Michelle Branch was arrested in Nashville on August 11, 2022, and charged with misdemeanor domestic assault after slapping her husband, Black Keys drummer Patrick Carney, during an argument at their home. The charge was dismissed thirteen days later at the state’s request, and the couple called off a divorce filing and reconciled.
What Happened That Night
The evening began on social media. At around 1:30 a.m. on August 11, 2022, Branch posted a tweet, since deleted, accusing Carney of cheating on her with his manager while she was home with their six-month-old daughter. 1Vulture. Michelle Branch and Black Keys’ Patrick Carney Separating Hours later, Nashville police responded to a domestic disturbance call at the couple’s home in the Forest Hills area.
According to the arrest affidavit, Branch told officers that she and Carney were “having marital issues and had been arguing,” and she admitted slapping him in the face “one to two times.” 2Los Angeles Times. Michelle Branch Arrested After Accusing Patrick Carney of Cheating Carney confirmed to police that Branch had slapped him and reported no visible injuries. 3Billboard. Michelle Branch Arrested for Domestic Assault Branch was taken into custody, charged with misdemeanor domestic assault, and released the same day on $1,000 bond. 4Rolling Stone. Michelle Branch Domestic Assault Case Dismissed
The Charge Was Dismissed
On August 24, 2022, Judge Gale Robinson of Davidson County Criminal Court dismissed the misdemeanor charge at the state’s request. 5Los Angeles Times. Michelle Branch Assault Case Dismissed Court records listed the reason for dismissal as “settlement,” and no restitution or court costs were assessed. The case, docketed as GS975622 in the Davidson County Criminal Court Clerk’s system, is listed as closed. 6Nashville Davidson County Criminal Court Clerk. Criminal History Search – Michelle Branch
Carney made no public statements about the arrest or the dismissal and did not respond to media requests for comment. 7Entertainment Weekly. Michelle Branch Addresses Domestic Assault and Therapy
Branch’s Account
Branch addressed the arrest in a statement issued shortly afterward. “To say that I am totally devastated doesn’t even come close to describing how I feel for myself and for my family,” she said. “The rug has been completely pulled from underneath me and now I must figure out how to move forward.” 8Variety. Michelle Branch Arrested for Domestic Assault
She gave a fuller account on the Tamron Hall Show on September 15, 2022. “I slapped my husband. Not the finest moment of my life,” she said, adding that she did not condone violence. She attributed the incident to a combination of factors: she was seven months postpartum after the birth of their daughter Willie Jacquet in February 2022, she and Carney had attended a birthday party where she “had had a few drinks,” and she described compounding stress from her marriage, work, and sleep deprivation. 9Billboard. Michelle Branch Talks Altercation With Patrick Carney She also said she regretted the tweet that preceded the arrest: “I definitely shouldn’t have taken to Twitter to say anything.” 10Rolling Stone. Michelle Branch and Patrick Carney Interviews
Divorce Filing and Reconciliation
On August 12, 2022, the day after the arrest, Branch filed for divorce in Davidson County, citing irreconcilable differences. She requested primary custody of their two children, son Rhys James (then three) and infant daughter Willie Jacquet, along with child support and legal fees from Carney. 11Entertainment Weekly. Michelle Branch Files for Divorce From Patrick Carney
The divorce did not proceed. On September 13, 2022, Judge Phillip Robinson of the Davidson County Circuit Court signed an order of reconciliation suspending the divorce proceedings without prejudice for six months. The order let the couple attend counseling and resume living together without waiving any prior claims, meaning that any misconduct predating the reconciliation attempt could still be used as grounds if they later chose to proceed. 12Los Angeles Times. Michelle Branch and Patrick Carney Suspend Divorce for Counseling
The reconciliation held. By early 2023, the couple appeared together at the Grammy Awards, and reporting confirmed they had called off the divorce. 13E! Online. Michelle Branch and Patrick Carney Put on United Front at Grammys After Calling Off Divorce
The Tennessee Law Behind the Charge
Branch was charged under Tennessee Code § 39-13-111, which defines domestic assault as any assault committed against a current or former spouse, a cohabitant, a dating partner, or certain other family or household members. 14Justia. Tennessee Code § 39-13-111 – Domestic Assault The statute does not single out specific acts like slapping; it incorporates the state’s general assault definition, which covers bodily injury or offensive physical contact. A first offense is punishable as a standard misdemeanor assault. Subsequent convictions carry escalating mandatory minimums, and a third or later conviction can be charged as a Class E felony. Because the charge against Branch was dismissed before any conviction, none of those sentencing provisions applied to her.