Kimberly Williams-Paisley (née Williams, born September 14, 1971TV Insider bio) is an American actress known for her starring role in The 10th Kingdom, and roles on According to Jim and Nashville, as well as her breakthrough in Father of the Bride (1991), for which she was nominated for several teen awards, and its sequel, Father of the Bride Part II (1995). Throughout her career, she has guest starred on shows including Tales from the Crypt, George Lopez and Less than Perfect. She is also known for her roles in made-for-TV movies, including Safe House, The Christmas Shoes, and Lucky 7, and also her role as Laura Parker in Shade, a short film that she also wrote and directed. Williams is married to country musician Brad Paisley, with whom she has two sons; actress Ashley Williams is her sister.
Early life Williams-Paisley was born in Rye, New York, the daughter of Linda Barbara (née Payne), a fund-raiser, and Gurney Williams III, a health and science writer. She has a sister, Ashley, also an actress, and a brother. Williams has been in show business since the age of 13. In 1989, she directed the Rye High School Musical Revue. She left Northwestern University during her sophomore year to appear in the 1991 film version of Father of the Bride but returned to complete her degree in drama. While there, she was a sister of the Alpha Phi sorority.
Career Williams-Paisley's breakthrough role was Annie Banks in Father of the Bride (1991) and Father of the Bride Part II (1995), with Steve Martin and Diane Keaton. She later appeared in Indian Summer (1993), Coldblooded (1995), The War at Home (1996), and in 1996 landed the lead role in the ABC drama series Relativity. She won critical acclaim for her performance, but the series was canceled after 17 episodes due to low ratings. In 2000, Williams-Paisley starred as Virginia in the fantasy miniseries The 10th Kingdom.
From 2001 to 2008, Williams-Paisley played the role of Dana in the ABC sitcom According to Jim, opposite Jim Belushi and Courtney Thorne-Smith. She left the show after its seventh season, but she came back for the show's final episode in 2009. On stage, Williams-Paisley replaced Arija Bareikis as Sunny in The Last Night of Ballyhoo, written by Alfred Uhry (of Driving Miss Daisy fame) sometime later in the play's February 1997 to June 1998 run. During the late 1990s and 2000s, she starred in a number of made for television movies including Safe House, The Christmas Shoes, and Lucky 7, and also guest starred on Tales from the Crypt, George Lopez, Less than Perfect, Boston Legal, and Royal Pains. In film, she starred opposite Matthew McConaughey in 2006 drama We Are Marshall.
In 2012, Williams-Paisley began starring in the recurring role of Peggy Kenter in the ABC drama series Nashville, and in 2014 had a recurring role as Gretchen in CBS comedy series Two and a Half Men. In December 18, 2015, Williams-Paisley starred in Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Road Chip as Samantha. She also played Claire Pierce in the Netflix holiday films The Christmas Chronicles (2018) and The Christmas Chronicles 2 (2020). In 2020, Williams-Paisley reprised the role of Annie Banks in the short film Father of the Bride Part 3(ish). In 2025, she began starring as Cammie Raleigh in the series 9-1-1: Nashville.
Personal life On March 15, 2003, Williams married country music singer Brad Paisley. She gave birth to their first child, a son, in Nashville, Tennessee, where the family lives. They subsequently had a second son.
Her mother, Linda, was diagnosed with primary progressive aphasia, which is a form of dementia. Williams-Paisley is the author of Where the Light Gets In, published on April 5, 2016. The book tells the story of her mother's illness from her diagnosis up until her death. Her mother died in November 2016, seven months after the book was published.
