Katherine Heigl, the actress known for her film and television roles, has been happily married to musician Josh Kelley for more than a decade.
They have 3 children, 2 of whom are adopted, and recently left the hustle and bustle of Hollywood for good, with no plans to return. Let's find out all about her decision to adopt from the Grey's Anatomy star, her challenges as a working mother, and why she chose to move with her family away from Los Angeles.
Six months after Heigl met her future husband, musician Josh Kelley, she told him that starting a family through adoption was a non-negotiable aspiration for her, and fortunately, he was willing to do it. Adoption was a big part of Heigl's life. “I grew up like that and I wanted my family to look like the one I came from,” the actress shared.
The actress's parents adopted her older sister, Meg, from South Korea. Inspired by this, in 2009, Heigl and her husband adopted her first daughter, Naleigh, when she was 9 months old. She was also born in South Korea. A few years later, they adopted Adelaide right after her birth in Louisiana. Five years later, Heigl became pregnant for the first time and the couple welcomed Joshua into their lives.
Katherine Heigl says, “I often came home angry and frustrated because I had missed everything about my kids that day. I felt like my priorities were all messed up.” She most appreciated the peaceful moments of staying home with them.
The mother of 3 has opened up about the challenges of balancing her career with motherhood. She wasn't afraid to say, “I ended up having a full-on anxiety attack and tore my back twice from the stress. “People tell you how hard it is, but you have no idea until you experience it.”
Heigl said, “I didn't know how to raise my kids in Los Angeles,” which is why they moved to a ranch outside of Utah. This allows you to be more involved in your children's activities, friends, and phone use. She and Kelley also enjoy a quieter life outside of Los Angeles, surrounded by 8 dogs, 3 cats, chickens, goats, and horses.
Adelaide, Joshua, and Naleigh (pictured above) enjoy spending time by the river, throwing stones, and feeding the chickens. Heigl loves living in Utah, away from the noise of city life, she enjoys the friendliness of the people there and the convenience of an easy commute from Los Angeles without the hassle of traffic.
