25 memorable athlete-entertainer couples

Country pop singer Jessie James has put out three studio albums, the most recent in 2018, and released several holiday singles. However, husband Eric enjoyed more professional success while recording 439 receptions, 5,816 yards and 53 touchdowns during his eight-year NFL career (2010-17), four of which were spent in Denver. Together, though, the couple starred in their relatively successful reality show Eric & Jessie: Game On (2013-14, 2017). They were married in 2013 and have four children.

After Simpson's marriage to fellow pop star and former boy band hero Nick Lachey ended in 2006, the "I Wanna Love You Forever" singer and former reality television star eventually teamed up with former tight end Johnson, who is certainly not a household name to casual NFL fans. However, Johnson caught 240 passes for 2,178 yards with nine touchdowns, spanning 71 games, covering five seasons, from 2001-07 with San Francisco and New Orleans. The two were married in 2014, and have three children together.

Perhaps congratulations are in order for this happy couple. On Dec. 2, 2023, Hudgens, who made her bones starring in the massively popular High School Musical franchise of films (2006-08), and the middling, but versatile infielder-outfielder Tucker, who spent time with the Pittsburgh Pirates and Colorado Rockies, from 2019-23, were married in Tulum, Mexico. There are not the power, high-profile couple like others we'll see on this list. But hey, they are happy, and for the moment, that's all that matters.

The eight-time Grammy Award-winning country artist and 18-year NHL star Fisher met in late 2008 and were married in 2010. They are still going strong as one of the great relationship success stories that meshed sports and entertainment. Now, fans of the Ottawa Senators are likely still peeved at Underwood for essentially being the reason he was traded to Nashville to be close to her place of business, but that's a small price to pay for happiness. The couple have two children, and continue to enjoy life.

This just seemed like a made-for-the-tabloids relationship. Reality star Kardashian and Heisman Trophy winner and Super Bowl champion Bush were introduced by the running back's USC teammate Matt Leinart in 2007. They began dating shortly after, split for the first time in 2009, got back together in 2010, then broke up again. Following Kardashian's divorce from NBA player Kris Humphries in 2012, she and Bush connected again, but that also didn't last long. Sadly, these kids just couldn't make it work.

So, apparently the old slogan that "Chicks dig the long ball" doesn't apply here. Verlander is a three-time Cy Young Award winner and two-time World Series champion. He started dating the popular model, and sometimes actress, Upton in 2014. That same year, racy and illicit photos of the couple were leaked, which drew plenty of attention to their relationship. However, they got past it unscathed, and married two days after Verlander helped the Houston Astros win the 2017 World Series. They welcomed their first child in 2018.

Fox won three NBA championships with the Los Angeles Lakers and Williams has enjoyed a long and celebrated career as an actress and singer. However, these two stars could not make their marriage last. The two eloped in 1999, but by 2004, they had filed for divorce. They do have a daughter together, and the two have managed to remain on good terms since splitting up. In fact, they even worked together on the television series Ugly Betty.

One of the more underrated couples on this list. Washington is the Emmy Award-winning actress best known for her roles in Ray (2004) and The Last King of Scotland (2006) and, of course, as Olivia Pope from ABC's Scandal (2012-18). Asomugha, meanwhile, was a three-time Pro Bowler, who totaled more than 400 tackles and recorded 15 interceptions during his 11-year NFL career. The two have been married since 2013, and have two children together, and Washington is stepmother to Asomugha's daughter from a prior relationship.

Though the Mandy-Andy duo last from just 2003-04, it was quite a big deal back at the beginning of the century. And why not? Moore had a solid music career going with her first two albums, Mandy Moore (2001) and Coverage (2003), and was turning heads as an actress as well. Roddick, meanwhile, had just won the 2003 U.S. Open, for what would be his only title. Roddick, though, has been married to model Brooklyn Decker since 2009. Moore married musician Taylor Goldsmith in 2018.

Shakira has enjoyed quite the successful music career as one of the biggest pop singer/songwriters of all time, winning three Grammy Awards, and a whopping 14 Latin Grammy Awards. However, she hasn't enjoyed the same success when it comes to love. Perhaps her most notable relationship was with Spanish soccer star Gerard Piqué, who has played for both Manchester United and Barcelona, as well as for his country's national team. The two were together from 2011-2022, until the marriage ended due to his alleged infidelity. Shakira would famously take her ex down in a wildly popular 2023 collaboration with Argentine producer Bizarrap. Scorning one of the most popular pop artists in the world will do that to you sometimes.

Back in the 1990s, this was one hot couple. Two pretty people, young and in love. The internationally-renowned Shields was back in the spotlight at the time, starring in her successful comedy series Suddenly Susan (1996-2000) during the three years she was married to Agassi, the eight-time grand slam winner, from 1997-99. The two had been dating since 1993, but couldn't make the relationship last. However, both have done well for themselves post-breakup. Agassi has been married to fellow tennis legend Steffi Graf since 2001, while Shields married director/writer/producer Chris Henchy the same year.

For better or worse, the Academy Award-winning actress coupled with some prominent names (Wesley Snipes, singer-songwriter Eric Benet) over the years. Including her first marriage to former MLB slugger Justice. It seemed like the perfect pairing when they married on New Year's Day 1993. However, Berry's marriage to the three-time All-Star and two-time World Series champion was essentially over when they separated in February 1996, and officially done with their June 1997 divorce. Despite rumors of domestic abuse by Justice, he has long denied such allegations. 

Gretzky is the greatest hockey player of all time. Jones, meanwhile, never really had her acting career take off even after notable roles in The Flamingo Kid (1984), the film version of A Chorus Line (1985) and the gymnastic-themed American Anthem (1986). However, they've long been one of the most prominent celebrity couples for more than 30 years. In fact, Jones was a major reason Gretzky stunned the hockey world when he was traded to the Los Angeles Kings from Edmonton to support Jones' acting career. 

