Taylor Swift's Ex-Boyfriends And Dating History – From Joe Alwyn To Calvin Harris

2 January 2024, 11:00 | Updated: 8 February 2024, 14:42

By Capital FM

@CapitalOfficial

Taylor Swift has written a number of songs about her love life and ex-boyfriends, but who are they about? From Harry Styles to Calvin Harris and new boyfriend Travis Kelce, here's what we know about Taylor's dating history.

It’s well known Taylor Swift, 34, pens her songs based on those she loves. Some are obvious (I think we all know who ‘Style’ and ‘Dear John’ could be about) and she’s been open with her fans about how some of the songs on 'Folklore' and 'Evermore' were inspired by her most recent ex-boyfriend, Joe Alwyn.

Taylor and Joe dated for six years and even spent the pandemic together. Their split came as a shock for many fans, who had been speculating that marriage may be have been on the cards for the pair. But alas it was not meant to to be. It's thought Taylor's upcoming album 'Tortured Poets Department' is heavily inspired by their relationship, especially that there's a song on the track list called 'So Long London', where she and London boy Joe spent most of their time together.

Mid-way through her Eras tour she began a new relationship with American footballer, Travis Kelce.

• READ MORE: How Did Taylor Swift And Travis Kelce Actually Meet?
• READ MORE: Taylor Swift And Travis Kelce Dating: A Complete Relationship Timeline So Far
• READ MORE: Which Albums Is Taylor Swift Re-Recording? A Guide To The Remake Of Her First Six Albums

Does Travis have any songs written about him yet? As her dalliance with the man the internet is calling "one of the greatest Tight Ends of all time" (that's an American Football position, FYI), perhaps some new material will find its way into her repertoire.

In the meantime, let's take a look back at Taylor's ex-boyfriends, who she's dated in the past and which of her ex-boyfriends have songs about them.

Taylor Swift and Joe Jonas - 2008

Joe Jonas, of Jonas Brothers fame, dated the pop star from July to October 12 years ago, and she famously wrote her song ‘Forever and Always’ about the former Disney star after he reportedly dumped her over the phone in a 28-second phonemail – a brutal break-up Taylor revealed on The Ellen Show that same year.

But in 2019 Taylor proved there was no hard feelings to be had between the stars after she publicly apologised for shading Joe on national television when she returned to The Ellen Show.

Asked what was the most rebellious thing she’s done, Taylor answered: “Probably when I put Joe Jonas on blast on your show. That was too much. I was 18. We laugh about it now, but that was mouthy. Just some teenage stuff there.”

Taylor Swift and Lucas Till - 2009

After appearing in Taylor’s ‘You Belong With Me’ music video, actor Lucas Till dated Taylor for a short time before they decided they were better as friends.

Disney fans might recognise Lucas from Hannah Montana: The Movie but he's also starred in X-Men: Apocalypse, Son of the South and an array of other TV shows and films.

Taylor Swift and Taylor Lautner - 2009

Taylor and Twilight star Taylor Lautner met on the set of Valentine’s Day as they played an on-screen couple who were teenage sweethearts at high school, but in real life they dated for a few months.

After breaking up with him in December 2009, Taylor went on to write ‘Back To December’ about her ex.

Taylor Swift and John Mayer - 2009

Taylor and John, who had a 15-year age gap, started dating after working on a song together called ‘Half of My Heart’.

The pair dated for a few months in 2009, never confirming their relationship, but all was revealed when Taylor released her emotional tune ‘Dear John’.

Responding to the song in a 2012 Rolling Stone interview, John said he “never did anything to deserve that” and his single ‘Paper Dolls’ is thought to be about Taylor in return.

Taylor Swift and Jake Gyllenhaal - 2010 - 2011

Taylor famously wrote ‘The Last Time’ about Prisoners actor Jake, which had the lyrics: “Left my scarf there at your sister’s house. And you’ve still got it in your drawer even now.”

The couple are rumoured to have split due to their 10-year age gap.

Taylor Swift and Connor Kennedy - 2012

Taylor was known to have a keen interest in the Kennedy family, and after they caught wind of how much the pop star was a fan, they became firm friends with Taylor and she was quickly accepted into the family.

But after a few PDA pictures in the press, they called it quits.

Taylor Swift and Harry Styles - 2012 - 2013

The pop star relationship that broke a million Directioners’ hearts, when Taylor and Harry were pictured strolling through Central Park they quickly became the most talked about celebrity couple.

Although their romance was rumoured for weeks before, they looked seriously loved up on their park stroll.

But after their hectic schedules proved too difficult to make things work, they called it quits.

Taylor Swift and Calvin Harris 2015 - 2016

The first relationship Taylor didn’t mind sharing on social media, Tay Tay and Calvin Harris were together for 15 months and made numerous joint appearances together at various events.

Their split seemed less than amicable though, after Calvin shaded his ex multiple times on social media when their was conflict over the writing credits of his song ‘This Is What You Came For’ with Rihanna – a tune Taylor provided some vocals for under a pseudonym.

Taylor Swift and Tom Hiddleston - 2016

Taylor and Tom’s relationship hit the headlines when they first stepped out together two weeks after her split from Calvin.

We’re still living for the time he was papped in an ‘I heart TS’ t-shirt on their Fourth of July celebrations, but they broke up reportedly over the fact Taylor wasn’t comfortable with the level of publicity Tom wanted their relationship to have.

Taylor Swift and Joe Alwyn - 2017 - 2023

After five years together, Swfities were shocked at the news that actor Joe Alwyn and Taylor Swift had split. The pair met at the MET Gala in 2016 and Joe was reportedly the inspiration for many of her songs, Including  'Lover' on her 2019 album of the same name and 'Invisible String' on 'Folklore.'

So why did Joe Alwyn and Taylor Swift split up? The notoriously private couple didn’t reveal the reason for the split and sources close to the couple simply said they had “grown apart”.

Taylor Swift and Matt Healy – 2023

This short-lived fling sent social media into a frenzy. 1975 lead singer and son of TV presenter Denise Welch, Matt Healy, and Taylor dated briefly after her split from Joe Alwyn. Producer and long-time friend of both of them Jack Antonoff supposedly set them up. Taylor even told fans on her Eras tour that “I’ve just never been this happy in my life, in all aspects of my life, ever before,” before adding “It’s not just the tour.”

But the two weren’t meant to be as they split after only a month. Sources close to the couple said: “They are both extremely busy and realised they’re not really compatible with each other.”

Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce – 2023

Taylor and Travis started dating around August/September 2023 and they're fast becoming serious about one another, with Taylor attending nearly every one of his American football games.

Self-confessed Swifite Travis Kelce asked Taylor out after he saw her play on her Eras tour at the Arrowhead Stadium, the home ground of his team, the Kansas City Chiefs. He told reporters: "I threw the ball in her court and told her, ‘I’ve seen you rock the stage at Arrowhead, you might have to come see me rock the stage at Arrowhead – and see which one’s a little more lit.'"

A few days later, Taylor took up his offer and hung out with Travis’s own mother at the VIP section while watching the Kansas City Chiefs play the Chicago Bears. She's been there almost every week since!

A few weeks later, they seemed to make their debut as a couple as they stepped out in New York hand-in-hand for date night and days after that a picture surfaced of Tay planting a kiss on her man's cheek! Cuteness!

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