Kate Upton and Justin Verlander
Sometimes the stars from one industry (sports) align with stars from another (entertainment) resulting in a marriage or relationship between athletes and celebrities, and there are plenty of examples. Such as Kate Upton, an actress and cover model for the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue, and Major League Baseball pitcher Justin Verlander of the Houston Astros.
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Carrie Underwood and Mike Fisher
Carrie Underwood, a wildly popular singer/songwriter who rose to fame after winning “American Idol” in 2005, met NHL player Mike Fisher (Ottawa Senators and Nashville Predators) at one of her concerts in 2008 and they were engaged a year later. They have two children.
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Gisele Bündchen and Tom Brady
Gisele Bündchen, once one of the highest-paid models in the world, is also an actress who was born and raised in Brazil. New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady met Bündchen on a blind date.
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Shakira and Gerard Piqué
Shakira, a Colombian singer/songwriter and actress, and soccer star Gerard Piqué, considered one of the best defenders in the world who plays for FC Barcelona, have two children in a relationship that dates to 2011. They share the same birthday, though Shakira is 10 years older.
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Ciara and Russell Wilson
Ciara, a Grammy Award-winning singer-songwriter, dancer and model, and Seattle Seahawks star quarterback Russell Wilson were married at Peckforton Castle in Cheshire, England, in July 2016. In August it was announced that the couple became part owners in the Seattle Sounders of Major League Soccer.
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Jessica Simpson and Eric Johnson
Jessica Simpson, an American singer, actress and fashion designer, married Eric Johnson, a former NFL tight end who played for the San Francisco 49ers and the New Orleans Saints. Johnson was said to have proposed on Nov. 11 at 11:11 a.m. with Led Zeppelin’s “Since I’ve Been Loving You” playing in the background and with rose petals on the ground.
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Victoria Beckham and David Beckham
As Posh Spice, Victoria Beckham rose to fame as a member of the world-famous pop group Spice Girls. She met the world-famous soccer player David Beckham at a charity football match in Manchester and a year later they were engaged. They’ve been married for more than 20 years, have four kids and are known as Britain’s other royal family.
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Kristin Cavallari and Jay Cutler
Kristin Cavallari—actress, fashion designer and television personality—rose to fame in the reality television series “Laguna Beach: The Real Orange County.” She didn’t know who Chicago Bears quarterback Jay Cutler was when he asked to fly her to Chicago for a date. She passed, but a year later she was in Chicago and finally did meet him and found him to be “really cute.” They married in 2013 and have three children.
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Paulina Gretzy and Dustin Johnson
Paulina Gretzky—a pop singer, model and daughter of former hockey great Wayne Gretzky and actress Janet Jones—became engaged to pro golfer Dustin Johnson after dating for seven months.
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Gabrielle Union and Dwyane Wade
Actress Gabrielle Union, who joined the TV show “America’s Got Talent” as a judge in 2019, and former NBA star Dwyane Wade, a three-time NBA champion and one-time NBA Finals MVP, married in 2014. He retired from basketball after the 2018-19 season.
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Ingrid Vandebosch and Jeff Gordon
Belgium model Ingrid Vandebosch and NASCAR driver Jeff Gordon were introduced by mutual friends but did not date until more than two years later. They married in 2006 in a private ceremony in Mexico. They have two kids.
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Jessie James Decker and Eric Decker
Jessie James Decker is a country pop singer-songwriter who starred in the E! reality show “Eric and Jessie: Game on.” Her co-star was Eric Decker, who was an NFL wide receiver for the Broncos, Jets, and Titans.
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Candice Crawford and Tony Romo
Candice Crawford, a former beauty pageant queen who won the title Miss Missouri, met Dallas Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo while working as a sports broadcaster in the Dallas-Ft. Worth area. They married in 2011 and have three sons together. Crawford’s brother is actor Chace Crawford.
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Bridgette Wilson-Sampras and Pete Sampras
Professional tennis player Pete Sampras won 14 Grand Slam titles among his 64 career titles during a 15-year career. Yet Bridgette Wilson, an actress, singer and model, didn’t know who he was when she went out with him at the urging of her sister. Sampras had spotted her at a movie theater and a friend got her number via a mutual friend. They married in 2000 and have two sons.
