Ryan Murphy is determined to leave no aspect of pop culture untouched. For the latest entry in his loose cabal of American (Horror/Crime/Sports) Story anthologies on FX, the inaugural season of American Love Story will focus on the near-legendary and ultimately tragic relationship between the political scion John F. Kennedy Jr. and his style icon wife, Carolyn Bessette. Here’s everything we know about the show so far:
What is American Love Story about?
The series will tell a fictionalized version of JFK Jr. and Bessette’s romantic relationship. They married in 1996 before tragically dying in a plane crash off the coast of Martha’s Vineyard three years later. Kennedy was 38, and Bessette was just 33.
The couple met in New York City in the early ’90s, when the Connecticut-raised Bessette was working as a fashion publicist for Calvin Klein after a brief modeling career. The son of President John F. Kennedy and First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis, JFK Jr. (affectionately known as John-John) was a lawyer, journalist, and publisher of George magazine. Together, Kennedy and Bessette were both a respected society power couple and heavily scrutinized tabloid fixtures, whose impeccable personal style remains influential today.
Who will play JFK Jr. and Carolyn Bessette-Kennedy?
28-year-old Sarah Pidgeon will play Carolyn. Pidgeon is best known for her role on Amazon’s survivalist series The Wilds and Hulu’s Tiny Beautiful Things, and for making her Broadway debut in the 2024 Tony-winning play Stereophonic, in which she played the Stevie Nicks character in a story very loosely based on the rise of Fleetwood Mac.
Sarah Pidgeon and Carolyn Bessette Kennedy
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Newcomer Paul Anthony Kelly portrays JFK Jr. Murphy and his team reportedly looked at nearly a thousand actors for the part before landing on the actor and model for the role. He may be new to Hollywood, but he has a solid resumé as a model. He’s appeared in advertising for Loro Piana, Perry Ellis, and John Varvatos.
JFK Jr. and his mother, Jackie O., at his graduation from Brown University in 1983
Bettmann/Bettmann/Getty Images
As for JFK Jr.’s mother, Jackie O will be played by Naomi Watts. The decorated actress has worked with Murphy twice before, in campy thriller The Watcher opposite Bobby Cannavale and as Babe Paley in Capote vs. The Swans. She was also in the Kim K legal drama All’s Fair.
Naomi Watts and Jackie O.
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Is there a trailer?
The first official trailer was released February 2. It focuses on the life-altering sacrifices Bessette had to make when choosing to become “Mrs. JFK Jr.,” as she notes in the clip:
What about the costumes?
Last summer, Ryan Murphy shared the first photos of Pidgeon and Kelly as Bessette and Kennedy on Instagram, writing, “Here are some stills from our LOVE STORY camera test. We started shooting this week in New York City and can’t wait until you see the romantic and tragic love story between America’s prince, JFK Jr., and fashion icon Carolyn Bessette—out Valentine’s Day week of 2026.” The images, as well as paparazzi shots of the actors filming, immediately lit up the internet with complaints that the costumes weren’t elevated enough to do JFK Jr. and Bessette justice:
After the dust-up, Vanity Fair reports that Murphy and executive producer Brad Simpson enlisted a group of 10 consultants to help them fix Bessette’s look in particular, even switching costume designers. Since then, more recent paparazzi shots have been a bit more promising:
When will American Love Story be released?
The series premieres February 12, 2026, on FX/Hulu.
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