Though the consequences of an affair can be awful (especially for celebs), sometimes there can be a silver lining, and this story has a happy ending. Luckily, Rimes and Cibrian managed to survive the media blowout, and we’re happy to announce that true love prevailed.
Overcoming a Scandal
It’s not every affair that turns into a solid relationship, and certainly not marriage. In fact, most affairs do not survive. Once an extramarital relationship is revealed, the cheating spouse generally retreats to his or her marriage.
LeAnn Rimes and Eddie Cibrian defied the odds. Not only did they continue to share a monogamous relationship, but they married and lived happily ever after. The road to get there, however, was a rough one. Surviving the scandal put their love to the test.
LeAnn’s First Marriage
LeAnn was only 18 years old when she met Dean Sheremet. He was young, too, just 21 when he married the Country music pop star one year later. LeAnn fell head over heels in love with Dean, who was one of her backup dancers. On their very first date, she knew she wanted to marry him.
Alas, the divorce was finalized in 2010. Since then, Dean has said that he was overbearing. He admitted to always obsessing about ways to advance her career. It was too much. According to him, the preoccupation ended up “consuming us.”
Eddie and Brandi
Eddie Cibrian also married in 2001. He tied the knot with model and reality TV star Brandi Glanville, and the actor and Brandi eventually welcomed two sons into the world. When Eddie met Brandi, he had parts on "The Young and the Restless and Baywatch Nights." He hooked up with the pretty model at a LA nightclub.
On New Year’s Eve in 1999, at the dawn of the 21st century, Eddie presented a 3-carat diamond, and Brandi said “yes.” They married a year later at a posh OC beach resort hosting 200 guests.
Jumping to 2008: LeAnn & Eddie Play Lovers on TV
LeAnn Rimes’ career was exploding. “I did 500 shows in three-and-a-half years,” the artist told ABC News. After recording and touring, she was still in demand. She was tapped to sing the lead song for the kid-flick "Evan Almighty" soundtrack. The same year, she played a role in another movie called "Good Intentions."
Eddie’s acting career had taken off as well. As fate had it, 2008 found the two starring together in "Northern Lights," a romance/mystery made for a TV movie on Lifetime. "Northern Lights" was written by veteran romance novelist maven Nora Roberts, so, naturally, more than one steamy scene was required of the couple.
The First Time They Met
In 2016, Eddie came across this photo while sifting through boxes in the garage. LeAnn and Eddie had met a long time ago! They figured out that he was 23 when the picture was taken, making LeAnn 14.
That was just one year after she soared to fame with her hit Grammy-nominated single “Blue.” Neither recalls meeting, but this photo documents that they had met each other 14 years before their chance encounter brought them together.
What the "Northern Lights" Movie Exposed
When "Northern Lights" aired on television, it exposed phenomenal chemistry shared by the lovers Eddie and LeAnn portrayed. As Meg and Nate, they meet in Alaska, where Meg is a pilot, and Nate’s the new guy in town—a former homicide investigator hired on to run the local police department.
Their intimate scenes came across as so authentic that the movie set in motion the wheels of the rumor mill. Inquiries from the press came dribbling in one by one with the stars doing their best to deny them.
Rumors Hit the Headlines
By March 2009, stories about LeAnn and Eddie’s behind-the-scenes love affair begin to make the rounds. At first, they denied it. But no matter how much the couple refuted the allegations, the sensational news about the double extra-marital affair was gaining traction.
LeAnn and Eddie had been witnessed sharing intimate conversations and ducking away in secret. The two realized that they must confront the allegations.
Deny, Deny, Deny
The day the story broke, Eddie Cibrian found himself with his back up against the wall. "US Weekly" released the story about the secret "Northern Lights" affair, and it demanded a response. Eddie told the press he had only gone out to dinner with LeAnn because they were friends.
Flabbergasted, he added, “The ridiculous thing is that people believe I would do something like this, period. Much less do it in a public place. The false accusations are obviously causing a rift at home, but I and my family will get through this together.”
LeAnn’s Statement
Apparently, LeAnn was unable to commit to such a bold and unequivocal lie, made obtuse statements instead. She said things like, “Not everything in our lives is always black and white.” Hoping it would blow over, she inadvertently stoked the rumor mill.
She said it was a “difficult time” but neither refuted nor denied the claims of the scandalous "US Weekly" write-up. In the end, her feeble response revealed a tiny crack in Eddie’s “just friends” story. It was hastily exploited by the press, erupting into a violent, all-out media storm.
The Fallout
In Eddie’s household, things were getting a little crazy. He said he had done no wrong and their marriage was fine, but his wife Brandi was not on the same page. Brandi was furious.
