If you spent six years weeping over the Pearson family on Tuesday nights, you probably feel like you know Chrissy Metz. You know the vulnerable, heart-on-her-sleeve version of her as Kate Pearson. But honestly? The "This Is Us" actress is living a life in 2026 that looks nothing like that fictional world in Pittsburgh or LA.
Most people think she just disappeared into the Hollywood ether after the show ended its emotional run in 2022. That's not what happened. Not even close.
Chrissy Metz basically packed up her entire life and fled Los Angeles. She traded the "dog eat dog" energy of the West Coast for a more grounded existence in Nashville. It wasn't just a vacation. It was a total reset. While fans were still mourning the end of the Pearsons, Metz was busy rebuilding her identity outside of a character that had defined her for nearly a decade.
The Nashville Shift and Why She Left
LA is a grind. Metz lived there for 21 years before deciding she'd had enough of the "what are you auditioning for?" small talk. She moved to Nashville because she wanted a "better quality of life." Everything is 15 minutes away. People actually look you in the eye.
She's closer to her family in Florida now, which was a huge factor during the pandemic. But the move was also about reclaiming her first love: music.
You saw glimpses of her voice on the show, but 2025 and 2026 have been the years she finally leaned into it. She released her debut country album, Big Feelings, and honestly, the title says it all. She's not just "the girl from that show" anymore; she’s a songwriter who is charting on the country maps. She even teamed up with Ty Herndon for a reimagined version of "She Wants To Be Wanted Again" recently.
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It's country music, but it’s the vulnerable, storytelling kind that makes you feel like you're sitting on a porch with her.
What Really Happened with the 100-Pound Weight Loss?
There has been so much noise about Chrissy Metz and her health journey. Tabloids love a "transformation" story, but the truth is way more nuanced than a before-and-after photo.
In May 2025, she debuted a 100-pound weight loss at the Variety Power of Women event in Nashville. She looked incredible in a pastel dress and cowboy boots, but she was quick to shut down the "skinny equals happy" narrative.
"I don't want to run unless I'm being chased," she joked to reporters.
She’s been very transparent about the fact that this wasn't about "heroin chic" or some extreme Hollywood diet. It was about longevity. She’s 45 now. She’s thinking about things like osteoporosis and arthritis. She’s been consistent with strength training and lifting weights because she wants to "age the best way" she can.
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There was a lot of speculation about whether she used Ozempic or other GLP-1 medications, but she has credited her progress to meal prepping, a 2,000-calorie-a-day plan, and a lot of therapy. She’s the first to admit she used to "eat her feelings." Food was her crutch. Addressing the "why" behind the eating was way harder—and more important—than the actual gym sessions.
The Projects Nobody Talks About (But Should)
If you think she's just singing and lifting weights, you're missing half the story. Metz has become a power player in the world of faith-based and "hopeful" media.
- The Hunting Wives: She’s starring in this 2025 series alongside Brittany Snow and Malin Akerman. It’s a departure from her usual roles, moving into a more thriller-adjacent space.
- Faith in the Flames: She took on the lead role in the Nicholle Jolly story, a Lifetime movie about a nurse who survived a literal firestorm.
- Children’s Books: She co-wrote When I Talk to God, I Talk About Feelings. It’s basically her trying to help kids do what she couldn't do as a child—name their emotions before they become overwhelming.
She’s also been a regular guest narrator at Disney’s Candlelight Processional. She’s found this niche where she can be "wholesome" without being boring. It’s a specific brand of Southern, faith-forward stardom that plays much better in Tennessee than it ever did in Beverly Hills.
The Truth About That "This Is Us" Movie
Every time she does an interview, someone asks about a reunion. "Anything’s possible," she says. She’s admitted she desperately misses the cast. She even joked that in 10 years, when they’re all 50-ish, it would be "cute" to do a 10-year reunion.
But for now? She's intentional. She knows she might never have another This Is Us—and she’s okay with that.
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The industry tried to box her in. They wanted her to be the "sad, overweight girl" forever. By moving to Nashville, writing for kids, and releasing country records, she basically broke the box. She’s making more money as a singer and executive producer now than she was in the early seasons of the show.
She's also been through some personal shifts. Her relationship with Bradley Collins ended a while back, and she’s been focused on herself. "Dating myself," as she puts it.
Actionable Insights from Chrissy's Journey
If there is anything to take away from what Chrissy Metz is doing right now, it’s that you don't have to stay in the place that made you famous—or the place that made you miserable.
- Audit your environment. If your "LA" (wherever that is) feels like a dog-eat-dog race, it might be time for your "Nashville."
- Fix the "Why" first. Metz didn't lose weight by just eating less; she did it by going to therapy and figuring out why she was "eating her feelings" in the first place.
- Diversify your "Brand." You might be good at one thing, but that doesn't mean you can't be a beginner at something else. She went from an Emmy-nominated actress to a rookie country singer at 40.
She is proof that you can have 81 cents in your bank account one day and be the most famous woman on TV the next. But she’s also proof that fame isn't the finish line. Being healthy enough to enjoy your life is.
Keep an eye on her Nashville projects. She’s just getting started with the music side of things, and if Big Feelings is any indication, she’s got a lot more to say than a 30-second soundbite allows.
To really follow her current path, check out her new album on streaming platforms or look for her upcoming guest spots on the Grand Ole Opry—she’s been spending a lot of time on that stage lately. It's a different kind of spotlight, and she seems to like it much better.