Courtney

Stodden says she doesnʼt regret marrying Doug Hutchison at age 16: ‘We both really love each
otherʼ
Stephanie Nolasco • June 12
Video
Courtney Stodden doesnʼt want to be recognized as Hollywoodʼs most famous teen bride anymore.
The 24-year-old originally stirred headlines in 2011 at age 16 when the then-aspiring singer tied the knot
with “Green Mile" actor Doug Hutchison, who was 51 at the time. The couple separated and reconciled
multiple times but finally called it quits, seemingly for good, in 2016, after nearly six years of marriage.
COURTNEY STODDEN SAYS SHE'D 'RATHER GO NAKED THAN WEAR VICTORIA'S SECRET' AFTER EXEC'S
CONTROVERSIAL COMMENTS
These days, Stodden claims sheʼs eager to move on and pursue a music career. Most recently, Stodden
attended the special exhibition dedicated to her idol, titled “Marilyn Monroe: 17 Years in the Making” at
Beverly Hillsʼ Edward Lowell Gallery, in which Andrew Weiss, reportedly the owner of one of the largest
collections of original, signed photos of the late movie icon, held a sale on what would have been
Monroeʼs 93rd birthday.
Stodden spoke to Fox News about her love for Monroe, her controversial marriage to Hutchison, now
59, as well as how she feels about her parents.
ELIZABETH HURLEY, 53, SIZZLES IN HOT PINK BIKINI
Fox News: What is it about Marilyn Monroe that speaks to you?
Courtney Stodden: I think the main reason is that she had this crazy, explosive life. And the woman
behind the celebrity, the persona, was so different. She was very honorable and intelligent. She was
more than just a pretty face. And yet she had so much courage to face Hollywood. I feel like a lot of
people still donʼt know that about her. So I choose to focus on not really the pictures on Hollywood
Boulevard, but more-so the person she was. I just admire her and her strength. She had a really crazy,
hard, beautiful life.
Video
Fox News: You recently released a YouTube video saying youʼre in a better place. What is life like today?
Stodden: Even though I am still going through this divorce with Doug, itʼs almost finished. That entire
process just ripped my soul out. And his too. We still have a lot of love for each other. Heʼs been there
for me and really wanting to help further my dreams, which is to get my album off the ground. Thatʼs
really my goal now. My inspiration is music. And I think that I am in a better position right now because
Iʼm able to express my depression and express myself through music. I feel thatʼs really what I was born
to do.
Fox News: When did you realize you needed help for depression?
Stodden: I finally realized I had this relationship with depression in 2016. Doug and I lived out in Palm
Springs for a year. We needed to get out of Hollywood. So we rented a house out there for a year. And I
think it was the first time that I had enough space without the cameras, without distractions to just
meditate out there. But I just started feeling really sad. Like, really, really awful.
COURTNEY STODDEN FLAUNTS NEW CURVES ON SOCIAL MEDIA
I was drinking a lot. I just realized I was so depressed. I realized that out there in Palm Springs living with
Doug for a year. I think itʼs important for people to realize that they need time for themselves and try to
sit in stillness. I think thatʼs what I really needed to do — listen to myself... Mental health has such a
stigma. I was afraid to come out and say I struggled with depression because of that stigma. But I want
to try and be a woman of strength. I want to come out and talk about my depression and not worry
about the scrutiny of the media or other people.
Fox News: What is your relationship like with Doug Hutchison today?
Stodden: Itʼs confusing *laughs*. We both really love each other. We still talk. I mean, we just talked
today. We never wanted this divorce. Itʼs never something that we both wanted. But we realized the
unconventionalness of our marriage. We both are taking responsibility in that, especially him. Heʼs
taking responsibility for marrying me at such a young age. He and I agreed on this divorce. Weʼll see
what happens in the future. Weʼre both trying to get through this the best we can in the most loving
way possible.
COURTNEY STODDEN FILES FOR DIVORCE
Fox News: Can we expect another reconciliation?