When "US Weekly" reported the cheating scandal, she knew it was true and long expected that Eddie had been disloyal. Disgusted, she told the magazine, “Eddie and LeAnn deserve each other.” The truth was Brandi and Eddie had already separated, agreeing with the best intentions to co-parent their sons, and they announced the decision in a statement.
LeAnn Moves Out
Once Brandi and Eddie’s separation was announced, news leaked out about LeAnn’s marriage. LeAnn and Dean were supposedly going to work on their relationship, but a source told "People" magazine that they had moved out of their shared home.
Meanwhile, doubling down on his lie, Eddie insisted to the press that the affair is “a fabricated story that is using random snapshots as connective tissue to create a scandalous relationship.” Next? Hours later, an intimate video of Eddie and LeAnn together was leaked to the press. They were officially caught red-handed.
Divorce
After a week of speculation swirling around LeAnn and Dean’s future, the truth came out. LeAnn announced the divorce was pending. In a statement, she said they were on good terms and that the split was amicable.
After Dean filed the papers, he did his best to remain composed, but, at one point, he told the media that leaving him was the dumbest thing LeAnn ever did to her career. In August of 2009, Eddie filed for divorce. It was official. Finally, it was clear that Eddie had cheated on Brandi and that the marriage was over.
A Cabo San Lucas Escape
With divorce filings in process, LeAnn and Eddie felt free to be together. They took off for a much-needed getaway in Mexico to celebrate LeAnn’s 27th birthday.
Knowing they could not escape the cameras, the newly emancipated lovers posed together.
Photographic Evidence
The images of the Cabo trip went viral. LeAnn was okay with it. She made it a point to say that she looked forward to those pictures.
Images of the couple freely cavorting on the beach were much preferred to those scandalous images of their affair caught on CCTV when they were at a Laguna Beach restaurant. Eddie and LeAnn were in love, and the whole world witnessed their happiness.
Brandi Freaks Out
Brandi’s circumstances were unfortunate. While the new lovers were showing off in front of the cameras, Brandi was alone at the family home, coming to terms with a painful loss. She had been abandoned by the man she loved for nine years, and he had betrayed her in the worst way. Then she learned that he had cheated on her with yet another woman as well!
When her anger boiled over, she took out a knife and went to the garage. She took out her rage on Eddie’s Harley-Davidson. When "E!" asked about it, Brandi replied, “Yes, I slashed his tires. It felt awesome!”
Eddie Proposes
The press hounded the couple as soon as rumors of an engagement began circulating in the fall of 2010. Finally, on December 24, Eddie popped the question, and the media reported the engagement on the 28th of December. LeAnn took to Twitter to set the record straight about their Christmas Eve engagement.
A year had passed since the affair was publicized, and the couple was on the path toward normalcy. LeAnn tweeted, “Thank you for all your well wishes! We are extremely excited and look forward to a beautiful future.”
Eddie’s Other Affair
Eddie Cibrian was having an affair before he even met LeAnn. Brandi learned about his extramarital relationship with Scheana Shay when "Access Hollywood" interviewed her. Scheana said she was called a homewrecker even though he lied to her about his marriage.
When Scheana became aware of Eddie’s other affair on the set of "Northern Lights," they split. Brandi said she was actually glad that her husband had more than one affair, diminishing LeAnn’s importance in her mind.
‘Vanderpump’ Fans Defend Scheana
The "Vanderpump Rules" star was stuck with the homewrecker label. In gossip circles, it didn’t seem to matter that Eddie had divorced Brandi for LeAnn.
On Twitter, one user defended Scheana against the homewrecker taggers Tweeting, “Stop acting like @scheana forced Eddie to anything, HIS choice to CHEAT on HIS wife!!” Scheana Tweeted in agreement, “Thank you. He wrecked his own home. I was a single 21-year-old who met a cute actor in LA.”
Eddie Sues for Defamation
"Life & Style" reported that Eddie was still seeing Scheana as late as October after meeting LeAnn. The magazine claimed that Eddie had gone to Scheana’s house in the middle of the night.
Eddie filed a defamation suit against "Life & Style," asserting he had not had a relationship with anyone other than LeAnn since he left Brandi. Even Scheana said the story was untrue. In an "Access Hollywood" interview, Scheana said that she had not seen Eddie in months.
LeAnn’s Summer Rehab Visit
Thought she had found true love, the stress of the affair, the media spotlight, and new worries about Eddie’s infidelity sent the pop star to a facility to deal with it all by August 2010. She also cited online bullying as a factor.
