Kimberly Williams-Paisley Reveals She Could Not Speak For Two Years
Actress, wife, and mother Kimberly Williams-Paisley lost her voice for two years. The According To Jim star revealed she experienced a “terrifying” two years as she was “trapped in my own body.” She could barely whisper during this time.
What happened to the Hallmark star? Here is her story.
Kimberly Williams-Paisley Underwent Two ‘Terrifying’ Years Unable To Speak
Kimberly Williams-Paisley fans may wonder why they have not seen her in two years. That is because she went through a “terrifying” ordeal. The Father Of The Bride star revealed to People that she could not speak for two years. During this time, she did not act. Moreover, the actress, who has been married to country legend Brad Paisley for over two decades, felt “Invisible” as she navigated this serious situation. She avoided family and friends as she could do no more than whisper during this time.
It all started at the annual Fundraiser for Alzheimer’s, the Dance Party to End ALZ. She co-hosts with her sister, Ashley Williams. They created this annual event to honor their mother, along with fellow Hallmark stars Nikki DeLoach, and Andrew Walker.
While on stage, she revealed, “I put the mic to my mouth, and nothing came out.” Understandably, she shared, “It was terrifying.” Two months later, at her Netflix premiere for Dog Gone, she was unable to speak over the noise. Suddenly, this physical pain also became a metaphysical issue. She didn’t feel heard.
Husband Brad Paisley And Sons Supported Actress Through Ordeal
Although Kimberly Williams-Paisley felt “invisible” through this ordeal, her husband Brad Paisley, and their two teenaged sons, Huck, 17, and Jasper, 15, were there to support her. But, this was a long journey. Her energy was low, and she was tired. Although she doesn’t believe she had “clinical depression,” she admits, “I was sad.”
Figuring out what was wrong was key. After going to Vanderbilt Voice Center in Nashville, her doctors found a cause. The doctors there made an unexpected discovery. Her neck muscles were tight. Therefore, the doctors could not see her vocal chords. These experts who treated everyone from Johnny Cash to Wynonna Judd could not easily determine what was wrong. Kimberly revealed, “The muscles in my neck were tensing up to help my vocal cords hit each other.” The final verdict was that she had a “partial paralysis of her left vocal chord.” This is called muscle tension dysphonia.
Next, the Nashville Country Christmas star had to do a cornucopia of treatments to “get my body to unlock.” This was everything from anti-depressants to hypnosis. Brad was there to encourage her to do her exercises and other treatment suggestions. He was there to support her and to lift her spirits. She shared, “He’s so good at keeping me laughing.”
As for her sons, they would help her in any way. “They were great cheerleaders for me. To see them embracing me made me feel less alone.”
However, she didn’t think she could ever talk again. Moreover, she thought her acting career was over. During this time she started writing screenplays. But, in August, she had successful a medialization laryngoplasty. Basically, they moved the damaged right cord towards her left. This was a three-hour procedure that was deemed a success. After all of this, she appreciates her voice and doesn’t let anything go unsaid.
Kimberly Williams-Paisley is hosting Farmer Wants A Wife Season 3, which premieres in March 2025
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