Couple Weds Live on Jennifer Hudson Show
Brendan Hayes and Amanda Murnane exchanged vows during a surprise on-air ceremony in Los Angeles after 27 years together.
Updated on Nov. 6, 2026 in Weddings
Brendan Hayes married Amanda Murnane live on the Jennifer Hudson Show in Los Angeles. The couple, who had been together for 27 years, had not officially married before the broadcast ceremony.
Why it matters
The surprise wedding marks a milestone for a couple who had postponed their plans after their eldest daughter Rene was diagnosed with leukaemia. It reflects how televised surprises have become a notable format for celebrating long-standing relationships in the United States.
The couple had been together for 27 years and shares three children and a grandchild. Brendan Hayes planned the surprise over two months, working with the show's producers while keeping the plan from Amanda Murnane.
The players
Jennifer Hudson
Jennifer Hudson is an Academy Award-winning singer and actress who hosts the daytime talk show that broadcast the wedding.
Brendan Hayes
Brendan Hayes is the groom who arranged the surprise on-air wedding with the show's producers.
The details
Amanda Murnane was told she had received VIP tickets to the show before Jennifer Hudson invited the couple onto the couch during taping. The set was decorated as a chapel with flowers and a three-tier cake, and the ceremony took place live on air.
Timeline
Two months before the broadcast: Brendan Hayes began planning the surprise wedding with show producers.
November 6, 2026: Brendan Hayes described the wedding on Morning Ireland.
Culture Shift
Televised surprise weddings on daytime talk shows like the Jennifer Hudson Show reflect a broader American preference for public, shared celebrations of long-term relationships. This couple's ceremony follows that pattern while highlighting how a postponed wedding can become a public moment.
Couples planning their own ceremonies may find televised surprises offer a model for public celebrations. Those who have postponed weddings can consider smaller or alternate ceremonies in the meantime.
The takeaway
Long-term couples can mark milestones in ways that suit their circumstances, whether through public celebrations or private vows. Planning a ceremony around family needs can make a postponed wedding meaningful when the timing finally works.
Further reading
Explore more wedding stories and trends on the Weddings section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Extra.