Filmography
Film Year Title Role Note1991Wild Hearts1991Father of the BrideAnnie BanksFilm debut 1993Samuel Beckett Is Coming SoonKim1993Indian SummerGwen Daugherty1995ColdbloodedJasmineFather of the Bride Part IIAnnie Banks-MacKenzie1996Karen Collier1998Safe HouseAndi TraversJust a Little Harmless SexAllison1999Elephant JuiceDodieSimpaticoYoung Rosie2002Ten Tiny Love StoriesFive2003ShadeLaura ParkerShort film; also producer, director, writerHow to Go Out on a Date in QueensAmy2004Identity TheftMichelle Brown2005Porco RossoFioVoice role- Disney Dub2006How to Eat Fried WormsHelen ForresterWe Are MarshallSandy Lengyel2012Eden CourtBonnie Duncan2014Ask Me Anything Margaret Spooner2015Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Road Chip Samantha 2017Speech & Debate Susan Merrick You Get Me Mrs. Hanson 2018 The Christmas Chronicles Claire Pierce 2020 The Violent Heart Helen Father of the Bride, Part 3(ish) Annie Banks-MacKenzie Short film The Christmas Chronicles 2 Claire Pierce 2023 Dog Gone Ginny Marshall Jesus Revolution Charlene
Television YearTitle Role Notes1990ABC Afterschool SpecialVanessaEpisode: "Stood Up!"1994Tales from the CryptHiley ZellerEpisode: "The Bribe"1996Jake's WomenMollyTheatrical playRelativityIsabel LukensSeries regular (17 episodes)2000Virginia LewisMiniseries2001Follow the Stars HomeDianne Parker- McCuneTelevision film (Hallmark Hall of Fame)2001–2008According to JimDana Gibson Main role (season 1-7); Special Guest (season 8); 165 episodes; also directed 3 episodes2002The Christmas ShoesMaggie Elizabeth AndrewsTelevision film (CBS)2003Lucky 7Amy MyerTelevision film; also co-producer 2004 Identity Theft: The Michelle Brown Story Michelle BrownTelevision film (Lifetime); also co-producerGeorge LopezVanessa BrooksEpisode: "E.I.? E.I. OH"2005Less than PerfectLauraEpisode: "Get Away"2008Wonder PetsMama Armadillo (voice)Episode: "Save the Armadillo"Boston LegalAttorney Elisa BrooksEpisode: "Last Call"2010Amish GraceIda GraberTelevision film (Lifetime)2012Royal PainsSam ChardEpisode: "Business and Pleasure"2012–2013NashvillePeggy KenterRecurring role; 22 episodes2014Two and a Half MenGretchenRecurring role; 6 episodes2017Darrow and DarrowClaire DarrowTelevision film (Hallmark Movies & Mysteries)The Christmas TrainEleanor CarterTelevision film (Hallmark Hall of Fame) 2018Darrow & Darrow 2Claire DarrowTelevision filmDarrow & Darrow: Body of Evidence 2019Dolly Parton's Heartstrings Emily Episode: "Jolene" The Flash Renee Adler 2 episodes Witness to Murder Claire Darrow Hallmark Movie 2020A Nashville Christmas Carol Spirit of Christmas Present2021Sister Swap: A Hometown HolidayJenniferSister Swap: Christmas in the City2025Farmer Wants a Wife Herself Presenter9-1-1Cammie Raleigh Episode: "The Sky is Falling"2025- present9-1-1: Nashville Main role; 17 episodes
As producer, writer, and/or director Year Title Notes2003Lucky 7Co-producer2004Identity Theft: The Michelle Brown StoryCo-producer; also played the lead character2006ShadeProducer, director, writer2006–2008According to JimDirector; 3 episodes2007Numero DosDirector, writer2010When Mom's AwayExecutive producer
Awards and nominations Year Association Category Work Result 1992MTV Movie AwardsBest Breakthrough Performance Father of the Bride 1996Satellite AwardsBest Performance by an Actress in a Dramatic Television Series Relativity 2006Heartland Film Festival Crystal Heart Award for Best Dramatic Short Film Shade Vision Award for Best Short Film Shade Sedona International Film Festival Outstanding Acting & Directing Shade
Bibliography Where the Light Gets In: Losing My Mother Only to Find Her Again (2016)
References
External links
Official website of the short film, Shade, directed by Kimberly Williams-Paisley Kimberly Williams-Paisley on Twitter