America loves a good celebrity power couple. However, power couples that include athletes are somewhat rare. David Beckham’s marriage to Victoria Adams is likely the most famous example of a power couple involving an athlete. In 2023, Americans have been treated to non-stop media coverage of Taylor Swift’s new relationship with Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce — this relationship was unique in that the athlete was less famous than the non-athlete. However, back in 2010, we witnessed a similar relationship between global superstar Carrie Underwood and little-known NHL player Mike Fisher. Here’s how the couple came to be.
Who Is Mike Fisher?
Let’s start with the lesser-known party before getting to the superstar singer. Before 2008, Fisher was an anonymous NHL player. Drafted in the 2nd round of 1998’s NHL Entry Draft, the center spent over a decade in Ottawa with the Senators, the team that drafted him. While Fisher is a solid defensive player, finishing top-5 in the Frank J. Selke Trophy voting twice, he has never made an all-star team. He has, however, had some playoff success, making Stanley Cup Finals appearances with the Senators and Nashville Predators on teams that were hocking betting favorites.
During the 2004–05 NHL lockout year, Fisher played overseas for the EV Zug in Switzerland’s Swiss Nationalliga A. After returning, he had a career year in 2005–06, finishing second runner-up in the Selke Trophy voting. He signed a five-year, $21 million extension with the Senators before the 2007–08 season, but knee injuries hampered the contract. In February of 2011, the Senators traded Fisher to the Predators.
How Did Fisher Meet Underwood?
Fisher had connections with Underwood thanks to a member of her band. Bassist Mark Childers had attempted to set Underwood up with Fisher multiple times because Childers and Fisher were friends. She nearly refused the offer but eventually agreed. Fisher attended one of her shows and met her backstage afterward.
For Underwood, there was an immediate spark. However, it was initially challenging with Underwood living in Nashville and Fisher on a long-term contract in Ottawa. Despite the distance, the couple regularly talked on the phone and saw each other again a few months after their initial meeting. Soon, they were officially dating, turning Fisher’s life upside down.
From Anonymous Hockey Player to Well-Known Celebrity
Overnight, Fisher became a well-known star thanks to his relationship with one of country music’s biggest stars. In 2008, Carrie Underwood’s single “All-American Girl” was the #1 country hit in the United States and Canada. She won Best Female Country Vocal Performance with her hit “Last Name” and took home the Academy of Country Music’s Entertainer of the Year and Top Female Vocalist.
Fisher, meanwhile, was a little-known center in Ottawa. He became a celebrity overnight, sharing his first kiss with Underwood as the ball dropped in Times Square on New Year’s Eve 2008 in front of the world.
A Simple Proposal and Elegant Wedding
Just a year after they started dating, the power couple took the next step in their relationship. Mike proposed at Carrie’s parents’ home with a halo-setting ring. The center stone set Fisher back $150,000. The proposal has been described as a cozy proposal, a far cry from the wedding itself.
Six months later and less than two years after meeting, the duo tied the knot in an elaborate ceremony. Fisher and Underwood said “I do” at the Ritz Carlton Reynolds Plantation in Greensboro, Georgia, in front of 200 friends and family. The American Idol winner’s reception paid homage to her Southern roots and featured a lot of eating and dancing.
A Consistently Happy Marriage
As both Underwood and Fisher’s careers meant chaotic schedules for both, creating a healthy marriage would be tough. However, things got much easier in 2011 when Fisher was traded to Nashville. The couple had been living in Ottawa, but the move to Nashville put Underwood much closer to her home base.
Since then, the couple’s schedule has stayed the same. They announced their first pregnancy in September 2014 and welcomed their first child in February 2015. The couple has faced adversity, keeping strong through three miscarriages, but welcomed a second son in January of 2019. That same year, the Ontario native Fisher became an American citizen.
Underwood has continued releasing music, while Fisher retired after the 2018 season. He finished his career after playing 1,104 games, scoring 278 goals and 589 points overall. He also added 24 goals and 52 points in the postseason.
What Is Next For The Power Couple?
Underwood plans to continue releasing music and touring, while Fisher’s plans remain unknown. His latest venture is Catchin’ Deers, a hunting apparel company, while also speaking at conferences around the United States. While Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce are prominent in the headlines, Fisher and Underwood appear as strong as ever.
