News recently surfaced that Tina Campbell, one half of the gospel duo Mary Mary, is facing a major life transition. Her husband, Teddy Campbell, reportedly filed for divorce on April 13, 2026, citing irreconcilable differences. This comes after 20+ years of marriage and a history marked by public allegations of infidelity. Read full story here
At the same time, her sister and musical partner, Erica Campbell, is in a very different season. On May 4, 2026, she appeared on The Tamron Hall Show alongside her husband, Warryn Campbell, to promote her new Lifetime movie, Thou Shall Not Commit Adultery. During the interview, she shared exciting plans to renew their vows in celebration of 25 years of marriage—an event she’s even invited her social media followers to help plan.
The couple radiated joy, describing their relationship as one built on perseverance and a commitment to never give up on each other.
Naturally, a question many were thinking was asked: How do you celebrate a milestone like this while your sister is going through a divorce?
Erica explained that the vow renewal is meant to honor their journey, their family, and their faith. She described it as a testimony of enduring love, saying, “This vow renewal is a celebration of love, family, commitment, and all God has done.” Warryn added that he had spoken with Tina and that she is doing okay and supports their celebration.
When Joy and Pain Exist at the Same Time
I’ll be honest—my initial reaction was conflicted.
Part of me wondered if this might feel insensitive. How do you celebrate success in an area where someone so close to you is experiencing deep loss?
But life isn’t always that simple.
Having gone through divorce myself, I’ve learned that two emotions can exist at the same time. You can be genuinely happy for someone and still grieving your own situation.
I remember when my cousin got married the same month I was separating from my ex. I even delayed my trip just to attend her wedding. I was happy for her—but I was also hurting.
Both were true.
What I also realized was that, in her joy, she couldn’t fully see my pain. And that wasn’t because she didn’t care—it was because she simply wasn’t in the emotional space to hold it.
So I made a conscious decision not to lean on her for support.
Not out of anger. Not out of disappointment. But out of understanding.
That experience taught me something powerful: choosing the right support system during divorce is essential. It’s something I explore deeply in my book When the Marriage Ends.
The Complexity of Faith and Testimony
Watching Erica and Warryn speak about not giving up—and attributing their success to faith—brought back a memory for me.
I once attended a vow renewal early in my own divorce journey. The couple joyfully danced to “Every Praise Is to Our God,” and instead of feeling uplifted, I found myself questioning everything.
Was my faith not strong enough?
Did I not pray hard enough?
Could I have done more?
And that’s where testimonies can become complicated.
When we present relationship success as purely a result of God’s favor, it can unintentionally suggest that those whose marriages ended somehow lacked that same favor.
For someone already hurting, that message can deepen the wound.
Faith should support healing—not silence pain or create comparison.
“She’s Doing Fine”—But Is She?
Another moment that stood out was when Warryn mentioned that Tina is “doing just fine.”
Maybe she is. And I truly hope she is.
But from experience, I know that divorce is rarely something people are simply “fine” about—at least not right away.
Divorce is not just the end of a marriage. It’s the end of a shared dream. A life once imagined. A family structure. It can come with grief, rejection, disappointment, and moments of deep self-reflection.
In When the Marriage Ends, I talk about how faith should never be used as pressure to “move on” quickly or to mask real emotions.
Healing takes time.
Is There a Right or Wrong Way?
The truth is, I don’t know if Erica is being insensitive.
And I don’t know if there’s a universally “right” way to navigate situations like this.
What I do know is this:
People who haven’t walked your path may not fully understand your pain.
And expecting them to can lead to more hurt.
Sometimes, part of healing is releasing people from expectations they simply don’t have the capacity to meet.
Ironically, it wasn’t until I experienced divorce myself that I realized I could have shown up better for others who had gone through it before me.
Life doesn’t pause for anyone. Even in our hardest moments, the world keeps moving.
A Final Word for Anyone Going Through Divorce
If you’re navigating divorce right now, be intentional about your support system.
It doesn’t have to be family.
It needs to be people who:
- See you
- Hear you
- Listen without judgment
- Don’t minimize your pain
- Don’t force positivity before you’re ready
Healing requires safe spaces—and the right people make all the difference.
I Am Uldean
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