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Lisalla Montenegro and C.J. Wilson
Lisalla Montenegro is a Brazilian model who became a spokesmodel for Maybelline New York and lingerie model for Wolford and Bloomingdales. In 2012 she met then Los Angeles Angels pitcher C.J. Wilson and married a year later. They have two daughters.
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JoAnna Garcia and Nick Swisher
JoAnna Garcia is an actress best known for her roles in the series “Privileged” and sitcom “Reba.” She married then New York Yankees outfielder Nick Swisher in 2010. Country icon Reba McEntire was a bridesmaid.
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Holly Robinson Peete and Rodney Peete
Holly Robinson Pete is an American actress and singer best known for her roles on the TV police drama “21 Jump Street,” and the sitcoms “Hangin’ with Mr. Cooper” and “For Your Love.” Rodney Peete, an NFL quarterback for 16 seasons, proposed to Holly in 1995 during the filming of an episode of “Hangin’ with Mr. Cooper.” They have four children.
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Samantha Steele and Christian Ponder
Samantha Steele, host of “Sunday NFL Countdown” on ESPN, married then-Minnesota Vikings quarterback Christian Ponder in December 2012 after a short courtship. The pair met after Christian started sending messages to Samantha on Twitter. They have three kids.
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Ashley Drane and David Eckstein
Ashley Drane, an actress, and David Eckstein, a two-time Major League Baseball All-Star, two-time World Series champ and World Series MVP, met in 2003 through mutual friends who thought they’d get along. Eckstein proposed on one-knee, giving Drane a Cheshire Cat purse with a diamond ring inside.
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Anna Burns and Wes Welker
Anna Burns, a model who was Miss Hooters International 2005, married NFL receiver Wes Welker, who was with the New England Patriots when he proposed over the holidays. A little more than a month later, his Patriots were defeated in Super Bowl XLVI, 21-17, by the New York Giants.
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Elisha Cuthbert and Dion Phaneuf
Elisha Cuthbert is a Canadian actress and model who played Kim Bauer in the hit TV series “24.” NHL player Dion Phaneuf was captain of the Toronto Maple Leafs when he proposed in 2012.
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Kim Zolciak and Kroy Biermann
Kim Zolciak, a television personality and singer, met Atlanta Falcons defenseman Kroy Biermann in 2010 at a charity event, Dancing with Atlanta Stars. A little more than a year later they married. They have six kids (two from Zolciak’s first husband).
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Jaime Edmonson and Evan Longoria
Jaime Edmonson was Playboy’s Playmate of the Month in January 2010 and was twice on the reality show “The Amazing Race.” She was also a police officer and Miami Dolphins cheerleader. In December 2015 she married MLB third baseman Evan Longoria, who played 10 seasons with the Tampa Bay Rays before being traded to the San Francisco Giants.
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Sara Foster and Tommy Haas
Sara Foster was a fashion model before becoming an actress best known for her role as Jen Clark on the TV hit show “90210.” Foster is married to former tennis professional Tommy Haas, who was born in Germany. He won 15 singles titles and had his highest ranking—second—in May 2002. He retired in 2018.
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Ariel Meredith and Hakeem Nicks
Fans of the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue no doubt are familiar with Ariel Meredith, who graced its cover five times—2009, 2012, 2013, 2014 and 2015. The model was discovered at age 14 but she waited to finish her education before becoming a full-time model. She and NFL wide receiver Hakeem Nicks were engaged in 2014, though no wedding has been reported. They have a child together.
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Elisabeth Hasselbeck and Tim Hasselbeck
Elisabeth Hasselbeck rose to fame as a contestant on the second season of “Survivor” in 2001 and a year later married NFL quarterback Tim Hasselbeck, her college boyfriend. They went to Boston College. Elisabeth was on “The View” for several years before becoming a retired TV personality. Tim, mostly a back-up in the NFL, works as an analyst for ESPN.
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Brooklyn Decker and Andy Roddick
Brooklyn Decker is an American model and actress who made appearances in the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue and worked for Victoria’s Secret for the 2010 “Swim” collection. In 2009, she married Andy Roddick, a former No. 1 tennis player. They have two kids.
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