan’s also a big fan of dogs and other animals — a good thing, because as of 2017, Miranda had 18 pets, including horses, pups and cats. In fact, in the past when people asked the “Automatic” singer if kids were in her future, she’d reply that she already has them, referring to her pets. Now she’s ready for the real thing. “For the past decade she’s been working on her career, and now she has all the hit records, awards
and critical acclaim she’s strived for,” says the friend. “But the one thing that has eluded her is a happy, steady relationship and a family.” Now she’s making up for lost time. “Miranda and Evan have been hooking up like a couple on their honeymoon,” the pal notes. “If Evan’s divorce ends up being drawn out and she were to get pregnant, she could give birth before it’s finalized and actually have a baby with a married man.”
DRAMA AND DIAPERS
The divorce is already getting nasty. While Evan insists his relationship with Staci was over before he met Miranda, his wife’s camp claims she was blindsided when he ended things. On Feb. 28, she contested Evan’s filing, saying he’d abandoned her and asking him to pay alimony and her attorney fees. And on the day he filed his scheduling order, the seemingly annoyed ex posted a pic of a book cover on Instagram with the title Well I Was Clearly More Into That Than You Were: A Love Story. “She wants money,” says a source. “She’s pissed.”
The messy situation isn’t deterring Miranda. “If her relationship with Evan continues at the speed it’s going, having a baby is inevitable,” says the friend. “Miranda is longing for a family of her own.”