Star of Father of the Bride opens up about a baffling illness that prevented her from talking for an extended period of time

Brad Paisley’s wife Kimberly Williams-Paisley opened up about inexplicably losing her ability to speak for nearly two years.

The actress, aged 53, who gained fame for her role in Father of the Bride, shared her experience of a scary health issue that made her feel unnoticed, unable to continue working, and cut off from her family and friends. 

‘I felt trapped in my own body,’ she told People while reflecting on her battle with  muscle tension dysphonia, which left her unable to speak in anything more than a whisper.

After becoming suddenly silenced due to the muscles around her voice box becoming too tight, Williams-Paisley revealed that she was forced to turn down acting jobs and began withdrawing from family and friends. 

‘There was so much shame involved,’ the mother-of-two said. ‘I felt invisible.’

As she searched for the right treatment, the performer noted that she ‘had to fight to be heard’ and discovered that ‘no matter what my physical voice is’ that her voice ‘underneath is stronger.’

Brad Paisley’s wife Kimberly Williams-Paisley opened up about inexplicably losing her ability to speak for nearly two years; seen in 2021

‘I feel more confident. I know myself better,’ Williams-Paisley explained.

Still, her advanced vocal weakness affected her mental health and caused her to ‘self-blame’ as she assumed that she was not ‘breathing properly’ or somehow at fault.  

‘Days when I didn’t want to do anything. Days when I was extra tired. Cycling anxiety thoughts in the middle of the night. I wouldn’t say I had clinical depression, but I was sad,’ she said. 

Despite loving social functions, she said she turned down offers because she ‘couldn’t be a part of the conversation.’ 

‘There were days when I grieved and sobbed,’ she recalled as she feared her voice was permanently gone. “I wondered, “Who am I without my voice?”‘

During this time, she leaned on her husband, who would encourage her to join him in ‘vocal warm-up’ exercises. 

‘He’s so good at keeping me laughing. That’s a gift,’ she emphasized. 

Additionally, their sons William Huckleberry, 16, and Jasper Warren, 14, stepped up as they saw her at her ‘most vulnerable.’ 

The 53-year-old actress, best known for her breakthrough performance in Father of the Bride, recalled how her terrifying medical ordeal left her feeling ‘invisible,’ unable to work and isolated from her loved ones (pictured in 2023)

Father Of The Bride starred Steve Martin, with Kimberley Williams as his daughter 

‘They were great cheerleaders for me. To see them embracing me made me feel less alone,’ she said. 

In August, she underwent a laryngeal nerve procedure, which is said to take about five to nine hours, after getting diagnosed with a partially paralyzed vocal cord. 

Now, her voice is ‘much better’ and she feels ’empowered.’ 

‘I still can’t yell down the road. And at the end of a long day of talking, I’ll sound a little more raspy than I used to, but I think that’s sexy,’ she raved. ‘And I’ve learned that when you talk quieter, people lean in, which is not bad either.’

The experience has also taught her to never ‘leave things unsaid’ or take her ‘voice for granted.’

‘I want to be brave in using it,’ she told readers.

In August, she underwent a laryngeal nerve procedure, which is said to take about five to nine hours, after getting diagnosed with a partially paralyzed vocal cord

Now, her voice is ‘much better’ and she feels ’empowered’

Following her surgery, the actress admitted that it had been a ”challenging’ couple of years’ navigating the damage to her laryngeal nerve. 

‘I haven’t wanted to share about this much until now because it felt too vulnerable. I took for granted my ability to “use my voice” before — for my career, for a good cause, for a timely joke, for SELF-EXPRESSION, for a loud dinner party,’ she wrote on Instagram. 

‘Instead, I’ve been the quietest in the room. I’ve felt meek. New people I’ve met thought I was a shy or reserved person. I’ve felt trapped in my body,’ the performer shared. 

Whilst she wasn’t able to speak properly over the past two years, the star said she’s found her voice in other ways.

‘I’ve healed old emotional wounds. I’ve learned the strength and beauty of silence. I’ve become a serious meditator. I’m deadlifting over a hundred pounds. I’m taking better care of my body. I’m managing stress. I’m dissolving shame. I’m feeling more whole, empowered and joyful,’ she gushed.

Following her surgery, the actress admitted that it had been a ”challenging’ couple of years’ navigating the damage to her laryngeal nerve. Pictured with her husband country singer Brad Paisley

Under her post, fans and friends flooded the comment section with supportive words from friends and fans 

Under her post, fans and friends flooded the comment section with supportive words from friends and fans.

Country singer Sheryl Crow called Kimberly her ‘hero,’ saying the actress taught her about ‘holding your power without raising your voice, without throwing your fist in the air, but by observing and embracing what life hands you with grace and determination.’

‘Thank you for sharing this experience with all of us! You are a fierce mother warrior!’ she wrote.

‘I can only imagine how scary this has all been,’ chimed in another. ‘Thankful you’ve found answers and are finding healing! It is incredible the things we take for granted when we are healthy… like your voice! That’s a big one. Saying a prayer now for total healing!’

Brad, Kimberley’s husband, also commented, jokingly writing it will be ‘a great new chapter’ – although he will miss the silence.