Jade Jones is a former Iowa State University cheerleader and the wife of Indiana Pacers star Tyrese Haliburton. Their relationship began in college in 2019, and Haliburton proposed in July 2025. The couple legally married at an Indianapolis courthouse on July 21, 2026, then celebrated with a larger wedding ceremony on August 1, 2026, attended by NBA players and a surprise performance from rapper 50 Cent.
Her name also appeared in difficult news that summer: her close friend Makenzi Kern died during Jones’s bachelorette trip to St. Barts, just weeks before the wedding. Understanding Jones’s story means keeping those events in context, from a relationship that began before NBA fame to a friendship she has publicly mourned.
Who Is Jade Jones
Jones grew up in Iowa and was a cheerleader before and during college. PEOPLE’s profile of Jade Jones also describes her background in elementary education. She has shared moments from that part of her life, alongside her support for Haliburton’s basketball career.
She is the Jade Jones associated with Haliburton in sports and celebrity coverage. Her college connection is central to that story: she and Haliburton met while attending Iowa State, where he played basketball and she cheered for the Cyclones.
A note on unverified details: some lower-profile sites have circulated specific claims about Jones’s exact birth date, high school and current job title. Those details haven’t been confirmed by any outlet Elivestory considers reliable, so this article does not repeat them.
Jade Jones and Tyrese Haliburton Relationship Timeline
Their public relationship spans several distinct milestones, from a college romance to a two-part wedding.
| Date | Publicly reported milestone |
| 2019 | Jones and Haliburton began dating while at Iowa State. |
| July 28, 2025 | Haliburton publicly announced their engagement with an on-court proposal at Iowa State’s Hilton Coliseum. |
| June 8, 2026 | Jones’s friend Makenzi Kern died during Jones’s bachelorette trip to St. Barts. |
| July 21, 2026 | Jones and Haliburton legally married at the Indianapolis Marriage License Office. |
| August 1, 2026 | The couple held their formal wedding ceremony and reception, featuring a surprise performance by 50 Cent. |
The dates above distinguish announcements from the broader events they document. In particular, July 28 is the date Haliburton shared the engagement news publicly, while July 21 and August 1 mark two separate stages of the actual wedding.
The Proposal Returned Them to Iowa State
Haliburton announced the engagement with photos from Hilton Coliseum, Iowa State’s basketball arena. PEOPLE’s contemporary engagement report described a proposal on the court, with roses and an illuminated marriage proposal behind the couple.
The setting made the announcement personal. Returning to the university connected a new commitment with the place where their relationship began. It was a recognizable basketball venue, but for the couple it also carried a history beyond the game.
Is Jade Jones Married to Tyrese Haliburton
Yes, twice over. The couple first married legally at a courthouse, then held a larger celebration a week and a half later.
In its report on the courthouse photographs, PEOPLE described a small gathering with loved ones on July 21. Jones wore a white minidress, while Haliburton chose a casual black outfit.
The New York Post’s courthouse report identified the location as the Indianapolis Marriage License Office. Its coverage separated that legal wedding from a larger ceremony planned for August 1.
That larger ceremony went ahead as planned. According to ESPN’s coverage of the celebration, the August 1 event drew Haliburton’s teammates and fellow NBA players, including Pascal Siakam, Reggie Miller, Jalen Brunson, Josh Hart, Jaylen Brown and Bam Adebayo. Rapper 50 Cent made a surprise appearance, performing “I Get Money” as the newlyweds danced along.
Jones shared her own reaction on Instagram on August 3, writing, “MARRIED!!!! cannot WAIT to show you guys all the content,” per Yahoo Entertainment’s recap.
For readers finding older stories about Jade Jones and Haliburton, “wife” is therefore the supported relationship description — and has been since July 21, 2026. Reports published before the courthouse announcement reflect an earlier stage in their lives.
What Happened During Jade Jones’s Bachelorette Party
Jones traveled to St. Barts with friends for her bachelorette celebration in June 2026. During the trip, her friend Makenzi Nichole Kern died at 26.
Kern’s obituary, published by Hoy-Kilnoski Funeral Home, records her death on June 8, 2026, and describes the cause broadly as “health complications.” It states that she was with close friends on St. Barthélemy, the island commonly called St. Barts.
The obituary does not identify a specific medical diagnosis, and no cause of death has been made public beyond that language. The location and timing of a death do not establish its medical cause, and this article does not speculate further.
Who Was Jade Jones’s Friend Makenzi Kern
Makenzi Kern also attended Iowa State and cheered for the Cyclones. Her obituary records that she graduated in 2022 with a degree in Human Development and Family Studies. After college, she worked for the YMCA of Greater Omaha, including in youth and family programming and membership leadership.
Those details help describe Kern as a person with her own work and friendships. Her life should not be reduced to the circumstances that brought her name into celebrity headlines.
Jones later shared a tribute remembering their bond. The New York Post’s coverage of that tribute described Jones recalling their college cheerleading connection and Kern’s support throughout her relationship with Haliburton. Haliburton also paid tribute on Instagram, writing that the couple would “always love and miss” Kern.
The friendship belongs in Jones’s story because she chose to speak about it, including acknowledging that their August wedding would not be the same without Kern there. Her tribute offers a personal remembrance; it does not provide grounds for speculation about what happened on the trip.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Jade Jones to Tyrese Haliburton?
Jade Jones is his wife and longtime partner. They began dating in 2019 and married in two stages in the summer of 2026: a courthouse ceremony on July 21, followed by a larger wedding celebration on August 1.
Where did Jade Jones and Tyrese Haliburton meet?
They met at Iowa State University, where Haliburton played basketball and Jones was a cheerleader.
Did Tyrese Haliburton and Jade Jones have a big wedding ceremony?
Yes. After legally marrying at an Indianapolis courthouse, the couple held a formal ceremony and reception on August 1, 2026, with NBA guests and a performance by 50 Cent.
Where was Jade Jones’s bachelorette party?
Her June 2026 bachelorette trip took place in St. Barts, also known as Saint Barthélemy.
Who was the friend mentioned in the bachelorette trip reports?
The reports concerned Makenzi Kern, Jones’s close friend and a former Iowa State cheerleader. Her family’s obituary records that she died on June 8, 2026, aged 26.
Jade Jones’s public story now includes both a wedding and the loss of a close friend. The most useful account preserves the chronology while allowing room for the people behind the headlines.
For another relationship profile, read Elivestory’s article on Christy Lee and Post Malone, or explore more celebrity biographies and life stories.
Sources and Editorial Notes
Elivestory aims to use relevant sources, separate confirmed information from speculation and update important details when reliable new information becomes available.
Jaylin Khan
Jaylin Khan is an entertainment writer at elivestory.com who covers celebrity biographies, entertainment news, digital media and the latest pop culture trends. Drawing information from credible and trusted sources, she combines verified facts with thoughtful opinions to create engaging and informative articles for readers.
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