Kimberly Perry Husband Johnny Costello Linked to Band Perry Family Feud, Full Story Explained

The Band Perry, one of country music’s most successful sibling acts of the 2010s, is now at the centre of a public family feud, and Kimberly Perry’s husband Johnny Costello is at the middle of it.

On August 11, 2026, youngest brother Neil Perry publicly claimed on Instagram that he was “terminated” from the family band in June 2024 and that his sister Kimberly wanted her husband to take his place. Kimberly and Costello have since continued as a marital duo under The Band Perry name, releasing new music through their original label Big Machine.

This article compiles every verified fact about the feud, Kimberly and Johnny Costello’s marriage, Neil Perry’s new Wolves of June project, and where the group and its members stand in 2026, so readers do not need to check multiple sources to understand the full story.

Who Are the People in This Story? A Quick Snapshot

Three siblings founded The Band Perry in 2005: lead vocalist Kimberly Perry, and her younger brothers Reid Perry and Neil Perry. Two decades later, only Kimberly remains as an original member of the active group, joined by her husband Johnny Costello. Reid Perry has stepped back to focus on artist management. Neil Perry is now recording solo under the name Wolves of June.

Quick Fact Box

What Happened: The August 2026 Public Feud

On Tuesday, August 11, 2026, Neil Perry published a series of Instagram posts under his new solo project name Wolves of June. The most widely quoted post included a lengthy written statement and a sardonic image caption reading “Preparing for my Netflix documentary about how The Band Perry went from three siblings to my sister and her husband.”

In his written statement, Neil said that June 2024 had taken something from him, describing that period as costing him a band, a business, a family, and a name. He alleged that his sister Kimberly wanted her husband to become a member of the band in his place, and that after he declined to participate under those terms, he was formally terminated the day after his birthday. He also said he lost his financial interest in the band, along with access to its platforms and audience.

 

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Neil went further in follow-up posts, saying he had explicitly asked his sister not to misrepresent his support for the current version of the group. He stated that by May 2024 none of the three siblings were consistently on speaking terms, and that his older brother Reid had stopped engaging in both personal and business matters.

Kimberly Perry and Johnny Costello have not publicly responded in detail to Neil’s specific claims. In earlier promotional interviews for the group’s 2026 return, Kimberly said her brothers were supportive of her continuing the band, referencing a comment Reid had made on the group’s social media post for the “Psychological” comeback single.

Background: How The Band Perry Got Here

To understand the current feud, it helps to see how The Band Perry has moved through 20 years of shifting configurations. The trio formed in 2005, was discovered by Garth Brooks’ manager Bob Doyle a few years later, and signed with Big Machine Label Group in a joint venture with Republic Nashville in 2009. Their 2010 breakout hit “If I Die Young” topped multiple country charts and pushed them into the pop mainstream, and their 2015 Grammy win for Best Country Duo/Group Performance for “Gentle on My Mind” cemented their industry standing.

After a pop-leaning 2018 EP titled Coordinates released independently, the group announced a hiatus in 2023 to pursue individual creative pursuits. Kimberly released a solo EP titled Bloom. Reid moved toward artist management. Neil pursued his own creative projects.

The band’s official return in mid-2025 initially reunited Kimberly and Reid with Johnny Costello stepping in for Neil. That configuration performed together, including an August 29, 2025 Nashville show, before Reid publicly announced his own departure on October 13, 2025. Since that point, the band has effectively been Kimberly and Johnny Costello.

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Kimberly Perry and Johnny Costello: The Marriage at the Centre of the Story

Kimberly Perry and Johnny Costello were married on June 17, 2021, in Las Vegas. They drove from Los Angeles to Las Vegas in a black Corvette and wed at midnight in a private ceremony. Kimberly did not publicly disclose the marriage until December 2021, when she used the caption “Wishing everyone a very MARRIED Christmas” to announce it on Instagram.

The 2021 marriage came after Kimberly’s earlier divorce from Major League Baseball catcher J.P. Arencibia. Kimberly and Costello have kept most of their personal life private, but their professional partnership has now become part of a public story following his integration into The Band Perry.

Costello’s move into the group is the most significant new element of the 2026 chapter, and Neil Perry’s claim that Costello effectively took his seat is what has turned an internal business decision into a public family feud.

Neil Perry’s Version of Events, In Order

Neil Perry’s August 11, 2026 statement laid out his side of the story in a specific sequence. According to his post:

• By May 2024, none of the three siblings were consistently on speaking terms.
• Reid Perry had stopped engaging in both personal and business matters.
• Kimberly approached Neil about bringing the band out of hiatus, and they initially agreed that moving forward with Reid was not something they were prepared to do.
• Kimberly then reached out to Reid, who confirmed he was not interested.
• Neil was presented with three options: continue as a duo with just Kimberly and himself, hold auditions for a new member, or bring Kimberly’s husband into the band.
• Neil says he was fine with the first two options but understood Kimberly wanted the third option.
• The three-way discussion ended without agreement.
• Reid then rejoined the band separately.
• Neil says he was forced out by what he called a two-thirds partnership agreement, and formally terminated in June 2024.

Details of the specific partnership agreement remain private and have not been publicly documented by any party.

Kimberly Perry’s Version, As Publicly Stated

Kimberly Perry has publicly framed her 2026 continuation of The Band Perry as a natural next chapter of what she has called her family band since childhood. In an interview referenced by Rolling Stone, she said the band was hers first, that this was season two of its story, and that Reid had cheered on the comeback single “Psychological” on social media. She has also said there will always be an open seat for a brother in the band if either Neil or Reid ever want to tour.

