Ariana Grande's love life has long captivated the public eye, fueled by high-profile romances, whirlwind engagements, and massive media scrutiny. From her early days as a Nickelodeon star to her award-winning music career, every relationship she enters becomes an instant fixture of pop culture analysis. Understanding this timeline requires looking past the tabloid noise to examine the actual sequence of her public partnerships and marriages.
Her romantic history spans more than a decade of high-profile pairings, starting from her teenage years on Broadway and television. Each phase of her dating life has frequently influenced her creative output, most notably through chart-topping albums like Thank U, Next and Eternal Sunshine.
Early Relationships and Rise to Fame
Long before global stadium tours, Grande's early romantic life unfolded in the public view during her transition from Broadway to television.
Graham Phillips and Jai Brooks
Between 2008 and 2011, Grande dated actor Graham Phillips, whom she met while starring in the Broadway musical 13. The two remained amicable after their split, maintaining a friendly connection years later.
Following Phillips, she began an on-and-off relationship with Australian YouTube personality Jai Brooks from 2012 to 2014. This relationship drew intense internet attention, ending amid public social media exchanges regarding cheating allegations.
Big Sean and Ricky Alvarez
In late 2014, Grande began dating rapper Big Sean. The high-profile pairing lasted roughly eight months before the couple called it quits in early 2015 due to conflicting touring schedules. Despite the short duration, Big Sean received a direct, affectionate nod in her later breakout single Thank U, Next.
Shortly after, Grande was linked to backup dancer Ricky Alvarez. They dated through 2015 and 2016, a period famously punctuated by an incident where Grande licked donuts on a bakery counter, with Alvarez standing beside her. The pair separated amicably.
The Mac Miller Years and Pete Davidson Engagement
The period between 2016 and 2018 marked some of the most emotionally intense chapters of Grande's personal life, heavily documented by global media outlets.
Mac Miller
Grande dated rapper Mac Miller from 2016 until May 2018. The two had previously collaborated on her hit single The Way in 2013. Their relationship was marked by mutual creative support, with Miller executive-producing aspects of her music and supporting her through the aftermath of the 2017 Manchester Arena bombing. They broke up in the spring of 2018 due to strains caused by his ongoing struggles with substance abuse. Miller tragically passed away from an accidental overdose later that year, an event that profoundly impacted Grande and her subsequent artistic direction.
Pete Davidson
Weeks after her split from Miller, Grande entered a whirlwind romance with Saturday Night Live comedian Pete Davidson. The relationship moved at lightning speed: Davidson proposed after just a few weeks of dating, presenting her with a diamond ring worth nearly six figures.
The engagement dominated pop culture headlines throughout the summer of 2018. However, the grief surrounding Mac Miller's sudden death in September 2018 created insurmountable emotional strain. By October 2018, Grande and Davidson officially called off their engagement and parted ways.
Marriage to Dalton Gomez
Following a period of relative dating privacy, Grande was spotted with luxury real estate agent Dalton Gomez in early 2020.
Lockdown Romance and Engagement
The couple spent the COVID-19 pandemic lockdown together at her home in Los Angeles, which allowed their relationship to develop away from public chaos. Gomez remained largely out of the spotlight, providing a grounding presence that contrasted sharply with her previous hyper-public engagements.
In December 2020, Grande announced their engagement via Instagram, sharing photos of a unique pearl-and-diamond ring.
The Montecito Wedding and Subsequent Divorce
On May 15, 2021, Grande and Gomez married in an intimate ceremony at her home in Montecito, California. Fewer than twenty guests attended the private gathering.
The marriage lasted for roughly two years. By January 2023, the couple had quietly separated as demanding career obligations—including Grande's move to London to film the movie adaptation of Wicked—created distance. News of the separation broke publicly in July 2023, and their divorce was finalized legally later that fall. Detailed records of the Superior Court of California, County of Los Angeles filings showed the dissolution was handled privately through a stipulated judgment.
Relationship with Ethan Slater
In July 2023, media outlets reported that Grande was in a relationship with her Wicked co-star Ethan Slater.
The Public Transition
The romance drew immediate media attention and scrutiny regarding the timeline of their respective separations. Slater had recently separated from his wife, Lilly Jay, with whom he shared a newborn child. Sources close to the production noted that Grande and Slater bonded over navigating high-profile life changes while on set.
Despite initial internet backlash and tabloid sensationalism, the couple maintained a low profile throughout the remainder of the film's production and promotional cycles. Grande addressed indirect elements of the public reaction through her seventh studio album, Eternal Sunshine, embedding her perspective into tracks like The Boy Is Mine.
Frequently Asked Questions
Was Ariana Grande ever married before Dalton Gomez?
No, Dalton Gomez was Ariana Grande's first husband. While she was previously engaged to Pete Davidson in 2018, that relationship ended before reaching marriage.
How long was Ariana Grande married to Dalton Gomez?
Grande and Gomez were married for approximately two years. They wed in May 2021 and separated in January 2023, with their divorce finalized in the fall of 2023.
Which songs did Ariana Grande write about her exes?
Grande famously dedicated her 2018 single Thank U, Next to several past partners, specifically mentioning Big Sean, Ricky Alvarez, Pete Davidson, and Mac Miller. Her later music continues to draw inspiration from her personal experiences and evolving relationship status.
Did Ariana Grande and Ethan Slater meet on set?
Yes, the two met while filming the feature film adaptation of the musical Wicked, where Grande starred as Glinda and Slater played Boq.
