It was the kind of TV moment that made you want to hide behind your couch cushions. Remember that first date? The one where a professional "erectile dysfunction specialist" and a cruise ship singer ate habanero peppers and shared a Guinness World Record kiss that looked more like a medical emergency than a romance?
Honestly, nobody thought Evan Bass and Carly Waddell would make it past the next rose ceremony, let alone down an aisle in Mexico.
But they did. They became the ultimate "unlikely" success story of Bachelor in Paradise Season 3. Then, in 2020, they became a cautionary tale. For fans who watched them navigate a literal hospital visit on-screen to build a real-life family with two kids in Nashville, the split felt like a personal betrayal of the "Paradise" brand.
From Habaneros to Heartbreak: The Timeline
Carly didn't even like Evan at first. She was vocal about it. Brutally vocal. But Evan was persistent. He basically "faked" an illness—or at least leaned heavily into a minor medical issue—to get her attention.
It worked.
They got engaged in 2016. They had a televised wedding in 2017. By 2018, they had a daughter, Isabella "Bella" Evelyn. In 2019, along came Charles "Charlie" Wolf. To the outside world, they were the blueprint for how to win the franchise.
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Then came the day after Thanksgiving, 2020. That was the day the music stopped.
What Most People Get Wrong About the Evan Bass and Carly Waddell Split
Social media makes it look like every breakup is a clean break or a massive cheating scandal. With Evan and Carly, it was way more nuanced—and honestly, way more relatable.
They didn't just wake up and decide to quit.
Carly later revealed that they had been in therapy for years. Years! That’s a long time to be fighting for something that eventually crumbles anyway. She famously shared a "divorce room" tour on her YouTube channel, showing the exact spot where Evan told her he wanted out.
It wasn’t a mutual decision. Carly was pretty transparent about the fact that she would have stayed forever. "If somebody doesn’t want to be with you, they don’t want to be with you," she said. It’s a gut-wrenching sentiment that hit home for anyone who's ever been the one left holding the pieces.
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The "Kid Pyramid" Problem
A lot of couples fall into this trap. Carly admitted that their biggest downfall was putting the kids at the top of the pyramid and completely neglecting the foundation of their own relationship.
- They focused 100% on being parents.
- They forgot how to be partners.
- The "house hunting" stress of 2020 was the final straw.
They actually put offers on three different houses that year. Every single one fell through. Finally, they bought a place in October, and Evan decided he didn't want to live in it. By December, the news was public.
Where Are They Now? (The 2026 Update)
It's been over five years since the separation, and the dust has finally settled. If you’re looking for drama, you won’t find much of it anymore. They’ve actually become a bit of a gold standard for co-parenting.
Evan Bass has mostly retreated from the spotlight to focus on his business and his five kids (three from a previous marriage and the two with Carly). He’s been linked to sports reporter Kristen Rodgers since 2023. They seem happy. They keep things low-key.
Carly Waddell has been through a massive transformation. She’s leaning into her music again, releasing songs that feel like pages out of her diary. More importantly, she’s engaged! Last year, she hard-launched her relationship with Todd Allen Tressler, and they recently got engaged during a family trip to Costa Rica.
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She often posts about the "superhero" strength it takes to navigate life as a single mom before finding a second act. It’s a far cry from the "sad girl" vlogs of 2021.
Real Talk on the "Paradise" Curse
Why do we still care about this specific couple? Because they felt real. Unlike the influencers who stay together just for the Instagram engagement, Evan and Carly felt like two weirdos who found each other in a sea of fitness models.
Their story teaches a few heavy lessons:
- Persistence isn't always a fairy tale. Sometimes the "chase" masks fundamental incompatibilities.
- Therapy is a tool, not a cure. You can go for years, but both people have to want the same outcome.
- Life after the "Final Rose" is hard. The transition from a tropical beach to a Nashville suburb with five kids is enough to test any marriage.
Actionable Takeaways from the Bass-Waddell Story
If you're following their journey because you're going through something similar, Carly’s advice from her 2025 reflections is actually pretty solid.
Don't set a timeline for your healing. She spent a year feeling like she’d lost her soul before she started feeling like a person again. If you're co-parenting, prioritize the kids' stability, but don't let your own identity disappear into the "parent" role. That was their "biggest downfall," and it's a mistake you can avoid by carving out time for yourself, even when it feels impossible.
Lastly, remember that a "failed" marriage doesn't mean a failed life. Both Evan and Carly are arguably in better places now than they were during those final, tense years in Nashville. Sometimes the end of a "Paradise" story is actually the beginning of a much better one.
Next Steps for Fans:
- Check out Carly's latest music on Spotify; it's much more raw than her early stuff.
- If you're navigating a split, look into the co-parenting apps like OurFamilyWizard—it’s the kind of tech that helps couples like Evan and Carly keep things "very easy" and drama-free for the kids.