Jack Hughes and Tate McRae: Full Relationship Timeline

Last updated: October 24, 2026

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Quick Answer

Jack Hughes and Tate McRae were briefly but genuinely linked as a couple. The New Jersey Devils star and the Canadian pop singer were spotted together in New York City in late 2025, were reported by Us Weekly in March 2026 to be exclusively dating, and then split in August 2026, according to Page Six — with both camps disagreeing about who ended it. Neither ever publicly confirmed the romance, and both have since moved on.

3D ice-and-music artwork representing the Jack Hughes and Tate McRae story

Who Are Jack Hughes and Tate McRae?

Jack Hughes is one of the NHL’s brightest young stars. Born on May 14, 2001, in Orlando, Florida, he was the No. 1 overall pick in the 2019 NHL Draft and has spent his entire career as a center for the New Jersey Devils, where he now serves as an alternate captain and wears jersey No. 86. In November 2021 he signed an eight-year, $64 million contract extension that locked him in as the franchise cornerstone. Hughes has multiple All-Star appearances to his name, and he became a national hero in February 2026 when he scored the overtime game-winning goal that gave Team USA the gold medal over Canada at the Winter Olympics. Known for blazing speed and playmaking vision, he keeps his personal life mostly private while his hockey celebrity keeps growing.

Tate McRae is one of pop music’s biggest young names. The Calgary-born Canadian singer, songwriter, and dancer first grabbed attention at 13 as the first Canadian finalist on So You Think You Can Dance in 2016. After signing with RCA Records in 2019, her 2020 single “You Broke Me First” became an international hit, and her 2023 single “Greedy” went to the top of the charts worldwide. Her third studio album, So Close to What (2025), topped the U.S. Billboard 200, and her duet “What I Want” earned her first U.S. Hot 100 No. 1 along with a Grammy nomination. The 2025 Miss Possessive Tour was her first arena tour. Before Hughes, she dated NHL player Cole Sillinger from 2021 to 2023 and was briefly linked to rapper Kid Laroi. A music-and-hockey crossover couple like this is rare — a similar pairing can be seen in our story on Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce’s relationship.

Relationship Timeline

Here is what is actually known about the Hughes–McRae timeline, based on verified reporting rather than fan speculation:

  • November–December 2025: The first sightings. Hughes and McRae were spotted together in New York City several times, sparking the first dating rumors. McRae was seen attending New Jersey Devils games at the Prudential Center to cheer him on, and the pair were photographed having dinner at Anton’s in the West Village, described by witnesses as flirty. Reports at the time said Hughes made the first move via McRae’s Instagram DMs.
  • Late 2025: Casual beginnings. According to a source who later spoke to Us Weekly, the two started “casually seeing each other” toward the end of 2025. Neither commented publicly, and the romance stayed low-key.
  • February 2026: The Olympic spotlight. Hughes became a national icon by scoring the overtime winner against Canada in the Winter Olympics gold-medal game. The moment added an awkward cross-border layer to the rumored romance: McRae is proudly Canadian, and fans noted her silence after the final. Neither addressed the speculation. Another singer–athlete pairing with a similar dynamic is covered in our article on Teyana Taylor and Aaron Pierre.
  • March 2026: Exclusively dating. A source told Us Weekly that “Tate and Jack are dating,” saying they had moved from casually seeing each other to being exclusively together. The insider added that McRae thought Hughes was “a really cool guy” and that the two were having a lot of fun together. Still, no public confirmation came from either side.
  • Summer 2026: Signs of distance. The pair were occasionally seen at the same events but no longer appeared especially close, and the relationship remained unconfirmed to the very end.
  • August 2026: The breakup. Page Six reported that Hughes and McRae had ended things after several months together, before they ever publicly confirmed the romance. Two competing stories emerged: a source said Hughes told friends he broke it off after noticing “red flags” and had already started seeing other people, while sources close to McRae insisted it was the singer who pulled the plug. Representatives for both declined to comment. Like many quiet splits, the truth of who ended what may never be confirmed — see our explainer on how to read unconfirmed celebrity breakups.

Fans of Olympic love stories may also enjoy Chloe Kim and Myles Garrett’s relationship timeline, another athlete romance that played out under the spotlight.

Latest Updates

As of October 2026, both stars appear to be single and focused on their careers. A few weeks after the reported split, McRae was spotted attending the 2026 US Open in Queens, New York, in a black Adidas sweater and sunglasses. She has kept busy with the afterglow of her biggest touring year: the Miss Possessive Tour wrapped up with 83 shows across North America, South America, and Europe. For another musician-couple story with a happier ending, read about Harry Styles and Zoe Kravitz.

Hughes, meanwhile, has returned to the ice for the Devils’ 2026–27 season. New Jersey opened the campaign with a strong early showing, and Hughes has been centering the team’s top line while wearing the “A” as alternate captain. Coming off an Olympic gold medal and a full summer of rest, expectations are sky-high for the 25-year-old to lead the Devils on a deep playoff run. He has not publicly addressed the split with McRae, which fits his long-standing habit of keeping his private life out of the press.

What connected the two, at least on paper, was a shared comfort in high-pressure arenas — he plays in front of 16,000 screaming fans, she performs in front of them too. For now, the Jack Hughes–Tate McRae story looks like a closed chapter: a short, never-confirmed romance that produced two different breakup stories and one very memorable Olympic final.

Frequently Asked Questions

Are Jack Hughes and Tate McRae still together?
No. Page Six reported in August 2026 that they had split after several months of dating. The two sides disagree on who ended it, but both agree the romance is over.

Did Jack Hughes and Tate McRae ever confirm their relationship?
No. They never publicly confirmed the romance. Everything the public knows comes from sightings, unnamed sources, and tabloid reporting — which is why details should be taken with appropriate caution.

How did Jack Hughes and Tate McRae meet?
According to multiple reports, Hughes initiated contact by reaching out to McRae through her Instagram direct messages. They were first spotted together in New York City in November–December 2025.

Who is Tate McRae dating now?
As of October 2026, McRae has not publicly confirmed any new relationship. She was last spotted attending events solo, including the 2026 US Open in September.

Faizi is a content writer at AllAboutFacts (hotteamnames.com), covering vocabulary, language tips, and everyday explainers.

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