Vanessa Hudgens, an accomplished actress and singer, has experienced a variety of relationships over the years. Before tying the knot with professional baseball player Cole Tucker in 2023, Hudgens had several romances in Hollywood.
She gained widespread recognition as Gabriella in the High School Musical series, where her connection with Zac Efron blossomed. Their on-screen chemistry evolved into a real-life romance that lasted from 2005 until 2010.
A journey through Hudgens’ dating history reveals heartfelt connections (@cotuck/Instagram)
Following her time with Efron, Hudgens had a brief relationship with Josh Hutcherson before embarking on a long-term relationship with Austin Butler. This partnership lasted more than eight years before they parted ways.
In 2020, Hudgens began dating Tucker, and they celebrated their marriage in December 2023, welcoming their first child in July 2024.
Here’s a comprehensive look at Vanessa Hudgens’ romantic history, from Zac Efron to Cole Tucker.
Zac Efron
The romance between Hudgens and Efron blossomed while filming High School Musical in 2005. During a 2018 appearance on The Hollywood Reporter podcast, Hudgens recounted that they began dating early in the franchise, feeling an immediate connection in the audition room.
“We created a bond right from the start,” she remarked on the podcast. “We were like, ‘We’re doing this, it’s us or nothing.'” Hudgens mentioned that their relationship provided stability as they both navigated the challenges of newfound fame.
Their relationship wasn’t publicly confirmed until 2007 when Hudgens cast Efron as the lead in the music video for her song “Say OK.” At the Los Angeles premiere of High School Musical 2, she described him as an “amazing guy.”
Efron reciprocated the admiration, telling PEOPLE on set that Hudgens “just brings sparkle to everything.” He expressed to Rolling Stone in 2007, “The weird thing that no one expected about Vanessa is that underneath such a sweet girl … is a very se*xy woman.”
Their collaboration continued until the High School Musical series concluded in 2008. In the following year, they attended the Oscars together, showcasing their maturity compared to their high school personas.
In 2010, Hudgens shared her thoughts with Glamour on how their relationship evolved as they transitioned from their initial roles. “I mean, he wasn’t the guy that he is today. Like, he had a gap in his teeth … [He’s] just grown-up,” she explained.
“He doesn’t have his gap anymore. I look at him, and I see a man. I think that we inspire each other. [I love] having someone to grow with.” Later that same year, the couple announced their breakup, with Hudgens being 22 and Efron 23 at the time. A source revealed to PEOPLE, “They are 100 percent still good friends.”
While they didn’t specify the cause for their split, Hudgens later implied that the distance caused by their busy schedules affected their relationship.
“Long-distance relationships are hard no matter what. When you don’t have face-to-face time, it’s just different,” she reflected in a 2011 interview with Shape.
Despite the breakup, she held fond memories of Efron, saying, “We grew up together. It was nice to have someone to share all of those experiences with.”
They briefly reunited virtually in 2020 for The Disney Family Singalong, where Hudgens performed alongside other High School Musical cast members and Efron introduced the group.
Josh Hutcherson
Rumors of a romance between Hudgens and her Journey 2: The Mysterious Island co-star Hutcherson surfaced in February 2011.
Sources reported that the two appeared quite close during the premiere of her film Beastly. Shortly after, he brought her as his date to the Independent Spirit Awards, and they were seen together at Coachella that April.
An awkward confirmation of their brief relationship came in a 2012 interview with Today Australia when the host inquired about the duration of their dating.
Hudgens and Hutcherson exchanged surprised glances before he quickly clarified, “We’re not — we were at one point, that was a while ago … we’re really good friends now.”
Austin Butler
Hudgens and Butler were first seen together in September 2011 at Ashley Tisdale’s sister’s birthday party. Several months later, they made their official red carpet debut at the premiere of her movie Journey 2: The Mysterious Island, with Butler looking sharp in a simple suit and Hudgens donning a stunning yellow gown.
Their relationship went public on Instagram in 2014 when Hudgens posted a heartfelt birthday tribute to Butler. “Happy birthday to the man with the kindest heart, beautiful soul, crazy talent and best looks I’ve ever seen,” she captioned the post.
From Zac to Cole, Hudgens finds love with talented partners (@vanessahudgens/Instagram)
Butler discussed the purpose of their relationship with Entertainment Tonight in 2015, emphasizing the importance of prioritizing one another.
In subsequent years, Hudgens spoke about their success as a long-distance couple. “Just communication, communication is key,” she advised PEOPLE in 2017.
Over nearly a decade together, Hudgens and Butler supported each other’s professional pursuits. After Butler was cast as Elvis Presley in July 2019, a role that later earned him an Oscar nomination, Hudgens celebrated on Instagram, expressing her pride and excitement.
However, by January 2020, they decided to go their separate ways. A source informed PEOPLE that “Busy work schedules and travel definitely put a strain on the relationship. They were a wonderful couple, and it’s really sad that it didn’t work out.”
In a GQ interview more than two years after their split, Butler reflected, “Life is full of changes, and you’ve got to find a way to constantly be evolving and growing.” Meanwhile, Hudgens disclosed to NYLON in 2022 that she had experienced two life-altering relationships but refrained from naming them.
Kyle Kuzma
After her breakup with Butler became public in January 2020, NBA player Kyle Kuzma was seen dining with Hudgens. Shortly after, a source shared with PEOPLE, “They’re seeing each other, but taking things slow and just having fun at this stage.”
Hudgens also left a playful comment on Kuzma’s Instagram and mentioned him in one of her own posts. A source indicated that she was enjoying herself and seemed genuinely happy about life.
Cole Tucker
Hudgens has now found her life partner in Cole Tucker. The couple exchanged vows in Tulum, Mexico, on December 2, 2023, and welcomed their first child in July 2024.
Dating rumors began in November 2020 when they were spotted together in Los Angeles. Hudgens later revealed to Entertainment Tonight that their first encounter took place in a Zoom meditation group.
She shared on The Drew Barrymore Show that she made the first move, stating, “I fully just slid into his DMs and was like, ‘Hey, it was nice to meet you.’ So I think there is no shame in making the first move.”
By February 2021, they made their relationship Instagram official, with Hudgens sharing a sweet photo of them kissing and captioning it, “It’s you, it’s me, it’s us.” Tucker described her fondly, saying, “I got a girlfriend, and she’s cool. She’s awesome, I love her.”
Their first official red carpet appearance took place in November 2021 during the premiere of Hudgens’ film Tick Tick … BOOM! in Los Angeles.
In February 2023, PEOPLE confirmed that Hudgens and Tucker had gotten engaged late the previous year, with the couple announcing the news on Instagram while showcasing her new diamond ring. “YES. We couldn’t be happier,” they wrote in the caption.
Shortly after their engagement, fans unearthed a 2012 post from Tucker on X that humorously seemed to predict their future together: “In search of: A girl who’s down to watch High School Musical with me and scratch my back.”