Talk about volatile. The relationship between the late MC, TLC founding member, and Grammy Award winner and her star NFL wide receiver boyfriend, which lasted from 1993-2001, was often in the headlines — and for all the wrong reasons. Their relationship was marred by allegations of domestic violence and abuse. Lopes infamously set Rison's shoes on fire in a bathtub, which eventually led to his mansion burning down. The couple's relationship had ended prior to Lopes' 2002 death from an automobile accident while volunteering in Honduras.

As of 2024, things appear to be going well for Ciara and Wilson, who were married in 2016, and just welcomed their third child together in December 2023. Even with their busy schedules, Ciara, the superstar singer, actress, model and mogul, and Wilson, a nine-time Pro Bowler and Super Bowl champion, who is currently looking for a career resurgence with the Pittsburgh Steelers, manage to keep their marriage and family bond quite strong. 

We get into the rather ugly portion of our list. O'Neal and McEnroe were rebels in their own right. O'Neal, who made history in winning an Academy Award at age 10 for her stirring performance in Paper Moon (1973), then had plenty of ups and downs, notably due to substance abuse. McEnroe, meanwhile, was a seven-time grand-slam tennis legend, who was also known for his hot-headed behavior on the court and toward the media. The two got together in 1984, and endured a rather volatile marriage from 1986-94, which also produced three children.

We can tell Union and Wade enjoy being around each other. After Union's marriage to former NFL running back Chris Howard officially ended in 2006, the Bring It On star began dating the 13-time All-Star, three-time NBA champion and Hall of Famer two years later. The couple was married in 2014, and have enjoyed a very positive, yet public, marriage. We especially like those commercials they've done for Gatorade, and most recently, Sleep Number. Union is stepmother to Wade's three children, and the couple welcomed a daughter of their own, via surrogate, in 2018.

During their brief marriage, which lasted from 2007-2011, Longoria and Parker seemed quite happy and rather inseparable. However, behind the scenes, not everything was rosy for the popular actress, known for her time on Desperate Housewives, and the six-time All-Star and four-time NBA champion with the San Antonio Spurs. Inevitably, the reliable "irreconcilable differences" was cited in their divorce filing. However, rumors of Parker's alleged infidelity had surfaced, as well.

Another example of how two internationally renowned celebrities can actually make a serious relationship work. Though not married, tennis star/model Kournikova and superstar crooner Iglesias have been together since late 2001 (after she was linked to NHL star Sergei Fedorov) — shortly after she appeared in his music video for his song "Escape." Talk about perfect timing. Still, the two have three children together, and are going strong. See, two extremely attractive people can make it work.

Crow is no stranger to dating celebrities (Eric Clapton and Owen Wilson, for starters). However, the Grammy Award-winning musician's most notable relationship remains the time spent with legendary, and later disgraced cyclist Lance Armstrong. They got together in 2003, then things heated up in 2004. Her 2005 song Wildflower was inspired by Armstrong. That same year the two announced their engagement. However, the two split, to the surprise of the pop-culture world, in 2006, before Crow was diagnosed with breast cancer. No one reason was given by the couple for the breakup, but different life paths and the struggles of being in a celebrity relationship apparently played a part.

Brady won a record seven Super Bowls and was named Super Bowl MVP five times. However, it seemed Bündchen was the true leader and signal-caller of their marriage, which lasted from 2009-22. It was a rather surprising moment when the couple announced they would divorce, but rumors regarding issues had surfaced about the health of their union for some time. Bündchen, apparently, was concerned about Brady continuing to play football late in his career. Meanwhile, the two have managed to begin a successful co-parenting regimen of their two children.

On the surface, it would appear that Becks and Posh Spice would be a rather uppity couple. However, even though they are unofficial British royalty, at least within the realm of international pop culture, they're a rather accessible couple. Parents to four children, the English soccer legend and the multi-talented Victoria are well regarded around the world for keeping their relationship solid since tying the knot in 1999. They also enjoy having fun together, no matter how hokey or domesticated they may seem. 

Maybe we ranked the hottest couple currently on the planet, but can we remember the last time the start of a relationship between public figures has been celebrated and covered this much? Seemingly every day since late September — when Swift attended the Kansas City Chiefs' game against the Chicago Bears — up until the Chiefs' Super Bowl LVIII win in February, we've gotten an update or development about the globally-beloved pop star and All-Pro, three-time Super Bowl champion tight end. Now, we are not sure how long this relationship will last. But if it doesn't, we can't wait to hear the song Swift writes about the breakup.  

It didn't get much more A-list than these two. Celebrity dating has been commonplace for both J-Lo and A-Rod. The massively popular singer-actress and 14-time MLB All-Star, three-time MVP and World Series champion, who is also often panned, began dating in the winter of 2017. In 2020, the two announced their engagement, but never walked down the aisle together. In April 2021, they broke off their engagement, shocking fans of gossip and pop culture. According to Rodriguez, their is no ill will between these two mega-superstars.

Of all the celebrity couples worth highlighting, it really doesn't get bigger than these two icons — even if this wasn't the most pleasant relationship, simply because of their legendary personas. Monroe: The beautiful bombshell actress and pin-up girl who still captivates. DiMaggio: The nine-time World Series champion, 13-time All-Star and perhaps the greatest hitter in the history of Major League Baseball. Talk about a power couple. The two eloped in 1954, but DiMaggio's reported jealousy marred the marriage, and led to moments of physical abuse toward Monroe. She filed for divorce nine months into the union. After DiMaggio cleaned up his act, he re-entered Monroe's life just before her death in 1962. By all accounts, Monroe remained the love of DiMaggio's life.