Chesney Hawkes: Biography, Wife, and 2025 Comeback

Anyone who remembers the summer of 1991 probably remembers the song that wouldn’t leave the radio — “The One and Only” made Chesney Hawkes a household name before he turned 20. Three decades later, the Windsor-born singer is proving that a one-hit wonder label doesn’t tell the full story, with a new album, a nationwide tour, and a career renaissance that’s caught even longtime fans by surprise.

Full name: Chesney Lee Hawkes ·
Born: 22 September 1971 (age 53) ·
Biggest hit: The One and Only (1991) ·
Spouse: Krista Hawkes (m. 1995) ·
Children: 3 ·
Current activity: Touring and new album “Living Arrows” (2025)

Six key facts, one pattern: the singer’s career breaks neatly into two acts — a meteoric rise in the early 1990s and a carefully paced resurgence in the 2020s.

What was Chesney Hawkes’ biggest hit?

The One and Only

• “The One and Only” was released in 1991 and written by Nik Kershaw (Jace Media Music (music news outlet))
• The song was featured in the film “Buddy’s Song,” in which Hawkes also starred
• It remains his most recognized song internationally

The track spent weeks on the radio and became the defining anthem of Hawkes’ early career. Its success was so overwhelming that it shaped — and limited — everything that followed.

Chart performance and legacy

• “The One and Only” reached number one on the UK Singles Chart in 1991 (The Telegraph (British daily broadsheet))
• The song also charted in several other countries

Six years, one pattern: the single’s legacy has only grown with time. What could have been a fleeting pop moment became a generational touchstone.

Movie appearance in Buddy’s Song

• Hawkes acted in the 1991 film “Buddy’s Song,” which featured “The One and Only” on its soundtrack (The Telegraph (British daily broadsheet))
• The film role gave him early exposure as both an actor and a musician

The implication: for a 19-year-old, the combination of a No. 1 single and a film role was a dream start. But it also set expectations that would take decades to recalibrate.

What does Chesney Hawkes do now?

2025 tour and performances

• Hawkes is on tour in 2025, including a show at Bush Hall in London as part of the Smash It To Pieces Tour (Official Chesney Hawkes website)
• The tour coincides with the release of his new album

After years of sporadic releases, the 2025 tour represents his most sustained live push in decades. The Guardian noted that Hawkes had rediscovered his fanbase through nostalgia tours and performances in recent years (The Guardian (UK newspaper of record)).

New album Living Arrows

• Hawkes released a new album titled “Living Arrows” in 2025 (Official Chesney Hawkes website)
• The album was released on 4 April 2025 (Classic Pop (UK music magazine))
• The lead single “Live Forever” reunites Hawkes with songwriter Nik Kershaw (Music Talkers (music news site))

The collaboration with Kershaw — the same writer behind “The One and Only” — is a deliberate bridge between past and present. It’s a move that signals continuity rather than a clean break.

Social media and public appearances

• His Instagram account announces tour dates and album updates
• He appeared on the Chris Evans Breakfast Show to promote the album and tour (YouTube (Chris Evans Breakfast Show))

The pattern: Hawkes has moved from being a passive figure carried by a single hit to an active artist shaping his own late-career chapter. Social media, nostalgia tours, and a new album have given him tools he didn’t have in the 1990s.

Who is Chesney Hawkes’ wife?

Krista Hawkes (née Smith)

• Chesney Hawkes married Krista Smith in 1995 (Heart (UK radio station))
• They met in a pub in 1995, according to reports

Krista has been a consistent presence in Hawkes’ life through the ups and downs of his career. Their relationship has spanned three decades — a rarity in the music industry.

Marriage and children

• They have three children together (Heart (UK radio station))
• Heart reported that Chesney and Krista married in 1997 after meeting in 1995 (Heart (UK radio station))

Three children and nearly three decades of marriage — the family unit has been a stabilizing force in a career that saw extreme highs and quiet lows.

Is she an actress?

• Krista Hawkes is an actress, known for roles in films such as “The Mighty Ducks” (Heart (UK radio station))
• Specific details of her acting career are not widely publicized

The trade-off: while Krista’s acting credits exist, she has largely stayed out of the spotlight, choosing to support her husband’s career and raise their children away from media scrutiny.

Who was Chesney Hawkes best friend who died?

Identity of the friend

• Hawkes has spoken about a close friend who died, though the name is not widely publicized
• He stated that a song on his album took on new meaning after the loss

In interviews, Hawkes has described the emotional weight of losing someone close and how it reshaped his perspective on certain songs.

Song about loss

• The RTE article quotes Hawkes discussing the emotional impact of the loss on his music
• A track on “Living Arrows” reportedly carries themes of grief and remembrance

The catch: the friend’s identity remains private, and Hawkes has chosen to keep the focus on the emotional experience rather than the individual — a deliberate boundary between public performance and personal grief.

New meaning after the tragedy

• Hawkes said that a song on his album took on new meaning after the loss
• He has discussed the emotional impact in interviews with RTE

The Guardian’s 2025 profile captured a similar tone: Hawkes reflecting on his life and career with a maturity that only comes from experiencing loss and time.

How much is Chesney Hawkes worth?

Estimated net worth

• Exact net worth is not publicly confirmed; estimates vary in unverified sources
• No credible financial reporting exists for his current net worth

This is one area where the internet is full of guesses but short on facts. Unlike some celebrities, Hawkes has not publicly disclosed his finances, and no major publication has audited his wealth.

Sources of income

• Primary income sources: music royalties, touring, occasional acting (The Telegraph (British daily broadsheet))
• His biggest financial success came from “The One and Only” in the early 1990s

The Telegraph reported that after the success of his No. 1 single, Hawkes was left with arrears and a £20,000 overdraft — suggesting that the early financial picture was far less glamorous than fans assumed (The Telegraph (British daily broadsheet)).

Comparison to peak earnings

• His peak earnings period was the early 1990s around the release of “The One and Only”
• Current income from touring and streaming is likely more modest but steady

The implication: Hawkes’ financial story is less about a net worth figure and more about the arc of earning, losing, and rebuilding. His 2025 tour and album suggest he’s in a stronger position now than he was in the years immediately following his peak.

Timeline

• 1971: Born in Windsor, Berkshire, England (Heart (UK radio station))
• 1990: Appears in film “Buddy’s Song” (The Telegraph (British daily broadsheet))
• 1991: Releases “The One and Only,” becomes UK number one (The Telegraph (British daily broadsheet))
• 1995: Marries Krista Smith (Heart (UK radio station))
• 2025: Releases new album “Living Arrows” and begins Smash It To Pieces Tour (Official Chesney Hawkes website)

Confirmed facts vs. what’s unclear

Quotes

“It’s only now I can appreciate that ‘The One and Only’ is a great record.”

— Chesney Hawkes, speaking to The Guardian (UK newspaper of record)

Hawkes had rediscovered his fanbase through nostalgia tours and performances in recent years.

— The Guardian

Summary

Chesney Hawkes’ career arc is a study in how early success can both define and constrain — and how a thoughtful artist can eventually reclaim their narrative. The 2025 album “Living Arrows” and the Smash It To Pieces Tour aren’t just nostalgia plays; they’re evidence of a musician who has learned to work with his legacy rather than against it. For fans who grew up with “The One and Only” and for newcomers discovering his work, the choice is clear: catch him on tour now, or wait another decade for the next chapter.

Frequently asked questions