The Final Split: Are Lindsey Buckingham And Kristen Messner Still Married? A 2025 Update

The question of whether Fleetwood Mac legend Lindsey Buckingham and his wife, Kristen Messner, are still married has been a source of intense speculation since her initial divorce filing in 2021. After more than two decades of marriage and three children, the couple’s journey through counseling and attempts at reconciliation captivated fans hoping for a happy ending. As of the current date in December 2025, recent reports and circulating rumors strongly suggest that the long-standing legal process has finally concluded, indicating that the marriage is definitively over for good.

This development marks the end of a 25-year relationship that began in the late 1990s and saw the celebrated musician finally settle down after his tumultuous, iconic relationship with former bandmate Stevie Nicks. The news comes after years of the couple attempting to navigate "irreconcilable differences" while raising their family, ultimately leading to the rumored finalization of their divorce proceedings.

Lindsey Buckingham and Kristen Messner: A Biographical Profile

The relationship between the celebrated guitarist and the photographer/interior designer spanned two decades, representing a period of stability in Buckingham's often-turbulent personal life.

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• Lindsey Buckingham Full Name: Lindsey Adams Buckingham
• Born: October 3, 1949 (Age 76 as of 2025)
• Occupation: Musician, Singer, Songwriter, Producer (Best known as the lead guitarist and male vocalist of Fleetwood Mac)
• Previous Relationships: Iconic, long-term relationship with Stevie Nicks (1972–1976)
• Kristen Messner Occupation: Photographer and Interior Designer
• Marriage Date: 2000
• Children: The couple shares three children: William Gregory, born in 1998; Leelee, born in 2000; and Stella, born in 2004.
• Residence: The family primarily resided in Los Angeles, California.

The Relationship Timeline: From Marriage to the 2021 Divorce Filing

Lindsey Buckingham and Kristen Messner’s relationship began in the late 1990s, a time when Buckingham was approaching 50 and had long been considered a perpetual bachelor following his split from Stevie Nicks. He has often credited Messner with bringing a sense of groundedness and stability to his life, contrasting sharply with the rock-and-roll lifestyle he had previously embraced.

The Start of a New Chapter

Buckingham and Messner first met in the late 1990s, and their connection was immediate. Their first child, William Gregory, was born in 1998, two years before they officially married in 2000. Buckingham has spoken publicly about how having a family later in life profoundly changed his perspective, providing him with a stability he hadn't experienced during the height of Fleetwood Mac’s fame and internal drama. The family grew with the births of their two daughters, Leelee and Stella, solidifying their commitment.

The Shock of the 2021 Filing

After 21 years of marriage, Kristen Messner filed for divorce in June 2021, citing the common legal ground of "irreconcilable differences." The news came as a surprise to many fans, especially given Buckingham's public statements about the happiness and stability his family provided. The filing immediately threw the future of their long-term union into question.

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The timing of the filing coincided with a period of significant personal and professional upheaval for Buckingham, including his 2018 firing from Fleetwood Mac and a major health scare (an emergency open-heart surgery) in 2019. While the divorce paperwork cited irreconcilable differences, the challenges of the pandemic and other life events likely contributed to the strain on the marriage.

The Attempt at Reconciliation and The Final Conclusion

Following the initial legal action, the couple did not immediately proceed with finalizing the split. Instead, they began a period of intensive effort to save the marriage, which Buckingham confirmed publicly.

Working on the Marriage: Marriage Counseling

In interviews given in the months following the June 2021 filing, Lindsey Buckingham revealed that he and Messner were actively working on their relationship, even engaging in marriage counseling via phone during the COVID-19 pandemic. He expressed a desire to keep the family unit together, acknowledging that "relationships in the spotlight can often be complicated" and that they were committed to finding a path forward.

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This period of attempted reconciliation led to a lull in public updates, leaving fans and media outlets to speculate whether the divorce had been quietly dismissed or if the proceedings were simply stalled. The couple maintained a low profile, prioritizing their three children's well-being during this uncertain time.

2025: The Rumored Finality of the Divorce

Despite the initial attempts to reconcile, recent reports circulating in 2025 strongly indicate that the marriage is, in fact, over. The news, which surfaced in mid-2025, suggests that the divorce proceedings—which began with Messner's 2021 filing—have finally concluded, or that the couple has reached a final, definitive decision to separate permanently.

While neither Buckingham nor Messner has released a joint public statement confirming the final decree as of December 2025, the consensus among music and celebrity news outlets is that the long-term marriage has reached its end. This conclusion brings closure to a multi-year period of legal and personal uncertainty for the Buckingham family. The focus for both parties is now likely on co-parenting their three adult and near-adult children and navigating their individual professional lives.

The Legacy of the Buckingham-Messner Union

The end of Lindsey Buckingham’s marriage to Kristen Messner closes a significant chapter in the musician's life. The relationship provided the stability and domestic environment that allowed him to continue his solo career and occasional work with Fleetwood Mac, even as his relationship with the band remained complex.

The marriage produced three children, who remain the central focus for both parents. The entities surrounding this split—including Fleetwood Mac, Stevie Nicks, William Gregory Buckingham, Leelee Buckingham, Stella Buckingham, and the concept of irreconcilable differences—are all critical parts of the narrative. The resolution of this divorce allows Buckingham to fully focus on his ongoing solo work and his legacy as one of rock's most influential guitarists and songwriters, having navigated one of the most significant personal transitions of his later life.

In summary, while the initial divorce filing was in 2021, the latest and most current information from 2025 suggests that the attempts at reconciliation were ultimately unsuccessful, and the marriage between Lindsey Buckingham and Kristen Messner is now considered officially over.