Renee Zellweger, Kenny Chesney Get Married

Yahoo - AP ^ | 05/09/05 | MAT PROBASCO

[nypokerface]

LOS ANGELES - Oscar-winning actress Renee Zellweger and country music star Kenny Chesney were married Monday in a small ceremony on the island of St. John in the U.S. Virgin Islands, a publicist for Zellweger said.

The ceremony took place in front of close friends and family, Los Angeles-based publicist Nanci Ryder said in a statement. The bride wore a Carolina Herrera dress, she added.

It was the first marriage for both.

The couple met at the Concert of Hope tsunami relief benefit Jan. 15, where Chesney was singing and Zellweger was answering telephones, the syndicated TV show "The Insider" reported.

Chesney, 37, lives on St. John, while Zellweger, who turned 36 two weeks ago, is from Katy, Texas.

Zellweger won a best supporting actress Oscar in 2004 for "Cold Mountain." She was nominated for Oscars for her work in "Chicago" and "Bridget Jones's Diary."

Chesney currently has two albums on Billboard's top 10 country albums chart, and his single "Anything But Mine" is No. 6 on the magazine's hot country songs list.

Chesney was named Country Music Association entertainer of the year in November, and his "When The Sun Goes Down" was named album of the year. His other hits include "Me and You" and "She Thinks My Tractor's Sexy."

According to Country Weekly magazine, Chesney long ago named Zellweger as his favorite actress and was inspired to write his 1999 hit "You Had Me From Hello" after seeing her in "Jerry Maguire."

Zellweger appeared at a recent Chesney concert in Jacksonsville, Fla., presenting him with a margarita and a kiss on stage, Country Weekly magazine reported.

Zellweger has dated White Stripes singer Jack White and "Me, Myself & Irene" co-star Jim Carrey.

[sarasota]

Thanks for the report. I knew you'd be impressed! Believe Renee is in preparation to promote her film with Russell Crowe, Cinderalla Man. I'll be looking for more interviews with the two of them.