It’s evident that 2025 was the year of love, even if many new celebrity couples were not on our bingo cards.
Elizabeth Hurley confirmed her relationship with Billy Ray Cyrus via Instagram on Easter, uploading a farm pic featuring the “Achy Breaky Heart” singer kissing her cheek. While the pair first met filming a holiday movie in 2022, they didn’t spark a romantic connection until three years later.
“Billy Ray and Liz have both been through a lot in life and have bonded over life experiences,” a source exclusively told Us Weekly in April. “Liz is a very compassionate person, which Billy Ray adores.”
Another pair that surprised Us this year was Coldplay frontman Chris Martin and Game of Thrones alum Sophie Turner, who went on “a few dates” in the fall.
Love blossomed for Billy Ray Cyrus and Elizabeth Hurley nearly three years after they costarred in 2022’s Christmas in Paradise. “We did a film two years ago down in the Caribbean, and we did very few scenes together, but the couple times we were in the same scene, there was a chemistry there that [I] […]
“It is still very new, but they have a lot of chemistry,” a second insider told Us in November. “There’s a definite spark between them.”
Keep scrolling to revisit the surprising celebrity couples that reaffirm our belief in love:
Katy Perry and Justin Trudeau
Weeks after Us broke the news that Katy Perry split from then-fiancé Orlando Bloom, the pop star was spotted with former Canadian prime minister Justin Trudeau in July. After a low-key courtship and Trudeau attending many of Perry’s Lifetimes Tour concerts, the duo made their Instagram debut in December.
“Tokyo times on tour and more,” Perry wrote via Instagram, sharing multiple selfies with Trudeau from their trip to Japan.
Sydney Sweeney and Scooter Braun
Sydney Sweeney, Scooter Braun XNY/Star Max/GC Images
Euphoria star Sydney Sweeney started hanging out with music manager Scooter Braun in September, months after calling off her engagement to Jonathan Davino.
“Things are getting serious and it’s very real,” a source told Us in November. “Neither of them expected it to turn into something serious at first and are surprised by how genuine the connection has become.”
According to the insider, Sweeney was drawn to Braun after he had been “extremely supportive” of her busy career.
Jennifer Aniston and Jim Curtis
Jim Curtis, Jennifer Aniston Michael Kovac/Getty Images for ELLE
Multiple sources told Us in July that Jennifer Aniston found love with hypnotist Jim Curtis after the pair were introduced via mutual friends. Aniston and Curtis hard-launched their romance in November.
“Happy birthday my love,” the Morning Show actress gushed via Instagram, sharing a photo from Curtis’ birthday party. “Cherished ❤️.”
Billy Ray Cyrus and Elizabeth Hurley
Elizabeth Hurley, Billy Ray Cyrus Jeff Spicer/Getty Images for the NTA’s
Billy Ray Cyrus revealed on Apple Music Country’s Ty Bentli Show in April that Elizabeth Hurley sent him a friendly text in 2024 as he navigated his divorce from second wife Firerose.
“I didn’t even know the number, and it’s like, ‘Hey, it looks like life might be a little bit tough and just wanted you to know I’m in your corner. You got a friend in your corner,’” Cyrus recalled. “I go, ‘Who is this?’ And [she responded], like, ‘Elizabeth Hurley.’ All the people to reach out to me in that second that maybe I needed most.”
Cyrus and Hurley, who made their red carpet debut in May, have since bonded with one another’s children from previous relationships.
Jessica Alba and Danny Ramirez
Jessica Alba, Danny Ramirez Stefanie Keenan/Getty Images for Baby2Baby
Jessica Alba was first spotted with Top Gun: Maverick actor Danny Ramirez in July amid her divorce from estranged husband Cash Warren.
“They were friends before it turned romantic,” a source revealed to Us. “They run in the same social circle, and that is how they were connected.”
Alba and Ramirez were later seen cuddled up at the US Open in September and on the red carpet at the Baby2Baby Gala in November.
Liam Neeson and Pamela Anderson
Pamela Anderson and Liam Neeson Dia Dipasupil/Getty Images
While Liam Neeson once sworn off dating after the tragic death of wife Natasha Richardson, he found an unexpected connection with his Naked Gun costar Pamela Anderson.
“They had chemistry while they were filming, and their friendship naturally developed into something more,” an insider divulged to Us in August. “Feelings were definitely happening between them, [but] they both felt it was important not to blur any lines during production. They started spending more time together [and getting] more personal.”
Anderson confirmed to People in December that the duo’s romance ultimately fizzled out, stating they are “better [as] friends.”
Zoe Kravitz and Harry Styles
Zoe Kravitz/Harry Styles Getty Images (2)
Less than one year after Zoë Kravitz and Channing Tatum called off their engagement, Kravitz was spotted in New York and various European destinations with Harry Styles throughout August and September.
Their relationship, however, isn’t currently red carpet or Instagram official.