Stodden: Weʼre definitely getting a divorce. It probably should be finished within the next two months
or something like that. Weʼre not fighting over anything. The reason why itʼs taking so long is that I was
filling it out incorrectly. This is my first divorce so I was filling out the paperwork all wrong for two years.
But he doesnʼt want to fill out the paperwork himself *laughs*. But yeah, the divorce is happening. We
just donʼt know whatʼs going to happen in the future.
Doug Hutchison (L) and Courtney Stodden attend Star Magazine's Hollywood Rocks Event with Jason
Derulo at The Argyle on April 15, 2015 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Allen Berezovsky/Getty
Images)
Fox News: How do you feel about the teen bride label?
Stodden: You know, Iʼm transforming out of the teen bride label. I canʼt stand labels except if theyʼre
designer, of course, *laughs*. Iʼm really excited to just be known as a singer/songwriter now. Iʼm not a
teen anymore. Iʼm turning 25 this summer.
Fox News: How did you cope with all the bullying after you married at such a young age?
Stodden: Being bullied by a large population of human beings was really difficult for me to live through
that. I think Iʼve kind of numb myself in ways. Because it is a lot to digest. And not only that, I was having
a lot of family issues. My parents fell apart in their marriage. My mom and I were having issues. Now my
dad and I arenʼt speaking. Itʼs been a lot... My life mirrors Marilyn Monroe in many ways. Thatʼs part of
the reason why I dyed my hair brown. I needed a break from the blonde. And I donʼt want to end up like
her in the way that
unfortunately she ended up.
Fox News: How come youʼre no longer speaking to your dad?
Stodden: I believe he has a lot of deep- rooted resentment towards my decisions in life. It started with
me as a little girl wanting to model. I donʼt think he really liked that. Then I got married, and Doug is two
years older than him. I think he felt replaced. And after I got married to Doug, my mom divorced my
dad. And then my dad proceeded to throw away all of my childhood tapes and memories — he took
everything to the dump and just threw them away. And Iʼm his only child. That speaks volumes, the way
he feels about his daughter. Now, eight years later since the marriage, heʼs told me to never contact him
again and to have a good life. Thatʼs very hurtful and doesnʼt help with depression.
Courtney Stodden with her mother Krista Keller. (Getty)
Fox News: How are things with your mom?
Stodden: Weʼre actually healing our relationship right now. She actually came over to my home and told
me she was sorry for ever hurting me in my life and she will spend forever making up for it. That meant
the world to me. We havenʼt really discussed a lot of the [divorce proceedings], but sheʼs not surprised.
DOUG HUTCHISON SPEAKS OUT
Fox News: Do you have any regrets marrying at a young age?
Stodden: Regrets are funny, arenʼt they? I donʼt know. If Doug was a different human being, like if he
was what everybody painted him to be back in the day, then I would say yes, I regret marrying this man.
But heʼs absolutely not what everybody painted him to be. Heʼs not perfect, but heʼs a beautiful man. I
gained an amazing soulmate in my life through him. So, no. I donʼt regret it. Heʼs been there for me
more now than my own father has.
Fox News: What can audiences expect from your music?
Stodden: I have a new album coming out. Itʼs called "Courtney RX." Iʼm going to be going by that musical
artist name now. Iʼm dropping around 4-8 bubblegum pop songs that Iʼm so excited about. The song
"Donʼt Put it On Me," which received about 8 million hits when I was 16 on YouTube overnight, Iʼm
redoing it and putting that on the album, along with a few other songs. One is called "Freak Alert,"
which is going to be the freak anthem of the summer *laughs* and another called "I Want You." Iʼm also
redoing a Queen song called "Love of My Life" in my own style.
I feel like I have an amazing and incredible talent that I havenʼt really been able to exercise as much as I
would like. I donʼt just want to speak up about mental illness and the things that Iʼm passionate about. I
also love music. And I have a lot to share. And I think people will get to know me a little bit more
through this album.
Fox News: How do you want people to see you today?
Stodden: I want them to see me as a human being, a woman growing, learning and following her
dreams.