Yet long before he was walking red carpets in Cannes for Elvis or battling in sci-fi blockbusters like Dune: Part Two, Butler’s formative decade in Hollywood was defined by one of the most high-profile pop-culture romances of the 2010s: his nearly nine-year relationship with actress Vanessa Hudgens.
Though the couple quietly parted ways in early 2020, their nearly decade-long partnership remains a bittersweet chapter in modern Hollywood lore—one filled with mutual support, festival fashion, and a legendary manifestation that forever changed Butler’s career trajectory.
Becoming the 2010s ‘It’ Couple
Butler and Hudgens first crossed paths in the mid-2000s through mutual friends in the High School Musical universe (Butler was a close friend and co-star of Ashley Tisdale). Following Hudgens’ split from Zac Efron, she and Butler reconnected in late 2011, making their first public red-carpet debut as a couple in early 2012.
For the next eight years, the duo was the undisputed royalty of Hollywood youth culture. From becoming the annual king and queen of the Coachella Music Festival to sharing romantic vacations in Italy, they were widely adored by fans for their steady, open support of each other’s careers.
“It’s important to put that other person first,” Butler told Entertainment Tonight during their relationship. “If you’re constantly looking for ways that you can make them happy, and they’re constantly looking for ways that they can make you happy, then you kind of lift each other up as much as possible.”
The ‘Elvis’ Manifestation: A Turning Point in Movie History
Perhaps the most famous story from their time together occurred in December 2018, long before director Baz Luhrmann had even begun casting for his Elvis biopic.
While driving together listening to Christmas music, an Elvis Presley song came on the radio. Hudgens watched her then-boyfriend sing along and had an immediate revelation.
“Last December, we were driving along and we were listening to Christmas music, and then an Elvis Presley Christmas song came on,” Hudgens recalled on Live with Kelly and Ryan in 2019. “He had just dyed his hair dark—he’s a natural blond—and I was looking at him and he was singing along and I was like, ‘Babe, you need to play Elvis.’”
Just weeks later, Butler was playing the piano when the idea resurfaced. When Luhrmann officially announced the project, Hudgens ferociously championed Butler through the grueling audition process. When he officially landed the role in July 2019, she celebrated publicly on Instagram: “I CAN’T WAIT… SO PROUD OF MY HONEY!”
The 2020 Split: Career Distances and New Beginnings
In January 2020, fans were shocked when news broke that Butler and Hudgens had quietly broken up after nearly nine years together.
The primary catalyst was a classic Hollywood hurdle: extreme long distance and conflicting global work schedules. At the time of the split, Hudgens was filming The Princess Switch: Switched Again in Scotland, while Butler was in Australia beginning months of intense pre-production for Elvis. With both stars working on opposite sides of the globe, the physical distance ultimately took its toll.
The breakup was reportedly amicable, with sources confirming there was no bad blood, but rather a mutual understanding that their lives and careers were pulling them in different directions.
Where They Stand Today
In the years since their 2020 departure, both stars have flourished in their respective personal and professional lives:
- Vanessa Hudgens found love with MLB player Cole Tucker. The pair tied the knot in a romantic Mexican ceremony in December 2023 and welcomed their first child in 2024.
- Austin Butler earned a BAFTA, a Golden Globe, and an Academy Award nomination for his performance in Elvis, before going on to anchor critically acclaimed blockbusters. He was in a high-profile relationship with model and actress Kaia Gerber from 2021 to 2024.
While they have both moved on to new chapters, the nine years Austin Butler and Vanessa Hudgens spent together remain a special era in pop-culture history. As Butler celebrates his 35th birthday today, fans still fondly remember the long-term romance that helped shape one of Hollywood’s brightest stars.
