Elle King doesn't do things by halves. When the "Ex's & Oh's" singer announced she was elle king pregnant with her second child back in late 2024, it wasn't just a standard celebrity update. It was a full-blown "doubling down" on a life that had seen its fair share of rocky roads. Honestly, if you've followed her career, you know she’s always been an open book, but this particular chapter felt different. It felt like a woman finally finding her footing after a whirlwind couple of years.
The news hit the public in September 2024 during a tour stop in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Appropriately enough, she was on her Baby Daddy's Weekend tour. Talk about on the nose.
Why the Elle King Pregnant News Caught Everyone Off Guard
People were surprised because, just a year prior, it looked like things were totally over between Elle and her partner, tattoo artist Dan Tooker. If you were at the Stagecoach Music Festival in April 2023, you might remember her rocking a jacket with "SINGLE" plastered across the back. It wasn't subtle. They had split, and for a while, it seemed like they were just going to be co-parents to their first son, Lucky Levi.
But life is messy. And for Elle, it’s often beautiful in that messiness.
By the time the gender reveal video dropped on Instagram—featuring blue confetti and a very stoked Dan Tooker—it was clear the pair had reconciled. They didn't just get back together; they bought a house in the mountains of Nashville and decided to expand the crew. She told People magazine around that time that she wanted a "big family" and was basically ready for a "table for four."
The Arrival of Royal Tooker
Fast forward to early 2025. On February 28, Elle King and Dan welcomed their second son, Royal Tooker.
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It’s a name that carries that same punchy, slightly regal vibe as her own stage name. However, the birth wasn't without its hurdles. Royal arrived a bit earlier than expected. Elle later shared on social media that he was a "teeny little thing" at first. She was incredibly candid about the experience, even touching on the "roller coaster" of postpartum depression, something she had hoped wouldn't hit a second time.
It’s that kind of intellectual honesty that makes her fans stick around. She doesn’t just show the glossy hospital photos; she talks about the days that "float by like a blink" and the ones that are just "really, really hard."
The Journey to Motherhood Wasn't Easy
To understand why being elle king pregnant meant so much to her, you have to look back at what she went through to get Lucky. Before her first son was born in 2021, Elle went through two very painful pregnancy losses. She’s spoken about how those experiences make you feel like a "failure" and how terrifying it is to get pregnant again afterward.
She calls Lucky her "miracle baby."
When she found out she was expecting Royal, she admitted she was still nervous. High-risk pregnancies are no joke, and when you’ve had losses, the anxiety doesn't just disappear because you're a rock star.
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- First Son: Lucky Levi Tooker (Born Sept 1, 2021)
- Second Son: Royal Tooker (Born Feb 28, 2025)
- The Vibe: A self-described "family of outlaws" living in Nashville.
What Most People Get Wrong About Her "Comeback"
A lot of the headlines focused on her pregnancy as a "redemption" after some public struggles, specifically a controversial, drunken performance at a Dolly Parton tribute at the Grand Ole Opry in early 2024. But if you listen to Elle, the pregnancy wasn't a PR move to fix her image. It was a byproduct of her actually doing the work behind the scenes.
She’s been vocal about making "changes" in her life. She swapped the heavy partying for ginger ale and focused on being a "storyteller" again. Bringing Lucky on the road changed her entire perspective on touring. Instead of late-night rages, it became about soundchecks and Hot Wheels.
Royal’s arrival in 2025 solidified that shift.
Parenting as a Humbling Force
Elle once told an interviewer that parenthood will "f------ humble your ass." She wasn't kidding. Whether she's dealing with the complexities of her relationship with her dad, Rob Schneider—which has been... let's say, strained—or navigating the music industry, she keeps coming back to her kids as her "driving force."
She’s even mentioned that she isn't necessarily done yet. She wants that big, chaotic family.
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Navigating the "New Normal" in 2026
Now that we’re into 2026, Elle is balancing life as a mom of two toddlers. That's a lot for anyone, let alone someone trying to record a classic country-feeling album. She’s leaning into the Nashville lifestyle, staying close to family in Ohio, and seemingly finding a peace that evaded her in her 20s.
She’s also been incredibly supportive of other moms. In her posts, she often gives shoutouts to people trying to conceive or those "trudging through the tunnel" of early motherhood. It’s less about being a celebrity and more about being a peer in the trenches.
Actionable Takeaways for Fans and Parents
If you're following Elle’s journey or going through a similar high-risk pregnancy path, here are a few things her story highlights:
- Acknowledge the Anxiety: It is okay to be scared during a pregnancy after loss. Elle’s transparency shows that "rainbow babies" come with a lot of emotional baggage, and that’s normal.
- Postpartum is a Spectrum: Just because you didn't have PPD the first time doesn't mean you're in the clear the second time. Or vice versa. Seeking help and being open with your partner—like Elle was with Dan—is vital.
- Redefine Your Career: You don't have to choose between a passion and a family. Elle changed the way she tours to make it work for her kids, prove that "road life" can be a family atmosphere.
- Second Chances Work: Sometimes "wiping the slate clean" in a relationship is worth the effort if both people have grown.
Elle King’s transition from the "Ex's & Oh's" wild child to a mother of two in Nashville is one of the more grounded stories in country music today. She’s still got the edge, but it’s tempered with a lot more heart and a lot less chaos.
Check out her latest tracks like "High Road" to hear exactly how this new phase of life is influencing her sound. It’s some of her most honest work yet.