“It isn’t serious between them,” a source said in August. “Zoë does not want anything serious right now. They are very similar and are free-spirited people, so they hit it off and have a lot of chemistry.”
Chris Martin and Sophie Turner
Chris Martin, Sophie Turner Getty Images (2)
Chris Martin and Sophie Turner went on a handful of dates this fall, according to a source. The pair’s new connection comes on the heels of respective breakups with Dakota Johnson and Peregrine “Perry” Pearson.
JoJo Siwa and Chris Hughes
Chris Hughes and JoJo Siwa Courtesy of Chris Hughes/ Instagram
Dance Moms alum JoJo Siwa, who publicly came out as queer in 2021, sparked dating rumors with Love Island UK season 3 finalist Chris Hughes when they both appeared on Celebrity Big Brother UK in April. Siwa was dating nonbinary TV presenter Kath Ebbs at the time and asserted that she was purely friends with Hughes, who is 10 years her senior.
Siwa and Ebbs split shortly after Big Brother wrapped, as Siwa’s friendship with Hughes only grew stronger. They ultimately confirmed their romance in June.
“We genuinely speak to each other [about getting married],” Hughes exclusively told Us the next month. “When you are absolutely besotted with each other and you are in love with someone, I think it’s fun to look forward to those things. … We just want to be together 24/7 and when we are together, everything is just right. Everything is so calm.”
Madison Beer and Justin Herbert
Madison Beer and Justin Herbert Patrick Smith/Getty Images
Pop star Madison Beer was first spotted with Justin Herbert, the starting quarterback for the Los Angeles Chargers, on a series of August outings without publicly defining their connection. They ultimately hard-launched their relationship in October with a pair of sporty outings at an L.A. Lakers game and the World Series.
Bobby Flay and Brooke Williamson
Brooke Williamson and Bobby Flay Cindy Ord/Getty Images for NYCWFF
Over in the Food Network world, fans were thrilled that chefs Bobby Flay and Brooke Williamson found love in March after a friendship started back during 2022’s Bobby’s Triple Threat.
“I think we have a lot of fun together, and I’d like to show people what we do,” Williamson said on Flay’s eponymous podcast in December, revealing that her beau gifted her a diamond ring.
Flay noted, “I did give you a ring and it is a diamond ring. You and I have had this conversation. Marriage is not a thing that interests us. I’ve tried it a few times and I’m good where I am now. I wanted to give that to you because I wanted to show my commitment to you in general.”
Matt Rogers and Fraser Olender
Fraser Olender and Matt Rogers Courtesy of Fraser Olender/ Instagram
“La Culturistas” podcaster and actor Matt Rogers sparked romance rumors with Below Deck star Fraser Olander during BravoCon in November. Weeks later, the duo confirmed their romance via Instagram.
“He’s such a wonderful person,” Rogers said on the “I’ve Never Said This Before” podcast. “That’s nice if people are interested and I’ll take it as a good thing, but it’s been hard to watch my podcast grow. The tone at the beginning was us being very honest about our lives. That meant I was talking about my boyfriends — whoever they were. I talk a lot about my sex life and I talk a lot about what I feel about romance.”
Megan Thee Stallion and Klay Thompson
Megan Thee Stallion and Klay Thompson Courtesy of Megan Thee Stallion/ Instagram
Dallas Mavericks athlete Klay Thompson posted his first Instagram pic with Megan Thee Stallion in July, shortly before accompanying the rap star to her Pete & Thomas foundation’s annual gala.
“It feels incredible because Megan is such a special person and she inspires so many around the world. I’ve seen it firsthand,” Thompson told Us of the couple’s red carpet debut. “This is just another incredible feat of hers to be able to give back, create a foundation and raise a ton of money for those in need. I’m honored to be here by her side.”
John Mayer and Kat Stickler
Kat Stickler, John Mayer Getty Images (2)
Shortly after influencer Kat Stickler broke up with a mystery boyfriend this fall, she connected with John Mayer.
“John sought her out and pursued her,” a source told Us in November. “Kat just broke up with someone she had been dating for a few months and thought it would be fun to date again, and was interested in John.”
According to the insider, Mayer and Stickler have only been out a few times.
Serene Russell and Brendan Morais
Serene Russell and Brendan Morais Courtesy of Serene Russell/ Instagram
Bachelor Nation, meanwhile, was stunned when Serene Russell confirmed her relationship with Brendan Morais in March. (Russell split from Bachelor in Paradise season 8 fiancé Brandon Jones in 2023, the same year Morais and Pieper James called it quits.)
Russell and Morais can thank Us for their romance, as they met at our Reality Stars of the Year party in October 2024.
“I think for both of us, having been in public relationships before, we just wanted to get to know each other in a completely organic and normal way without any pressure,” Russell told Us in November. “There were a lot of people that we personally know that didn’t even know that we were dating, and so I think we just waited till the time felt right.”
