Shivangi Sinha
A central and much-debated part of Courtney Stodden’s story involves her parents, Kristi Keller and Alex Stodden. In 2011, they approved their teenage daughter’s wedding to 51-year-old Doug Hutchison in Las Vegas, Nevada. At the time, Kristi also served as Courtney’s manager and was heavily involved in shaping her career. In Lifetime’s ‘I Was a Child Bride: The Courtney Stodden Story’, Maggie Lawson and Drew Waters bring these real-life figures to the screen and deliver compelling performances that capture the nuance of a story that continues to generate discussion today.
Courtney Stodden’s Parents Gave Their Consent For Her Marriage to Doug Hutchison
Krista Kay Keller and Alex John Stodden led a fairly ordinary middle-class life in Washington, raising their three daughters, Ashley, Brittany, and Courtney, with love and a focus on independence. They encouraged them to pursue their dreams on their own terms. When Courtney showed a strong interest in singing and acting, her parents supported her ambitions, with Krista playing an active role in getting her involved in pageants and small performance opportunities. Life in Ocean Shores, Washington, was simple and grounded for the family. When Courtney enrolled in online acting classes taught by Doug Hutchison, Krista encouraged her participation and saw it as another step in nurturing her daughter’s budding career.
In a 2011 interview, Doug claimed that Krista monitored and reviewed all email exchanges between him and Courtney. He insisted that he was unaware of Courtney’s actual age initially, and upon discovering it, he claimed he told Krista he would stop communicating with her. However, Doug claimed that both Krista and Alex told him the decision was Courtney’s to make, which he said allowed the relationship to continue. On May 20, 2011, they married in Las Vegas, Nevada, with the law requiring parental consent, which Krista and Alex provided. The following years were tumultuous, culminating in a professional split between Courtney and Krista in 2015, citing “creative differences.” The distance in the relationship between her mother and father developed gradually, and they fell out. It is believed that by 2015, Courtney was not talking to her father anymore.
Alex Stodden May Not Be in Touch With His Daughter Today
Very little information has surfaced about Alex Stodden since Courtney’s wedding. In August 2011, he was arrested in Grays Harbor County, Washington, for reportedly driving under the influence. He appeared in court a few weeks later, pleaded guilty, and was sentenced to serve 21 hours in jail. Following the wedding, he publicly expressed his happiness over Courtney’s marriage to Doug Hutchison, describing Doug as the “nicest man.” By 2012, reports indicated that Alex and Krista Keller were separating and undergoing divorce proceedings. Since then, he has made no public statements, and it remains unclear whether he has reconciled with his daughter.
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Krista Keller is a Talent Manager Leading a Fulfilling Life With Her Husband
Krista Keller Stodden moved on from her marriage, which had lasted years. She desired to find her true happiness, and she did so when she got married to Reggie Salazar on December 14, 2014. She went on to build her own career in the entertainment industry. In 2015, she co-hosted ‘The FNL Network Talk Show’. That same year, reports indicated that she had developed a close, mother-son–like relationship with 42-year-old John Kerwin, host of a talk show on JLTV5 and expressed her desire to adopt him, though nothing came of it. At the time, she was not in contact with her daughter, Courtney Stodden, but both appeared on the reality TV series ‘The Mother/Daughter Experiment: Celebrity Edition’ in 2016.
In 2020, the year Courtney finalized her divorce from Doug, she reunited with Krista for Mother’s Day. On the reconciliation, the latter said, “I prayed a lot that my daughter and I could have a good mother-daughter relationship again, because we did have one.” They discussed her regrets about the marriage and acknowledged that nothing could change the past. Krista also remarked that she always knew this day would eventually come. Since their reconciliation, Krista and Stodden have grown exceptionally close. In 2024, Stodden even credited her mother for her looks in a heartfelt Mother’s Day post.
Krista maintains strong bonds with her other two daughters, Ashley and Brittany, and often spends quality time with them, their families, and her three grandsons. Professionally, she has built a career as a Talent Manager and Producer based in Los Angeles since 2011. She also holds a cosmetology license, having studied at TCC Community College and Bates Vocational Technical School from 1977 to 1980. Her producing credits include the ‘Grace Harbor TV Show’ in 2011, reflecting her experience in the entertainment industry. A devoted animal lover, she cares deeply for her two cats and her 12-year-old dog, Cupcake. Krista is deeply religious, and she embraces life with joy, pursuing her passions, exploring new experiences, like camel riding, and cherishing her family and personal endeavors.