Kimberly’s public framing suggests she believes she has her brothers’ blessing to carry the name forward. Neil’s public statements directly contradict that framing regarding his own position and describe her characterisation as a misrepresentation.

Timeline of The Band Perry Feud

Why It Matters: Reading the Story on Multiple Levels

The Band Perry story matters on more than one level, and separating them helps readers understand why so many outlets have covered it.

As a music industry story. Family bands rarely make it through two decades. The mechanics of who owns a band name, who has voting rights within a partnership agreement, and how spouses of original members are integrated into the group are all genuinely interesting to anyone following the country music industry.

As a personal story. This is, at its core, three siblings whose relationships appear to have fractured. Neil’s post about not being on speaking terms with either sibling by May 2024 signals a very human family estrangement, not just a business dispute.

As a contract law story. The reference to a two-thirds partnership agreement highlights how modern professional bands are structured as businesses. The specifics of that agreement remain private, but the mechanic Neil described is common in music partnerships and often results in exactly this kind of outcome when one member wants to move in a direction the other members reject.

Neil Perry’s New Project: Wolves of June

The name of Neil Perry’s new project, Wolves of June, is a direct reference to June 2024, the month he identifies as the pivot point of his exit from The Band Perry. He released a debut single titled “TNT” alongside the August 11, 2026 statement, positioning the project as pop-adjacent rather than traditional country.

The tone of Neil’s rollout has combined grief, humour, and clear intent to reclaim public narrative. His use of a Netflix documentary meme and a Succession clip signals that he understands the story reads as a family drama, and he is choosing to lean into that framing while also presenting new music.

Reid Perry’s Position

Reid Perry publicly announced his own decision to leave the band on October 13, 2025, at that point still a member of the group alongside Kimberly and Johnny Costello. His stated reason was a wish to focus on artist management. In his Instagram post at the time, he told fans they had always been his favourite part of the band and that he had decided to leave.

Reid has not publicly disputed either Kimberly’s version or Neil’s version of the earlier events in June 2024. Kimberly’s public references to his supportive comment on the “Psychological” single post suggest a functional if distant relationship between them.

Public and Media Reaction

Coverage of the August 11, 2026 statement was rapid and broad. Variety, Rolling Stone, Billboard, Stereogum, Yahoo Entertainment, and multiple country music publications all ran stories within 24 hours. Reaction on social media platforms including Instagram, X, and TikTok has been split, with some fans expressing sympathy for Neil, others defending Kimberly and Johnny Costello’s continuation of the band, and many simply asking for a full reunion. The situation remains actively developing.

Interesting Facts You May Not Know

• Kimberly Perry and Johnny Costello were married at midnight in Las Vegas and drove there in a black Corvette from Los Angeles.
• Neil Perry’s post about the termination described it as happening the day after his birthday in June 2024.
• The Band Perry’s 2026 comeback single “Psychological” was their first new music under the group name in nine years.
• Bob Doyle, longtime manager of Garth Brooks, is credited with discovering The Band Perry.
• Kimberly Perry appeared in a music special that referenced her as a WandaVision guest, though her primary claim to fame remains her country music career.

Historical Comparison: Family Bands That Faced Similar Challenges

The Band Perry now joins a long list of family bands whose lineups shifted in ways that produced public disputes. The Beach Boys, Oasis, The Kinks, The Everly Brothers, and Hanson have all seen sibling disagreements play out publicly.

What makes The Band Perry case distinctive is the addition of a spouse to the core lineup, which changed the internal voting math of a formal partnership agreement and directly triggered the split according to Neil Perry’s account.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who is Kimberly Perry’s husband?

Kimberly Perry is married to Johnny Costello. They wed on June 17, 2021 in Las Vegas and now perform together as The Band Perry.

What is the Band Perry family feud about?

On August 11, 2026, Neil Perry publicly claimed he was terminated from The Band Perry in June 2024 and that his sister Kimberly wanted her husband Johnny Costello to take his place. The current group consists of Kimberly and Johnny as a duo.

Is Johnny Costello a member of The Band Perry now?

Yes. Johnny Costello performs as part of The Band Perry with his wife Kimberly Perry as of 2026 following the departures of both Neil Perry and Reid Perry.

Why did Neil Perry leave The Band Perry?

According to Neil Perry’s own August 11, 2026 statement, he did not leave voluntarily. He says he was formally terminated in June 2024 after declining to accept an arrangement that would have added Kimberly’s husband to the group.

Why did Reid Perry leave The Band Perry?

Reid Perry announced on October 13, 2025 that he had decided to leave the group to focus on artist management.

What is Wolves of June?

Wolves of June is Neil Perry’s new solo music project, launched publicly on August 11, 2026. The name references June 2024, the month he identifies as the moment he was terminated from The Band Perry.

Are Kimberly, Reid, and Neil Perry still on speaking terms?

Neil’s public statement said none of the three were consistently on speaking terms by May 2024. Kimberly has publicly said Reid supported her comeback single. The exact current state of the sibling relationships is not fully clear from public reporting.

Is The Band Perry still with Big Machine Records?

Yes. The duo of Kimberly Perry and Johnny Costello re-signed with Big Machine Label Group and released two new singles in 2026, the first under the group name in nine years.

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Last Updated on August 13, 2026 by 247 News Around The World