Brandi, who would join the "Desperate Housewives" cast a year later, chimed to support LeAnn’s rehab decision. She pointed out that her children, who are her top priority, love LeAnn, so she hoped that the country music diva would “find what she is looking for.”
Here Comes the Bride
By the end of 2010, both marriages had been dissolved. The berated lovers were looking forward to better times. On April 22, 2011, Eddie and LeAnn invited a small family gathering to an intimate event, and the couple tied the knot.
The Cibrian boys were in attendance, but their mom was not invited. The guests were all expecting an engagement party, but instead, they got a surprise wedding.
Rumors of a Tell-All
With details of the drama flowing in from Eddie’s other women, enquiring minds naturally anticipated a tell-all from LeAnn’s perspective. People were curious to hear her side. This was flatly put to rest in a Tweet by the country music star.
What she did contribute came by way of a new single called “Crazy Women” from the album "Lady and Gentlemen." She sings, crazy women “keep their crazy hidden till they’re pushed off the deep end.” Why? “Well, he cheats and lies, and then he plays the victim” (then he blames it on the women). Ending, “Crazy women are made by crazy men.”
Brandi Admits She Has a Problem with LeAnn as a Stepmom
While Eddie stood by LeAnn and expressed nothing but happiness about how much his boys Mason and Jake love LeAnn and how much she loves them, Brandi started making demands. In a Tweet, LeAnn Rimes referred to the kids as “my boys,” and Brandi was not having it.
In December of 2012, she went to "US Weekly" and dished a story about her boy getting sick from a laxative from LeAnn’s purse. This compounded her worries about LeAnn’s rehab. She stated, “I, unfortunately, don’t find her to be stable, and I don’t want her around my kids when Eddie’s not there.”
Brandi Writes a Tell-All
Brandi had no problem putting a tell-all out there, and she called it "Drinking & Tweeting and Other Brandi Blunders." It came out in 2013 and hit number one on "The New York Times" Bestsellers list.
Her story received praise from critics. "LA Weekly" called it the best celeb book ever. In it, she discussed her life after her husband’s affairs and how it affected her kids and the family. It did not disappoint; she dished some juicy details about her ex-husband’s affairs.
A Message to Eddie
Brandi divulged a lot about herself in "Drinking & Tweeting." She described her anguish in intimate detail and related stories of her suffering. But in the end, she made sure to "thank" Eddie.
It wouldn’t be Brandi without a passive-aggressive backhanded jab, so here it is: “I would like to thank my ex-husband, Edward Cibrian, for giving me all the material I could ever need to write this book and for helping me discover the strong independent woman inside of me.” With an intimate peek into his two affairs, there was plenty of material!
The Juicy Details
In her book, Brandi included descriptions of Eddie and LeAnn’s affair that had not been aired. She recounted the story about how she first found out he was cheating on her. She had flown out to the "Northern Lights" set to see Eddie but instead witnessed LeAnn flirting with him.
At home, Eddie tried to console her. He swore that he was faithful. Kissing her and promising that his friendship with LeAnn was innocent, Brandi believed this and his “countless lies” only to suffer the coming betrayal.
Another Word from Brandi
Just when we thought Brandi Glanville had aired her stuff, she showed up on social media kicking up sand about LeAnn. Brandi accused her of “stalking” her boyfriend and called her the “Coyote Ugly singer.” She said that LeAnn was “going after” her boyfriend Donald Friese and “checking his stuff.”
Apparently, Brandi came to that conclusion because LeAnn had viewed a few of Donald’s Snapchats. Eddie was fed up. He put out a statement that said LeAnn is a great stepmom, and they’re tired of putting up with the drama. He said it’s just Glanville'ss effort to “stay relevant.”
Brandi is Unfazed
Eddie’s statement had zero effect on Brandi. Next, she came out with a prediction about his marriage to LeAnn.
That same week, Brandi made an appearance on E!’s Daily Pop and put in her two cents. She said that Eddie would divorce LeAnn after 10 years of marriage. Cibrian called Brandi's behavior “sad” and “sick.” He said he was “very concerned” about her health.
LeAnn and Eddie Star in Their Own Reality Show
To counter the effects of Brandi’s effective publicity, whether it be on television, in her two bestselling memoirs, or by her relentless social media digs, the couple hooked up with VH1. They called their reality show "LeAnn & Eddie." It was billed as the “real truth,” and it hit the air in 2014.
The show was canned after a year. The couple covered a wide range of topics, but an ongoing theme of jaded Brandi jokes and other awkward presentations of “marital bliss” sabotaged viewer appeal.
