You’ve seen him on the red carpet looking sharp in a suit next to the Queen of Country. He’s the guy holding the diaper bag in the background of a blurry Instagram photo or the one cheering from the front row at the Grand Ole Opry. Most people just know him as Carrie Underwood's husband, but if you actually follow hockey—or spend any time in the hunting woods—you know Mike Fisher is a whole lot more than just "the guy married to Carrie."
He’s a retired NHL captain. A business owner. An outdoorsman who’s probably more comfortable in a camo trucker hat than a tuxedo.
Honestly, it’s kinda funny how their worlds collided. You’ve got this powerhouse singer from Oklahoma and a gritty hockey player from Ontario, Canada. It sounds like the plot of a Hallmark movie that’s trying too hard, but for these two, it’s been real life for over fifteen years.
The NHL Legacy Most Music Fans Miss
Before he was Mike Fisher, the celebrity spouse, he was Mike Fisher, the "first-line center" who was basically a god in Ottawa. He spent 11 seasons with the Ottawa Senators. He wasn't just a player; he was the heartbeat of that team. He played over 1,000 games in the NHL. That’s not a small feat. Hockey is brutal. It breaks your body.
Fisher was known for being a "two-way forward," which is code for "he works harder than everyone else on both ends of the ice." He was even a finalist for the Frank J. Selke Trophy, an award given to the best defensive forward in the league.
Why the Trade to Nashville Actually Happened
In 2011, Mike was traded to the Nashville Predators. Usually, trades are strictly business—cold and calculated. But this one was different. Ottawa’s GM at the time, Bryan Murray, specifically looked for a deal with Nashville so Mike could be with Carrie. They had been married for about a year and were doing the exhausting long-distance thing between Canada and Tennessee.
He didn't just "show up" in Nashville, though. He eventually became the captain of the Predators. He led them to their first-ever Stanley Cup Final in 2017. If you go to a game at Bridgestone Arena today, you’ll still see people wearing his #12 jersey. He’s a legend there in his own right.
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Beyond the Ice: Catchin' Deers and Business Savvy
Since hanging up the skates for good in 2018, Carrie Underwood's husband hasn't exactly been sitting on the couch. Mike is a co-founder of a brand called Catchin' Deers.
The name itself is a joke.
It comes from that "terrible terminology" people use when they ask hunters if they’ve "caught" any deer. (You don't catch them like fish, obviously). The brand started with a few hats and some viral videos featuring Mike and his brother, Bud Fisher. Now, it’s a full-blown apparel line found in places like Tractor Supply. It’s a "no-B.S." brand built on the same locker-room humor Mike grew up with in hockey.
He’s also leaned heavily into his faith. Mike has been very open about his journey with I Am Second, talking about how the fame and the money of the NHL felt empty until he refocused on his Christian beliefs. It’s a core part of his and Carrie's marriage. They’ve both said that having that shared foundation is basically what keeps them grounded when life gets "industry crazy."
The Real Story of How They Met
It wasn't some high-profile Hollywood party. It was a backstage meet-and-greet in 2008. Carrie’s bassist, Mark Childers, actually tried to set them up.
Carrie was hesitant.
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She reportedly said, "I mean, can I make dating more difficult? Let's get a hockey guy who lives in another country."
But then they met. Her first impression? "Hot, hot, hot."
They had their first real date on New Year’s Eve in 2008 and shared their first kiss when the ball dropped in Times Square. They got engaged a year later and tied the knot in July 2010 at a massive, 250-guest wedding at the Ritz-Carlton in Georgia.
Life with Isaiah and Jacob
The couple has two sons: Isaiah Michael (born in 2015) and Jacob Bryan (born in 2019). Mike is very much the "outdoorsy dad." You’ll often see him taking the boys fishing or hanging out on their 400-acre farm outside of Nashville.
It hasn't all been easy, though. They’ve been public about the "difficult years" involving multiple miscarriages before Jacob was born. Mike often references Romans 12:12—"Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer"—as the verse that got him through the injuries on the ice and the personal heartbreaks at home.
The United States Citizen
In 2019, Mike officially became a U.S. citizen. He posted a photo waving a little American flag, looking genuinely stoked. While he’ll always be a Canadian kid from Peterborough at heart, his life is firmly rooted in Tennessee now.
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Why This Partnership Works
A lot of celebrity marriages fail because of the "power struggle." In this case, Mike was a star in his world, and Carrie was a star in hers. When he retired, he didn't just become a "plus one." He pivoted. He’s a businessman, a producer of outdoor content, and a very present father.
They seem to balance each other out. She’s the perfectionist, the vegan, the global superstar. He’s the rugged, meat-eating, joke-cracking hockey player. It’s the contrast that makes it work.
What You Should Know Now
If you’re following the couple in 2026, keep an eye on Mike’s expanding business ventures and his involvement in Nashville’s community. He remains a key figure in Hockey Ministries International and continues to grow the Catchin' Deers brand into new retail spaces.
For the most authentic look at their lives, skip the tabloid headlines and look at their actual community involvement.
- Check out Mike's testimony on I Am Second to understand his perspective on fame.
- Support the Danita’s Children charity, a cause both Mike and Carrie have championed for years.
- Look for Mike's occasional appearances on the Outsider podcast where he talks more about the "business of the outdoors" than the "business of being famous."
He’s a guy who’s managed to stay "normal" in a very abnormal world. And honestly, that might be his most impressive stat of all.