Kathy Laurinaitis has lived a life filled with family, work, TV, and some very hard moments. Many people know her as the mother of Nikki and Brie Garcia. Wrestling fans may also know her as the former wife of John Laurinaitis.
But Kathy has her own story. She built a business career long before many fans saw her on TV. She raised three children and later became a grandmother. In 2020, she also faced a serious health scare that changed her life.
Today, Kathy is living a new chapter after her divorce from John. In this article, we will look at her early life, career, children, marriage, health, and life today in 2026.
Who Is Kathy Laurinaitis?
Kathy Laurinaitis is also widely known as Kathy Colace. She became well known to wrestling fans because she is the mother of Nikki and Brie Garcia. The twins became famous in WWE under the names Nikki Bella and Brie Bella.
Kathy later became part of their TV world too. She appeared with her family on shows such as Total Bellas. Fans got to see her as a mother, grandmother, wife, and businesswoman. This helped people learn more about the woman behind the famous family.
Still, Kathy Laurinaitis is not only known because of her daughters. She spent many years building her own work life. Her business story is one of the most important parts of her life.
Kathy Laurinaitis’ Early Life
Kathy was born with the last name Colace. Some public profiles give her birthday as October 19, 1964. However, not every strong source gives the same level of detail about her birth and early years.
What is clear is that business was part of Kathy’s life from a young age. Her family had its own business, and she learned about work while growing up. This gave her an early look at what it takes to run a company.
Those lessons stayed with her as she got older. Instead of only depending on her family name, Kathy later built a career of her own. That work became a major part of her adult life.
Kathy Laurinaitis profile summary and bio
| Full Name | Kathy Colace Laurinaitis |
| Known As | Kathy Colace |
| Birthday | October 19, 1964 |
| Age | 62 (in 2026) |
| Nationality | American |
| Profession | Businesswoman, TV personality |
| Business | JBN & Associates |
| First Husband | Jon Garcia |
| Ex-Husband | John Laurinaitis |
| Children | Nikki, Brie, JJ |
| Grandchildren | Several |
| Married John | 2016 |
| Divorced John | 2024 |
| Known For | Nikki and Brie’s mother |
| Health | Brain surgery in 2020 |
| Life Today | Family and business |
Kathy Laurinaitis’ Business Career
Kathy Laurinaitis has spent many years in the business world. She is linked with JBN & Associates, a company she has helped lead for a long time. Her work has focused on helping businesses find people for important jobs.
Kathy has spoken about running a company and staying strong during hard times. She has also shared lessons about leading people and building a good team. Her work started long before she became known through reality TV.
This part of her life is easy to miss because her family is so famous. But Kathy did not wait for TV fame to build something for herself. She had her own goals, her own work, and her own long career.
Kathy Laurinaitis’ First Marriage and Children
Before she married John Laurinaitis, Kathy was married to Jon Garcia. That marriage later ended, but the couple had three children together. Their children are Nikki Garcia, Brie Garcia, and JJ Garcia.
Nikki and Brie are twins. They were born on November 21, 1983. Their younger brother, JJ, was born a few years later. All three children later became part of Kathy’s public family story.
This also clears up a common question. John Laurinaitis is not Nikki and Brie’s birth father. He became their stepfather years later when he married Kathy.
Kathy Laurinaitis as Nikki and Brie’s Mom
Nikki and Brie became two of the best-known women in WWE. They wrestled, appeared on TV, and later built brands outside the ring. As their fame grew, fans also started learning more about their mother.
Kathy often stood beside her daughters during big family moments. She supported them through work changes, relationships, and motherhood. Their bond became a major part of shows such as Total Bellas.
Family has always seemed very important to Kathy. Even when her daughters became famous, she still spoke to them like a mother first. That made many viewers connect with her in a simple and real way.
How Kathy Laurinaitis Met John Laurinaitis
John Laurinaitis was already a known name in wrestling when he became part of Kathy’s life. He had worked as a wrestler and later held major jobs behind the scenes in WWE.
Kathy and John’s relationship became public before they married. In 2015, news came out that the couple had become engaged. The marriage would also make John the stepfather of Nikki, Brie, and JJ.
For wrestling fans, the match was interesting. Kathy was the mother of two WWE stars, while John had spent many years working inside the same business. Their relationship soon became part of the wider Bella family story.