"LeAnn & Eddie" Dig and Dig and Dig on Brandi
At one point in the reality show, Eddie says that the likelihood that he gets back with Brandi falls somewhere between “the existence of Bigfoot” and a “zombie apocalypse.” A few of the Brandi jokes were delivered with a self-deprecatory style. This approach failed, as well.
The couple is shown snuggling on the couch, bantering about LeAnn being called a homewrecker and a stalker. It missed on the funny-o-meter and came off bitter.
The Couple Tried to Debunk Media Stories on the Reality TV Show
LeAnn brought up the gossip rag line that said Eddie is cheating on her and that they’re heading toward a divorce. They even said Eddie is cheating on her because he doesn’t want to have kids. In the show, the couple had been very open about their efforts to conceive.
LeAnn made a point to say she and Eddie take tabloid headlines lightly. To make it clear, she laughed that the stories from "OK!" and "The National Enquirer" probably claimed there were “aliens involved” too.
Brandi Doubles Down on Foretelling Divorce
Brandi expressed certainty that Eddie would divorce LeAnn just before the 10-year mark because 10 years of marriage is the cut-off for a spouse to take half in California, where they were married.
"Daily Pop" sat down with Brandi Granville and published her prediction. She said Eddie would leave the singer, take half her stuff, and that, then, all will be well because they won’t be related. She dug her stiletto in with a twist adding, “If she doesn’t have a kid with him, then we don’t even have to see her again.”
Tabloid Mills Keep on Turning
In 2018, with seven years of marital bliss under their belts and an enduring front of solidarity, the headlines flared up again. Stories alleged that Eddie had banned LeAnn from the set of his TV show "Take Two."
Sources went so far as to say he had tired of her “diva” antics on the set of "CSI: Miami." Obviously, this was false. Eddie told reporters that having LeAnn on set was a wonderful way to spend time with her amongst their busy schedules.
Marital Bliss
On their fifth wedding anniversary, LeAnn celebrated the love she and Eddie share on Instagram. The gushy post was just the thing that triggers Brandi. These social media savvy women were acutely aware of each other’s presence and made good use of the platform to air their views.
In 2016, LeAnn wrote, “Our bond is like no other.” She doted on Eddie, calling him, “my lover, my friend, my heart, my everything!” She also said that they have been through “hell and back” and wouldn’t change a thing.
Zero Regrets
As a united front, the couple made sure to make clear on social media and on their TV show that after falling in love and having an affair, they did not regret it. Their love and the bond they share, they said, was so great that they wouldn’t change it for the world.
However, LeAnn had a few things to say about how it was handled. She admitted that it wasn’t done the right way. It got “really messy,” the singer said. She even said that if she could go back and time and change things for the sake of everyone involved, she would.
It’s Christmas Eve
LeAnn teamed up with the Hallmark Channel for a 2018 holiday film called "It’s Christmas Eve." LeAnn played the lead and co-wrote three songs for the soundtrack. The singer said that the project was the perfect match, and she was thrilled to be able to be involved in the creative process.
She especially liked that the theme of blended families was prominent in the movie. She told FOX, “It’s something that’s important for me to shed light on—the blended family environment in a really positive way because it’s not something that gets talked about very often.”
Talking About Blended Families
The Christmas movie opened up an opportunity for a conversation about unconventional families. LeAnn was happy to express her feelings. She said that blending families is a challenge, of course.
But mostly, she wanted to reiterate that she and Eddie had been married seven years (by the time the movie aired on TV) and that, she thought, they were doing pretty good. The couple overcame adversity and were enjoying a very happy family life.
Stepmom LeAnn
LeAnn genuinely treasures being a mom, even if it’s as a stepmom. She appreciates the fact that there is a Stepmother’s Day and that her family spoils her each year on that day. It falls on the Sunday after Mother’s Day, and she’s been sharing it on Instagram to support other stepmoms. Last we heard, she was hoping for a baby, but no news yet!
The singer says the responsibility of raising kids has been very rewarding. The boys were 2 and 6 when she and Eddie began co-parenting them.
Truce?
LeAnn’s ex Dean Sheremet remained cordial and quiet throughout the chaos LeAnn made of his life. He would say things like he has no ill will toward her. He finally published a cookbook called "Eat Your Heart Out," which was a bit of a tell-all about their marriage. Afterward, Brandi and Dean paired up for a podcast together. Brandi called his cookbook “classy,” but LeAnn tried to stop it from getting published.
For her part, Brandi finally chilled out. In 2013 she revealed that things had gotten better; even running into each other at soccer practice became a civil affair.
