In a rare and candid reflection, former Westlife star Brian McFadden has opened up about his past marriage to TV personality Kerry Katona, suggesting that with his current mindset, he might not have made the same life-altering decisions.
A Look Back at a Pop Power Couple
Brian McFadden, 45, and Kerry Katona, also 45, were married from 2002 until their divorce in 2006. During their time together, the high-profile couple welcomed two daughters: Molly, now 24, and Lilly-Sue, 22. McFadden's comments emerged nearly ten months after his appearance in the BBC documentary Boybands Forever, where he began to discuss his frame of mind during his peak years in the music industry.
Speaking to iPaper, McFadden revealed that his initial reason for leaving the globally successful boyband Westlife was to prioritise his family. "If I was in a headspace like I am now, yeah, I probably wouldn't have left," he admitted. However, he added with a note of acceptance, "But I can't change how my head was back then." This marks a significant and uncommon public insight into his feelings regarding that pivotal career and personal crossroads.
Life After the Split: New Partners and Family Ties
Since their divorce, both stars have moved on with their lives. Brian McFadden married his current wife, Danielle Parkinson, in July of this year. Meanwhile, Kerry Katona is now in a relationship with personal trainer Paolo Margaglione, 33, whom she reportedly moved in with just two months after meeting on the show Celebs Go Dating.
Despite leading separate lives, the ex-couple have maintained an amicable relationship for the sake of their children. In September, they reunited for a heartwarming family photo to celebrate their eldest daughter Molly's 24th birthday. Kerry shared the snap on Instagram alongside a gushing tribute to her daughter, who is currently an acting student at the prestigious Lir Academy at Trinity College Dublin.
Katona has previously been open about the distance that now exists between her and McFadden, stating that as their daughters are adults, there is less need for regular contact. "Not seen him since [Molly's 21st birthday] because the girls are grown up now, we've got no reason to talk," she told The Mirror last year. In the same interview, she described their marriage as "all fake and phoney," claiming she went along with a relationship that wasn't what she truly wanted.
Kerry's Personal Journey and Search for Stability
Kerry Katona's reflections on her marriages are deeply intertwined with her traumatic childhood. In a recent brutally honest interview on Paul C. Brunson's podcast, We Need To Talk, the Atomic Kitten star detailed a turbulent upbringing. She spoke of not knowing her real father, experiencing foster care, and her mother's struggles with mental health and addiction.
She confessed that this background fuelled a desperate search for a father figure, influencing her choice in partners. "I kept getting married because I was desperate to have a dad. It took me so long to realise I'm more than enough," she explained. Prior to her current relationship, Katona was engaged to Ryan Mahoney for six and a half years, a relationship that ended late last year.
As well as sharing Molly and Lilly-Sue with Brian McFadden, Kerry is also a mother to Heidi, 18, and Max, 17, with ex-husband Mark Croft, and has an 11-year-old daughter, DJ, from her relationship with the late George Kay.
