FX Series Explores JFK Jr. And Bessette Romance

In a move that has reignited fascination—and controversy—over one of America’s most iconic couples, FX is set to premiere the highly anticipated anthology series, Love Story: John F. Kennedy Jr. & Carolyn Bessette, on February 12, 2026. Produced by prolific television creator Ryan Murphy, the series dives deep into the whirlwind romance and tragic fate of John F. Kennedy Jr. and Carolyn Bessette, whose lives captivated the nation in the 1990s and whose untimely deaths in a 1999 plane crash shocked the world.

The show’s narrative draws inspiration from Elizabeth Beller’s acclaimed biography, Once Upon a Time: The Captivating Life of Carolyn Bessette-Kennedy, and promises to explore both the electric connection between JFK Jr. and Bessette and the relentless pressures that came with living under the glare of public scrutiny. The series opens with their now-legendary chance meeting at a party—a moment that, as the official synopsis puts it, sparked an “immediate, electric and undeniable” connection.

Paul Anthony Kelly steps into the role of John F. Kennedy Jr., while Sarah Pidgeon portrays Carolyn Bessette. The casting process was nothing short of exhaustive: according to coverage by Nine, nearly 1,000 actors auditioned for the coveted part of JFK Jr., with the search lasting six months before Kelly was selected. Pidgeon, already known for her work on The Wilds and Tiny Beautiful Things, brings a nuanced depth to the role of Bessette, a woman remembered as fiercely independent and a fashion icon of 1990s minimalism.

The supporting cast is equally star-studded. Naomi Watts, whose career includes celebrated roles in Mulholland Drive and The Ring, portrays Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis, the revered former First Lady and Kennedy family matriarch. Grace Gummer, daughter of Meryl Streep and a veteran of series like Mr. Robot, appears as Caroline Kennedy, JFK Jr.’s sister. Dree Hemingway joins the cast as actress Daryl Hannah, one of the many famous women linked to Kennedy before his relationship with Bessette.

The newly released trailer offers viewers a taste of the drama and intimacy that defined the couple’s relationship, as well as the external forces that threatened to pull them apart. In one poignant exchange, Carolyn tells John, “There’s your world and then there’s mine.” The trailer also features a memorable moment between JFK Jr. and his mother, with Watts’ Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis cautioning, “There isn’t enough exposure in the world to prepare a woman to be your wife.” Near the trailer’s end, Pidgeon’s Carolyn delivers a line that encapsulates her internal struggle: “It’s not a question if I want to spend the rest of my life with you. It’s a question of if I’m cut out to be Mrs. JFK Jr.”

According to People and other outlets, the series traces the couple’s journey from their secretive courtship in 1994 to their fairy-tale wedding on September 21, 1996. Against all odds, the pair managed to keep their nuptials hidden from the press, marrying in a small church on Georgia’s Cumberland Island. Bessette’s minimalist silk slip dress by Narciso Rodriguez became instantly iconic, influencing bridal fashion for years to come.

Yet, as the series highlights, the couple’s happiness was often overshadowed by the relentless attention of paparazzi and the public. Their every move—whether a stroll through New York or an argument in Central Park—was fodder for tabloids. The show does not shy away from these tensions, depicting both the glamour and the strain of being America’s “closest thing to royalty.”

Tragically, their love story ended in disaster. On July 16, 1999, John F. Kennedy Jr. piloted a single-engine aircraft from New Jersey toward Martha’s Vineyard for a family wedding. Alongside him were Carolyn and her sister, Lauren Bessette. Roughly an hour into the flight, the plane lost control over the Atlantic Ocean, resulting in the deaths of all three passengers. The world mourned, and the Kennedy and Bessette families issued a joint statement: “John and Carolyn were true soul mates,” they said, adding that they found “solace in the thought that together they will comfort Lauren for eternity.”

While anticipation for the series is high, it has not been without its detractors. Fans of the couple have scrutinized the show’s costuming choices, particularly the recreations of Bessette’s outfits, which remain revered decades after her death. More significantly, the Kennedy family itself has voiced strong objections. Jack Schlossberg, JFK Jr.’s nephew and son of Caroline Kennedy, publicly condemned the series as “grotesque,” criticizing the decision to dramatize his uncle’s life for profit without family consultation. In a widely shared Instagram Story, Schlossberg stated, “For those wondering whether his family was ever consulted, or has anything to do with, the new shows being made about him, the answer is no.” He went on to lament that, under New York law, the right to privacy does not survive death, leaving the family powerless to control JFK Jr.’s image or story. “I hope those making these shows about him take seriously what he stood for in his life, all that he achieved in it. And that they donate some of the profits they’re making,” Schlossberg urged. “For the record, I think admiration for my Uncle John is great. What I don’t think is great is profiting off of it in a grotesque way.”

Despite the controversy, the series has generated significant buzz. It will debut on FX in the United States and be available to stream via Disney+ in Australia, ensuring that the story reaches a global audience. The show is positioned as the first installment in an anthology series, suggesting that Murphy and FX plan to revisit other legendary love stories in future seasons.

At its core, Love Story: John F. Kennedy Jr. & Carolyn Bessette promises to be more than just a retelling of a celebrity romance. It is a meditation on fame, love, and loss—a reminder of the price paid by those who live their lives in the spotlight, and the enduring allure of a couple whose story, even decades later, continues to captivate and divide.