Father of the Bride Actress Silenced by Illness, Is Back Stronger Than Ever

Actress Kimberly Williams-Paisley revealed that a vocal disorder left her unable to speak for nearly two years, threatening her health and career.

The 53-year-old star first experienced symptoms in November 2022 while delivering remarks at an annual Alzheimer’s fundraiser in memory of her late mother, Linda Williams, as reported by Fox News.

“I was on stage about to give a speech and suddenly had no voice. The next day, it wasn’t back. A couple weeks later, it still wasn’t back. It sounded whispery, like I had been at a rager or I was getting sick.”

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In January 2023, she visited Vanderbilt Voice Center in Nashville, Tennessee, where she was diagnosed with muscle tension dysphonia and partial paralysis of her left vocal cord.

The disorder, according to Johns Hopkins Medicine, causes voice changes due to excessive muscle tension around the voice box.

For more than a year, Williams-Paisley was unable to speak louder than a whisper. During that period, she explored various treatment options, including antidepressants, braces, diet changes, hypnosis, and even consulting a psychic and an astrologer. None restored her voice.

In August 2024, she underwent a three-hour laryngoplasty surgery. Doctors implanted a device into her left vocal cord to bring it closer to her right, enabling her to speak again. “I couldn’t believe it was true,” she told People.

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Williams-Paisley said her acting career was on hold during her recovery, adding, “I didn’t really do any work during that time as I was trying to find my voice again.”

“I have grown stronger in so many ways. I think a lot of times when we face something like this, it helps lift us up in other areas of our lives. And so I worked on, ‘What other ways can I use my voice?’ And I started writing, and I journaled a lot and I got stronger, and I started lifting weights and I started meditating. So there are all these silver linings that I’m really grateful for.”

Now recovered, she is hosting Season 3 of FOX’s reality dating show Farmer Wants a Wife, stepping in for Jennifer Nettles.

The show, which premiered March 20, follows four farmers—Colton Hendricks, John Sansone, Matt Warren, and Jay Woods—as they search for love among 32 women from big cities.

Williams-Paisley said her real-life marriage to country singer Brad Paisley made her a good fit for the role. “I’m from New York and I wound up marrying a country boy,” she said. “So I get it.”

Brad Paisley made a guest appearance on the April 10 episode, offering relationship advice to the contestants. “Whoever it is that you start to find yourself really nervous around is probably the one,” he said.

Williams-Paisley also reflected on their marriage, noting, “We can’t seem to get it right… maybe that’s part of it—don’t keep track of time, just let it go and enjoy. Keeping a sense of humor is very important.”

Now back on television and speaking freely again, Williams-Paisley encouraged anyone with similar symptoms to see a specialist. “Don’t just keep drinking honey tea—actually go see a doctor,” she said.

The third season of Farmer Wants a Wife is currently airing on FOX and streaming on Hulu.

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