Kathy and John Laurinaitis’ Marriage
Kathy Laurinaitis and John married in 2016. Their wedding marked the start of a new part of Kathy’s life. John became part of a family that was already well known to wrestling and reality TV fans.
The couple later appeared together during family moments. John was seen around Nikki, Brie, and the rest of the family. Viewers also got small looks at their home life through TV and other public events.
Their marriage lasted for several years and included both happy and difficult times. One of the hardest came in 2020, when Kathy faced a serious health problem. That health battle would soon test not only Kathy, but also the people closest to her.
Kathy Laurinaitis’ Brain Surgery
In 2020, Kathy faced one of the hardest times of her life. She first had weakness on one side of her face. At first, doctors thought it was Bell’s palsy.
Later, doctors found a mass near her brainstem. This meant Kathy needed brain surgery. The news was scary for her and for her whole family.
The surgery took place in June 2020. It was a very serious moment. Kathy later spoke about feeling fear, shock, and worry when she learned what was happening.
Why Kathy Laurinaitis Almost Delayed Surgery
At the same time, both Nikki and Brie were pregnant. Their babies were due only a few weeks after Kathy’s surgery. This made the choice even harder for her.
Kathy asked her daughters if she should wait. She was scared that something might happen during surgery and that she may never get to hold her new grandsons.
Nikki and Brie told her not to wait. They said her health had to come first. They also told her they believed she would get through the surgery and meet the babies.
Kathy Laurinaitis’ Recovery and Family Support
The surgery was successful, but Kathy still had a long road ahead. Her family said recovery could take many months. She needed time to heal and slowly get back to normal life.
Kathy had strong support around her. Her children, friends, medical team, and John helped her during this time. She later spoke about how much that support meant to her.
There was also a happy ending to one of her biggest fears. Nikki and Brie both had baby boys in August 2020. Kathy later got to meet and hold her new grandsons, just as she had hoped.
Why Did Kathy and John Laurinaitis Divorce?
Kathy and John’s marriage later came to an end. Kathy filed for divorce in 2024, and she later confirmed that they were no longer married.
The exact private reason for the divorce has not been fully shared. This is important because many online stories try to guess. It is better to stay with facts.
The timing of the split brought a lot of public talk because John was also named in a major lawsuit in 2024. Still, Kathy has not clearly said that this was the reason for the divorce, so we should not say that as fact.
Kathy Laurinaitis’ Life After Divorce
After the divorce, Kathy spoke about taking time to heal. She did not rush into another relationship. Instead, she talked about giving herself time and space.
Her family stayed a big part of her life. She also stayed close to her work and her role as a grandmother. These things gave her a strong base during a big life change.
Kathy’s story after divorce is not about drama. It is more about starting again. She moved forward by staying close to family, work, and the parts of life that mattered most to her.
Where Is Kathy Laurinaitis Today?
As of 2026, Kathy Laurinaitis is living a new chapter. She is divorced from John and is also widely known again as Kathy Colace.
She still has strong ties to her family and business life. Her daughters remain close to her, and she continues to be known as an important part of the Bella family story.
Kathy keeps some parts of her life private. There is no need to guess her exact home or a new partner. What is clear is that she is still active, close to family, and moving forward.
(FAQs)
How old is Kathy Laurinaitis and when is her birthday?
Kathy Laurinaitis is widely reported to have been born on October 19, 1964. That would make her 62 in 2026.
Who is Kathy Laurinaitis’ husband?
Kathy was married to John Laurinaitis. Before him, she was married to Jon Garcia, the father of Nikki, Brie, and JJ.
Why did Kathy Laurinaitis divorce John Laurinaitis?
Kathy filed for divorce in 2024. The exact private reason was not fully shared in public, so it is best not to guess.
Is Kathy Laurinaitis still married?
No. Kathy and John Laurinaitis are divorced. Kathy later confirmed that their marriage had ended.
What happened to Kathy Laurinaitis’ face?
Kathy had facial weakness in 2020. Doctors first thought it was Bell’s palsy, but they later found a mass near her brain stem and she needed surgery.
Final Thoughts
Kathy Laurinaitis has a story that goes far beyond WWE. She raised three children, built a business career, became a TV face, and later faced a serious health fight.
Her marriage to John Laurinaitis was one part of that story. So was her divorce. But neither one tells the full picture.
Today, Kathy is a mother, grandmother, businesswoman, and survivor of a major health scare. Her life shows how someone can go through hard changes and still keep moving forward.
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