Ryan Murphy is determined to leave no aspect of pop culture untouched. 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?
There’s no official log or plotline yet, but like its Crime and Sports predecessors, the series will reportedly tell a scripted version of the romantic relationship between JFK Jr. and Bessette. The pair were married in 1996 and tragically died in a plane crash off the coast of Martha’s Vineyard three years later, when Kennedy was 38 and Bessette was 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.
Recent real-life Ryan Murphy series have told the stories of other high-profile moments in ’80s and ’90s American culture, including the Monica Lewinsky scandal and Bill Clinton’s impeachment, the Menendez brothers’ murder case, the assassination of Gianni Versace, and the O.J. Simpson trial.
Who will play JFK Jr. and Carolyn Bessette-Kennedy?
So far, a few key cast members have been announced: 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. She also recently made 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. She’ll also appear in this year’s buzzy I Know What You Did Last Summer reboot.
Sarah Pidgeon and Carolyn Bessette Kennedy
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Newcomer Paul Kelly will portray JFK Jr., as first reported by Evan Ross Katz. 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, who will figure heavily in the story, that role 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’ll also appear in his upcoming legal drama All’s Fair with Kim K.
Naomi Watts and Jackie O.
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Can we see the costumes?
On Friday, June 13, 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. I am thrilled to introduce you to Sarah Pidgeon as Carolyn and Paul Kelly as John F. Kennedy Jr. Over a thousand actors auditioned for each of these roles, and we absolutely found the perfect choices. Congratulations Sarah and Paul!”
See the photos below:
When will American Love Story be released?
The series will air around Valentine’s Day of 2026.
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