Hillaree Burns | Full Bio, Relationship Breakdown, and Where She Is Now

Hillaree Burns is the former wife of Creed lead singer Scott Stapp and the mother of his eldest son, Jagger Stapp. She was married to Stapp from 1997 to 1998 during the band’s rise to international fame, and she now lives a quiet, private life as a grandmother.

Biographical Background and Early Life

Hillaree Burns first entered the public consciousness in the mid-1990s through her personal relationship with musician Scott Stapp. At the time, Burns was working as an aspiring fashion model based in Florida. Stapp, born Anthony Scott Flippen on August 8, 1973, in Orlando, Florida, was then an emerging rock vocalist attending Florida State University in Tallahassee.

During this period in the mid-1990s, Stapp reconnected with high school classmate Mark Tremonti. Together with bassist Brian Marshall and drummer Scott Phillips, they formed the rock group Creed in 1994. As the band worked on its early material in Florida music venues, Burns and Stapp built their personal relationship away from the national spotlight.

Unlike many individuals connected to famous rock musicians, Burns did not pursue a permanent career in public entertainment or media. Public reporting from the late 1990s describes her as a private person who favored a traditional home setting over the chaotic atmosphere surrounding the emerging music industry.

Marriage to Scott Stapp and Creed’s Rapid Emergence

Hillaree Burns married Scott Stapp in 1997. Their marriage coincided directly with the commercial breakthrough of Creed’s debut studio album, My Own Prison, which was released independently before being picked up by Wind-up Records.

The sudden rise of Creed transformed Stapp from an obscure university student into one of the most recognizable rock frontmen in North America. This sudden escalation of fame introduced severe pressure into the newly established marriage. Stapp was required to travel extensively for promotional tours, concert performances, and media appearances across the country.

The stark contrast between Burns’ preference for a quiet personal life and Stapp’s grueling schedule created an increasingly challenging dynamic. Despite these emerging pressures, the early period of their marriage was marked by significant personal developments, most notably the news that Burns was expecting their first child.

The Inspiration Behind With Arms Wide Open

In late 1997, Hillaree Burns informed Scott Stapp that she was pregnant. The realization that he was about to become a father deeply affected Stapp and inspired a major creative shift in his songwriting.

Stapp joined guitarist Mark Tremonti to write the song “With Arms Wide Open”. The track was composed within fifteen minutes after Stapp learned that Burns was carrying a baby boy. The lyrics directly reflected his emotional state, his fears about fatherhood, and his hopes for his unborn son.

The song was included on Creed’s multi-platinum 1999 album, Human Clay. It went on to top global music charts, becoming one of the defining rock anthems of the post-grunge era. In 2001, Stapp and Tremonti won the Grammy Award for Best Rock Song for writing “With Arms Wide Open“. The commercial success of the track forever tied the story of Burns’ pregnancy to a major moment in modern rock history. Their son, Jagger Stapp, was born shortly before the song became a global hit.

Detailed Relationship Breakdown and Divorce Proceedings

The marriage between Hillaree Burns and Scott Stapp was brief, lasting sixteen months before the couple separated in 1998. The legal dissolution of the marriage was finalized between late 1998 and June 1999.

Following the separation, public speculation arose regarding the causes of the quick divorce. Stapp addressed the split directly in press statements to clarify the circumstances. He confirmed that the divorce was entirely amicable and that infidelity played no role in the end of their marriage.

Stapp explained that both he and Burns were very young when they married and that having a child so quickly accelerated their personal challenges. He noted that Creed’s explosive popularity required him to be away from home constantly. Stapp stated that Burns fundamentally desired a husband who could be home every day, an lifestyle that was incompatible with the demands placed on the lead singer of a top-selling rock band.

Legal Custody Settlement and Raising Jagger Stapp

When the divorce was finalized, legal arrangements regarding child custody were established. The court awarded full primary physical custody of their son, Jagger, to Scott Stapp.

As a result of the custody ruling, Jagger grew up living primarily with Stapp. During Creed’s peak touring years, Jagger frequently accompanied his father on tour buses and at concert venues. Stapp’s family dynamic expanded significantly in February 2006 when he married Jaclyn Nesheiwat, a model and former Miss New York USA winner. Jagger was raised alongside his three half-siblings: Milan, Daniel, and Anthony.

Because Stapp maintained primary custody, Hillaree Burns remained distant from the public aspects of her son’s upbringing in news reporting. This arrangement allowed Burns to step away from the media spotlight completely. She avoided the public attention that surrounded Stapp’s later personal challenges, legal issues, and health struggles throughout the 2000s and 2010s.

Media Coverage and Subsequent Public Mentions

In the years following her divorce from Scott Stapp, Hillaree Burns was occasionally mentioned in press reports detailing Stapp’s personal life.

In early 2006, media outlets reported on a private video recorded in 1999 involving Stapp, musician Kid Rock, and several women. When the video was leaked publicly, Stapp addressed the press, explaining that the tape had been filmed during a chaotic bachelor phase immediately following his divorce from Burns.

Stapp also referenced his first marriage in his 2012 autobiography, Sinner’s Creed, published by Tyndale House. In the memoir, he described his early years in Florida, his fast-paced marriage to Burns, and the emotional impact of becoming a young father. Despite these public references by her ex-husband, Burns consistently chose not to give media interviews, publish statements, or participate in public commentary.

Current Life, Anonymity, and Becoming a Grandmother

Hillaree Burns maintains total personal privacy. She has not maintained a public profile, nor has she sought to capitalize on her past connection to Scott Stapp or the rock group Creed.

Her family life reached a milestone in late 2023. Her son, Jagger Stapp, became a father with the birth of his son, Cash, born in September 2023. The arrival of Cash made Hillaree Burns a grandmother and Scott Stapp a grandfather. In March 2024, Stapp publicly confirmed the news during an interview with People magazine, sharing photos with Jagger and newborn Cash while reflecting on the passage of time.

While Scott Stapp continues to tour with Creed and release solo material, Burns lives outside of public awareness. She has preserved her anonymity for decades, maintaining a quiet lifestyle centered around her family.

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