Trending 25th February 2026 by Emily Molloy

Everyone’s Obsessed With JFK Jr. And Carolyn Bessette Now

Bring back yearning

via FX

Based one of the most famous romances of the 20th century, Love Story follows the relationship of two American icons. JFK Jr, son of former American president JFK and Jackie O, and Carolyn Bessette, fashion icon and self-made success, were one of America’s most high-profile relationships.

From the highs, the lows, the first glances to the last kiss, the nine-part series follow this great American Love Story from the very start, right up till its tragic death.

Inspired by Elizabeth Beller’s book Once Upon a Time: The Captivating Life of Carolyn Bessette-Kennedy, writer and producer Connor Hines works alongside Glee producer Ryan Murphy to bring this historic romance back to life, to give us both a historic and dramatic interpretation of what it was really like to be in one of the most profiled relationships.

The series, made for FX on Disney+, premiered on February 13, with the first three episodes showing us how the two met, and the yearning they had for each other.

via FX

The show stars Paul Anthony Kelly as John F. Kennedy Jr, who at the time, was one of the America’s most well-known bachelors. The choice of Kelly for this role is nothing short of perfection. From his uncanny resemblance to the late JFK Jr, to his charismatic flair, he is the ideal choice for this role.

His love interest and soon to be wife, Carolyn Bessette, is played by Sarah Pidgeon, who fully embodies the Bessette ways. From her fun and flirty character to her powerful presence in the fashion and PR world, whose minimalist style became iconic, we get to see what the impact Carolyn Bessette had on the world for this first time.

These two actors play alongside Naomi Watts as Jackie Kennedy Onassis and Grace Gummer as Caroline Kennedy to add depth and understanding to the ever-fascinating lives of the Kennedy family history.

Their stories are supported by other actors including Alessandro Nivola who plays Calvin Kelin, Sydney Lemmon, Ben Shenkman and Dree Hemingway, who help to paint the picture and lifestyles of this iconic romance.

via FX

The show begins at the very end of the pair’s relationship and captures what the moments between the two might have looked like before their tragic death in 1999 (spoiler to anyone born after the year 2000). The show then jumps to how the two first met, how they fell in love, and how the pair’s private personal lives struggled with the intense media scrutiny of the 90s.

While the show states it is a dramatised depiction of this love affair, it draws on real life experiences and the emotional and public pressures to two faced in their own right – from being an important figure in the fashion industry, to the complicated life of being a Kennedy.

The series is gaining lots of attraction from the public, and well, it’s understandable why. For many viewers, they remember this love story and the impact their relationship had on the media. With the Kennedy name still holding so much power, viewers get a chance to see what this relationship was really like, especially the life of Carolyn.

With only one or two media interviews, Carolyn kept her voice and her life very private. And now, people want to know more about her – not just as a style icon, but as a member of a high profile family too.

Not only that, but viewers can also recognise the scrutiny the couple went through, drawing parallels between the media’s treatment of the people’s princess, Princess Diana, and more recently Meghan Markle. The Kennedys may not be real royalty, they were certainly political royalty.

With such huge interest in the Kennedys, this series had a lot to live up to. And so far, the reviews have been extremely positive. The casting alone of JFK Jr and Carolyn has viewers talking, and the strong chemistry these actors have, alongside their strong resemblance, is second to none.

Carissa Pavlica from TV Fanatic wrote: “Love Story’s sense of place and time is extraordinary, evoking a feeling of walking beside the star-crossed lovers” giving the series four and half stars out of five.

Nevertheless, fans are infatuated by this show… and by the fashion. I know I certainly have tried to embody the Carolyn Bessette ways since watching!