Shay Mooney’s wife, Hannah Billingsley Mooney, met one-half of country duo Dan + Shay, in the most millennial way possible: through social media. The two had several mutual friends, and they communicated via the internet every now and then.
When they finally meet in person, Shay Mooney instantly knew she was the one. Let’s get to know more about the blonde beauty.
It Was Love At First Sight For Shay Mooney
“From the very first time I saw her, I knew I wanted to marry her,” the singer said. “She’s stunning. I finally convinced her to come to a show in Fayetteville, Arkansas.”
After the show, Shay Mooney asked Hannah to be his date to the upcoming Academy of Country Music (ACM) Awards in Dallas. “I agreed, and the rest is history,” Billingsley said.
Their budding relationship continued to flourish, and after a year and a half of dating, the “Nothin’ Like You” singer-songwriter knew he had to “put a ring on it.”
“She’s the best thing that’s ever happened to me, so I had to lock it down. She’s my better, and much better-looking half,” Mooney jokingly said.
Shay Mooney got down on one knee and popped the big question in Fayetteville, near a country church with both sides of their family hidden inside to surprise Hannah after the proposal. “I had so much I wanted to say to this beautiful girl when I was proposing, but I was so shaky and nervous I don’t even remember what I said, or if what I said made a lick of sense,” Mooney told PEOPLE. “Hannah cried. She cried a lot.” Of course, she gave him the sweetest yes too.
They Got Hitched Between Two Oak Trees
Shay Mooney and Hannah Billingsley, who were both from Arkansas, loved the idea of getting hitched on the land where they were raised. Hannah grew up on the family cattle farm in the small town of Franklin too. So on October 20, 2017, the happy couple exchanged their vows between two oak trees on the Mooney family farm in Arkansas.
“On one of our first dates, Shay brought me up to a hill overlooking his family’s farm. We sat and talked about life and dreamed about our futures,” Hannah recalled. “We went back to the hilltop for our first look, where Shay patiently waited for me as the veil whipped in the wind. It was absolutely perfect.”
Dan Smyers, Mooney’s other half, and the duo’s guitarist Justin Richards stood up as groomsmen for the dashing groom, while Hannah’s bridesmaids include friends from her pageant days. The ceremony was followed by a hilltop reception with the Ozarks visible in the background. They had 300 guests to celebrate with them.
Of course, the night did not end without Shay Mooney serenading his bride. The singer became emotional when he performed an original song he wrote for his bride on the acoustic guitar.
“We really tried to focus on marrying one another and enjoying the rest,” says the now Mrs. Hannah Billingsley Mooney. “You will probably still stress during planning, but at the end of the day, you’ll have a memory of a beautiful chapter in your love story.”
She Never Imagined To Be With Someone From The Music Industry
Hannah Billingsley never imagined being with a man in the music industry that it even took her some time to come around. “But God had other plans,” she said. “Shay was and is patient as the day is long and makes me laugh at every turn. He’s my person. I love him more than words can express.”
She added, “She is everything I never knew I needed.”
She’s a Mother of Two
In the middle of planning the details for their big day, the couple announced the news that they were expecting their first child. “Gonna have a new band member in the Mooney family,” the singer wrote on his Instagram. Hannah made her baby-bump debut during the CMA Awards, which she attended alongside her country-singer husband.
On January 24, 2017, the couple welcomed their first son, Asher James, into the world. “And just like that, our lives are forever changed. Ten perfect fingers and ten perfect toes and a whole lifetime of joy wrapped right up in our arms,” Hannah said. “I am so overwhelmed with happiness.” Hannah has also shared the meaning of the name they picked. Asher is a name that means fortunate, blessed, and happy ones. She said Shay Mooney and her “are all of those things and more.”
Two years later, the couple shared that their family is expanding once again. The news came just as Dan + Shay got the great news that “All to Myself” hit No. 1 on the country charts. “Celebrating a number 1 with baby number 2,” Mooney said. And on February 21, 2020, Ames Alexander Mooney joined the family.
“Now, let the adventures begin!” Hannah said. Are we going to see a new duo in the future?
She’s a Former Beauty Queen
In 2013, Hannah Billingsley won the Miss Arkansas USA and represented the state of Arkansas in the Miss USA pageant. According to the Miss USA website, “During her college career, Hannah has been involved in several organizations and philanthropic events. She has helped raise more than $10,000 for charities, including the Be Her Freedom campaign for human trafficking, Habitat for Humanity, and Shoebox Ministries.”
“She has been knitting hats for Arkansas Children’s Hospital for the past four years and has been very active in raising funds for the Children’s Miracle Network, receiving the Miracle Maker Award in 2012. She has also worked with Feeding Arkansas Kids and the Backpack Program to end child hunger.” She’s indeed a beauty with a heart.
Hannah has pursued a Bachelor of Science in Communications Disorders during her college days at the University of Central Arkansas, to become a Speech Language Pathologist.
She’s Very Active in Sports
Ever since she was young, Hannah has always shown an aptitude for sports, playing softball and basketball at the age of eight. She has traveled with her teams all over the country, won state title and has competed at a national level.
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Hannah Billingsley, Shay Mooney