In the music industry, personal relationships are often thrust into the spotlight. Many musicians have shared their romantic journeys with fans, but not all love stories end at the altar. Here are five musicians who called off their engagements just before the wedding:
- Ariana Grande and Pete Davidson
Ariana Grande and comedian Pete Davidson had one of the most whirlwind relationships in recent years. After getting engaged in June 2018, just weeks after dating, their romance quickly became tabloid news. However, by October of the same year, they called off their engagement. Ariana later expressed in interviews and through her music that the loss of ex-boyfriend Mac Miller played a significant role in her needing to take time for herself. - Mariah Carey and James Packer
Pop diva Mariah Carey and Australian billionaire James Packer were the epitome of glamour. The couple got engaged in January 2016, with Packer proposing with a 35-carat diamond ring. However, by October of the same year, they had ended their engagement. Mariah later stated that there were “bigger issues” than the wedding, and the two parted ways without walking down the aisle. - Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck
Although Ben Affleck is an actor, his relationship with Jennifer Lopez during her peak music career earned the couple the “Bennifer” moniker. They were engaged in 2002, but just days before their planned wedding in 2003, they called it off, citing excessive media attention. The couple split months later, though they reignited their romance nearly two decades later, eventually marrying in 2022. - Lady Gaga and Taylor Kinney
Lady Gaga and actor Taylor Kinney met on the set of her “Yoü and I” music video in 2011 and soon began dating. The couple got engaged on Valentine’s Day in 2015 but never made it down the aisle. By mid-2016, they had broken up. Gaga revealed later that her career demands strained their relationship, but the two remained supportive of one another after the split. - Miley Cyrus and Liam Hemsworth
Miley Cyrus and Liam Hemsworth’s relationship was on and off for nearly a decade. After meeting on the set of The Last Song in 2009, they got engaged in 2012 but called it off the following year. Though they reconciled and eventually married in December 2018, their marriage ended in divorce less than a year later. Their tumultuous relationship inspired many of Miley’s hits, including her reflective song “Slide Away.”
These musicians’ breakups show that even celebrities deal with the complexities of relationships. While the reasons for calling off their engagements vary, each one reminds us that sometimes, even under the spotlight, love takes a backseat to personal growth and life changes.