Peacetime
At Jake’s 11th birthday party, mom and stepmom smiled for a selfie. Brandi posted the photo to Instagram with the message, “Peace in #calabasturd hanging for Jake's bday.” Things were getting better. We're not always going to agree but getting along made her kids happy."
In an interview with "People," Brandi said it was a good day. She admitted that the two women actually got to go inside [LeAnn and Eddie’s] house.”
Relationship Goals
Just because LeAnn and Eddie fell wildly in love doesn’t mean they didn’t have some couple’s issues to deal with. It wasn’t all smooth sailing, and there was a lot to contend with.
LeAnn told "Star" that the couple had attended marriage therapy. She said it helped make their marriage stronger and improved the way they communicate. She said it was especially important for the kids’ best interests.
Relationship Advice
After nine years of success as a loving blended family, "E! News" asked the country singer what her secret was. She answered, “The key to doing it, right? A lot of grace.” “A lot of grace,” she reiterated, adding, “A lot of not taking things personally. The kids are the most important thing.”
LeAnn said that the best thing for the boys is that they know the love is there for them and that all three parents are committed to them.
Quality Time
The Cibrian’s have a hectic lifestyle, to be sure, but they always make time for each other. The two are sure to plan romantic getaways as often as they can. They travel to places like Hawaii, Mexico, and Aspen.
LeAnn posted the photo on Instagram with the hashtag #desertlovers, among others. The couple suffered a lot of adversity under the media spotlight, but love prevailed.
Christmas Greetings
Christmas 2018 was a very happy holiday for the Cibrian clan. The “happiest,” as the greeting headlined. Finally, they could exist like a normal, happy family.
LeAnn was celebrating the release of her Christmas TV movie, so the image promotes that joyful accomplishment too.
Eddie is Her Rock
In an interview with "People," LeAnn opened up and said that Eddie is her rock. She said, “We’re stronger than ever.” Eddie and LeAnn’s love story is like the typical ending to a Hallmark Channel movie.
At last, they can live outside of the tabloid world and able to deal with it if it flares up. She says that they don’t let the little things bother them anymore because, as she says, it really doesn’t matter.
Hatchet Buried
In January of this year, Brandi Glanville proved all was well in the Cibrian blended family world when she congratulated Eddie on his new Netflix series. Brandi has come full circle and genuinely accepts her ex’s marriage and the co-parenting situation.
She’s very outspoken, and so it wasn’t a surprise she complained recently that the boys were with Eddie and LeAnn for too much, saying it wasn’t fair she couldn’t see them. But overall, she’s good with it. She appreciates LeAnn as a stepmom.
Brandi’s Podcast
Besides her "New York Times" bestsellers, Brandi Granville also hosts her very own podcast. "Brandi Glanville Unfiltered" is exactly what you’d expect from the chatty reality TV star. Brandi dishes and gossips with different celebs each week.
Fans learn all the juicy details about her life and relationships first-hand. It’s the perfect platform for the jaded ex who loves to talk. You might as well know, Dean Sheremet also hosts a cooking show podcast called "Dive Right In."
Dean and Brandi Meetup on ‘Unfiltered’
When news got out that Brandi would host Dean Sheremet on "Unfiltered," tabloids were titillating. Intimate photos of the two together got the rumor mill churning. The interview did not disappoint. Fresh deets were dished, and audiences finally got to hear Dean’s side of the story.
Brandi asked if the celebrity chef was friends with LeAnn. He said they were not friends, but it wasn’t for lack of trying. He offered to meet LeAnn for coffee, but she told him that she would only meet if Eddie could come too. Dean was like, “Why would Eddie come?” implying that she may not trust herself.
Dean’s First Marriage
At the time of the interview, Dean was happily married to photographer Sarah Silver. They lived in midtown Manhattan, where he was chef at Nobu 57. The engagement was announced at about the same time as LeAnn’s and Eddie’s. LeAnn even Tweeted a congratulatory note to Dean and Sarah.
Dean’s marriage to Sarah lasted five years. The split came about because they did not agree about having children. Sarah wanted to focus on her career. After the divorce was announced, Dean praised her and said she made him a better man.
Dean Gets Engaged and Welcomes a Baby Boy
On August 5, 2018, Dean became a daddy. Thrilled in the special moment, he gushed over his fiancé Vanessa Black, “I’ve never met a more courageous example of love, strength, or bravery,” he said, adding, “I am forever in awe.”
They named the newborn baby boy Atlas Wilding Sheremet-Black. Sheremet is known to goggle over the toddler on Instagram with adorable images and captions like, “All that matters on this world. #thankful.” A very happy ending, indeed.