Little Big Town's Kimberly Schlapman recently surprised fans and family by revealing a 19-year-old secret: she and her husband, Stephen Schlapman, eloped to Las Vegas six months before their official wedding in November 2006.
The revelation came during a live appearance on the "Today" show, where a visibly nervous Schlapman admitted to keeping the elopement a secret from almost everyone, including her parents. She shared the news with her parents just moments before the show aired.
Schlapman explained that the elopement was planned as part of a trip to Las Vegas with family. She and her husband, whom she affectionately calls "Schlap," decided to seize the opportunity and get married a day early. The only others who knew about the elopement at the time were Schlapman's bandmate Karen Fairchild and her sister.
Schlapman expressed relief at finally sharing the secret, stating it felt "nice to be free" of the burden, even though she was still shaken by the experience of revealing such a long-held secret.
The couple's public wedding ceremony took place in November 2006. They have two daughters together, Daisy Pearl and Dolly Grace. Schlapman was previously married to Steven Roads, who passed away in 2005. She has spoken about the unexpected joy of finding love again with Stephen Schlapman after experiencing such a profound loss.
Schlapman described their relationship as evolving from a long-standing friendship. After her first husband's passing, Stephen's increased calls and support eventually blossomed into a romantic connection, which she described as a beautiful gift and a source of healing.
