Jimmie Allen Knew He ‘Wasn’t Ready to Be a Husband’ When He Married Estranged Wife Lexi: ‘I Cheated on Her’

“I never really had the dream to be a husband,” Allen told Kathie Lee Gifford in a sit-down interview

Jimmie Allen is opening up about his 2023 split from estranged wife Alexis.

In a sit-down with Kathie Lee Gifford posted to his YouTube channel Tuesday, April 23, the country singer, 38, opened up about his state of mind when he and Lexi married in 2020 and again publicly in 2021. He said he knew he wasn’t ready for marriage, but felt pressured by those around him.

“When I got married, I knew I wasn’t ready to be a husband,” Allen said. “But I was at this point in my life where it felt like I should do that because I heard constantly, ‘You should be married, you should be this.’”

He explained that his family knew Lexi’s family, so it was easier to jump into the commitment. However, Allen wishes he had taken more time in the dating phase since he feels like “right off the bat” he would have realized that he was not capable of the commitment.

“Prioritizing my wife’s needs over my career — I wasn’t in a place to do that, and I felt like I wasn’t in a place for faithfulness either,” the CMA Award winner admitted.

At that stage in life, Allen said he was focused on being a dad to his now 9-year-old son Aadyn from a previous relationship and growing in his career as a musician, actor and TV host. He confessed that he regrets not being honest with Lexi, now 28 and mother to three of his children, sooner.

“I never really had the dream to be a husband,” Allen said. “I feel like [being honest] would’ve saved her heartbreak and saved her time, and she could’ve had the opportunity then to go find someone for her.”

He added, “I felt like I was not only unfair to her, but unfair to myself when it comes to the relationship side.”

The two welcomed daughter Naomi, now 4, in 2020, followed by second daughter Zara in 2021. While Alexis was pregnant with Zara, they revealed they had secretly married the year before, with Allen speaking about his decision at the time.

“Before my dad died, he was in the hospital. Lex came and she met my dad, and he liked her. He pulled me to the side and said, ‘Listen, you mess up a lot when it comes to relationships. Don’t let this one go.’ I said, ‘All right,’” he told PEOPLE in July 2021.

“I wanted to be a dad and do music, that’s it. I never wanted to get married. The whole husband thing was not something I ever wanted to do. But Alexis changed that. Now, I like it. It gives me some security — she can’t just be like, ‘I’m done.’ Divorce is a lot of paperwork!”

Looking back, Allen now says he realizes how much he allowed societal standards to lead his life rather than his own emotions.

“You can find yourself believing what other people want to push onto your life,” he told Gifford. “I was a prisoner of it.”

Allen was also vulnerable about his infidelity, admitting to cheating on his wife throughout their marriage.

“For the longest time in my head I remember thinking, ‘OK well as long as I’m providing for my wife and for my children I’m good. I have the freedom to do whatever I want,’” he explained. “And that’s not the right mentality. It’s wrong. I made a commitment, and I should’ve either stuck with it or ended it. I cheated on her multiple times. She knew about it.”

In May 2023, Allen was sued by his former manager for assault and sexual abuse. He claimed Lexi found out about that particular affair when the news broke.

Although the case has since been dropped, Allen said he was “heartbroken” because he felt betrayed by the woman who was suing him, whom he thought “cared” about him.

“Looking at it now, I would totally do everything different,” he said. “Biggest change I would’ve made — personally — I wouldn’t have gotten married. Or if I did, I felt like I would be honest about who I am, and the type of relationship I want.”

The couple filed for divorce in April 2023 but reconciled shortly thereafter, months before Allen welcomed twins with another woman over the summer. Not long after, in September 2023, Lexi gave birth to her and Allen’s third child, son Cohen.