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Wearing a black and silver dress, with her hair in blond waves, Kellie Pickler<\/strong><\/a> took the stage in Nashville on April 22 as part of a star-studded tribute to the music of Patsy Cline. \u201cI\u2019d be lying if I didn\u2019t say I was incredibly nervous right now,\u201d the American Idol<\/em> alum told the audience. \u201cIt\u2019s the first time I\u2019ve been up on stage in a while.\u201d<\/p>\n Indeed, more than a year had passed since Kellie had performed in public<\/a>. The former Pickler & Ben co-host, star of three Hallmark movies and SiriusXM radio host completely stepped away from the spotlight following the tragic February 2023 death of her husband, Kyle Jacobs<\/a>, by suicide. During her return to the mic this April, Kellie paid tribute to the late songwriter by singing \u201cThe Woman I Am\u201d\u2014a tune they\u2019d penned together over a decade ago. \u201cThe last time I was here in the Ryman Auditorium was with him on a date night,\u201d she said, \u201cand I know he is here with us tonight.\u201d<\/p>\n According to an insider, the appearance was a major step for \u201cstill healing\u201d Kellie, 37. \u201cIt\u2019s been a really rough 14 months. She was isolating herself amid the grief,\u201d the insider exclusively tells Life & Style<\/em>. \u201cKellie may never fully recover, but Kyle wouldn\u2019t want her to hide away. He\u2019d want his wife out there performing, doing what she loves \u2014 and the fact that she gets to honor Kyle\u2019s memory in the process is bittersweet.\u201d<\/p>\n Kellie met Kyle at a Nashville bar, and the two eloped in 2011 after three years of dating. Aside from collaborating on music, the pair co-starred on three seasons of the CMT reality series I Love Kellie Pickler<\/em>.<\/p>\n But then tragedy struck. On February 17, 2023, EMTs found Kyle locked in a bathroom at the couple\u2019s house, dead at age 49 from a self-inflicted gunshot wound. Devastated, Kellie didn\u2019t speak out about the incident until August, when she shared: \u201cOne of the most beautiful lessons my husband taught me was in a moment of crisis, if you don\u2019t know what to do, \u2018do nothing, just be still.\u2019 I have chosen to heed his advice.\u201d<\/p>\n Now, it seems she\u2019s finally ready to take things off pause. In addition to hitting the stage again, Kellie has put the abode she once shared with Kyle up for sale. \u201cThere have been many nights she cried herself to sleep \u2014 a life without Kyle still doesn\u2019t seem real sometimes. Kellie\u2019s working at being at peace with it,\u201d says the insider. \u201cShe sees reminders of him everywhere, but she\u2019s definitely a lot stronger today. It\u2019s one of the reasons she listed their home. Kellie needs to move on, which is also why she\u2019s focusing on her career right now.\u201d<\/p>\n Eventually, she\u2019d like to move on romantically as well. \u201cShe hasn\u2019t given up on love,\u201d says the insider. \u201cKellie hopes one day to find a great guy, remarry and have a family. She\u2019ll always cherish her time with Kyle, and is continuing to process his death, but Kellie is hopeful for the future.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\nInside Kellie Pickler and Kyle Jacobs\u2019 Marriage<\/h2>\n