Honestly, if you were around for the late 2000s celebrity gossip cycle, you probably remember the absolute shockwave that hit the tabloids in June 2009. One minute, Rachel Hunter is scouting venues and picking out bridesmaid dresses, and the next, her wedding to NHL star Jarret Stoll is just... gone. It wasn't just a quiet breakup, either. It was a "canceled-seven-weeks-before-the-big-day" kind of disaster that left fans and the media scrambling for answers.
People were obsessed. You had a world-famous supermodel, the iconic ex-wife of Rod Stewart, getting ready to walk down the aisle with a professional athlete thirteen years her junior. It was the ultimate "happily ever after" for someone who had already lived through a very public divorce. Then, the email happened.
The Email That Ended Everything
It sounds like something out of a bad movie, but Jarret Stoll reportedly notified wedding guests via email that the August 14 ceremony was off. No long-winded explanation. No dramatic press conference. Just a digital "never mind" sent to a guest list that reportedly included A-listers like Michelle Pfeiffer and Sharon Stone.
Rachel was, by all accounts, blindsided. You've got to feel for her—everything was ready. The designer dress was sorted, the guest list was finalized, and the couple had already purchased a £2.2 million home together in Hermosa Beach.
When a relationship ends that close to the altar, people naturally go looking for a villain. At the time, the narrative was pretty harsh on Jarret. "Cold feet" was the phrase everyone used. But as the years have passed, both parties have dropped little nuggets of truth about what was actually going on behind the scenes. It wasn't just about a guy getting scared of a tuxedo.
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Was the Age Gap the Real Culprit?
The media loved to harp on the 13-year age difference. Rachel was nearing 40, and Jarret was 26. In the world of NHL players, 26 is a weird age—you’re basically a veteran in the locker room but still a kid in "real life" terms.
Rachel eventually admitted in interviews years later that she could see why Jarret made the choice he did. She once told Hello! magazine that "he was right in the decision he made, as hard as that was for me to realize then." That’s a massive amount of perspective to have, especially after being the one left at the metaphorical altar.
Basically, they were in two different seasons of life.
- Rachel's Perspective: She had two kids (Renee and Liam) with Rod Stewart. She was looking for stability and, reportedly, even talked about wanting more children.
- Jarret's Perspective: He was a rising star for the Los Angeles Kings. His career was peaking, and the NHL lifestyle—traveling, constant pressure, and the "single man's game" of the league—didn't exactly mesh with a ready-made family and a high-profile marriage.
The Physical Toll of Heartbreak
We often talk about breakups like they’re just emotional hurdles, but for Rachel Hunter, the split with Jarret Stoll was literally sickening. She later revealed that the stress and "rollercoaster of emotions" actually led to serious health issues.
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She was diagnosed with myocarditis and pericarditis—inflammation of the heart. Imagine being so stressed out by a public breakup that your heart actually starts to fail you. It’s a sobering reminder that these "celeb scandals" involve real people with real nervous systems. She ended up in the emergency room, facing a quiet killer while the rest of the world was just wondering if she'd get to keep the ring.
Life After the 2009 Split
It’s interesting to see where they ended up. Jarret eventually found long-term love with sportscaster Erin Andrews. They married in 2017, and interestingly enough, that relationship has also faced its fair share of public trials, including Erin’s health battles. It seems Jarret eventually grew into the version of himself that was ready for the commitment he couldn't handle in his mid-20s.
Rachel, on the other hand, took a massive pivot. She moved away from the L.A. glamor for a while, went back to New Zealand to "lick her wounds," and eventually transformed into a wellness and yoga expert. She traded the runway for a more spiritual path.
Wait, did they ever talk again?
While they aren't exactly best friends, the dust has settled. There’s no lingering public feud. In the world of celebrity breakups, that’s a win.
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What You Can Take Away From This
If you're looking for a lesson in the Hunter-Stoll saga, it's probably about timing. You can have the $5 million house and the perfect dress, but if the internal clocks don't match, the whole thing will eventually tip over.
If you’re going through something similar—maybe not a canceled celebrity wedding, but a relationship that feels "off" despite looking "right"—consider these steps:
- Audit your "Seasons": Are you trying to build a foundation with someone who is still in their "exploring" phase? Age doesn't always matter, but life stage does.
- Listen to your body: Rachel’s heart condition was a direct result of ignoring her stress. If your relationship is making you physically ill, it’s not just "drama." It’s a medical warning.
- Accept the "Right Decision, Wrong Feeling": Just because someone hurts you by leaving doesn't mean they were wrong to leave. Sometimes the most painful thing someone can do for you is stop wasting your time.
Rachel Hunter and Jarret Stoll are proof that you can survive the most public humiliation possible and come out the other side arguably better off. She found her peace; he found his match. It just took a very messy email and a lot of years to get there.
Next Steps for Readers
If you're navigating a high-stress breakup or curious about the physical impact of emotional trauma, research the symptoms of Takotsubo Cardiomyopathy (Broken Heart Syndrome). Understanding how your nervous system responds to loss can be the first step in healing properly, much like Rachel did after 2009.