Courteney Cox and Johnny McDaid enjoyed more than a 10-year relationship filled with high highs and documented lows before they eventually called it quits in June 2026.
After first being introduced by mutual friend Ed Sheeran, the former Friends star and Snow Patrol musician began dating in September 2013, entering a whirlwind romance that saw them getting engaged less than a year later in June 2014.
Despite a blip in their relationship — the two called off their engagement in November 2014 but were back together by March 2015 — the stars have seemed incredibly happy together, frequently gushing about each other in interviews and on social media.
“I know that I’ve never loved like I love this woman,” McDaid told Us Weekly in May 2016.
For her part, Cox frequently shares cozy Instagram posts with the Irish guitarist. “He’s the kindest, most patient, best listener, curious, caring, not to mention talented and gorgeous partner,” she captioned an Instagram birthday tribute to her beau in July 2021. “I love you jmd.”
Years later, in June 2026, multiple media outlets reported that the pair had called it quits after more than a decade together.
Scroll down to learn more about Cox and McDaid’s romance:
2013
At some point in 2013, Cox and McDaid were introduced by mutual friend Sheeran.
September 2013
The couple officially went on their first date on September 24, 2013, and the Friends alum has marked the occasion on Instagram ever since.
October 2013
McDaid and Cox’s relationship was still hush-hush at this point, but her ex-husband, David Arquette, told Howard Stern at the time that she and boyfriend Brian Van Holt had broken up.
December 2013
Rumors began swirling that the two were an item after they were spotted going to Jennifer Aniston’s holiday party together.
January 2014
Cox and McDaid confirmed their relationship by hitting up multiple events together.
April 2014
Sheeran spilled the beans on the pair’s living situation. “I’m not sure that it’s public knowledge, so maybe I shouldn’t have said anything – but, yes, they’re already living together,” the “Perfect” singer told The Mirror at the time. “Things are moving fast. He moved in and, judging by the last time I saw them, they couldn’t be happier.”
June 2014
Cox and McDaid announced their engagement on social media on June 26, 2014 with a sweet selfie.
The TV star later revealed on Jimmy Kimmel Live! that the Snow Patrol singer popped the question while at her 50th birthday party at Aniston’s house — and that he asked her daughter, Coco, for permission. “He said, ‘I’d like to marry your mom,’ and gave her a little diamond ring,” she recalled. “She said, ‘Great, I’m going to camp tomorrow. Let’s do it right now.’”
February 2015
Cox accompanied her fiancé to the 2015 Grammy Awards, where he was nominated for Album of the Year for his work on X, Sheeran’s record.
September 2015
The Shining Vale lead shared a photo of McDaid kissing her on the forehead — their last photo together before calling off their engagement two months later.
November 2015
It’s over (for the time being). Cox and McDaid called off their engagement after reportedly having problems over Thanksgiving.
March 2016
Several months later, the two reunited romantically and celebrated Easter together.
May 2016
McDaid didn’t hold back his love for Cox when speaking to Us Weekly. “I know that I’ve never loved like I love this woman. So if that’s enough, then that’s enough,” he said.The Scream lead told Us, “Well, we love each other … and yes, we are happy!”
August 2016
Cox explained to Bear Grylls why exactly she and McDaid split, calling the breakup “so brutal.”
“There’s something about … you know, he’s from Ireland. And the way he regards love is precious. … I didn’t know how to regard love the way he does,” she explained, adding, “I didn’t know how to bring it in. It was always external. I definitely have learned a lot, and no matter what, I will be a better person from that breakup.”
September 2016
The “Run” artist inked Cox’s initials on his wrist and showed off the results on Instagram.
June 2017
Cox opened up about the possibility of having kids with McDaid.
“I would love to have a baby now,” she told NewBeauty at the time, elaborating, “I mean, I could carry someone else’s egg. I may be one of the older people doing it, but I would love to, with Johnny that is.”
October 2018
The guitarist opened up to Us about bonding with Cox and Coco, noting that the two “often come over” to spend time with his family, particularly during Christmas. “We all have a big gathering,” he explained.
January 2019
The former NBC star told Ellen DeGeneres that the couple’s relationship is “stronger” after they called off their engagement. That same month, the actress called McDaid “my guy, my one” on an episode of Jimmy Kimmel Live!.
February 2019
With the couple always rocking out together on Instagram, with Cox on the keys, McDaid couldn’t help but gush about his partner’s talent to Us, calling her “a really good piano player.”
March 2020
Unfortunately for the pair, like so many others in the world, this would be the last time they would see each other for nine months — due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic restrictions.
October 2020
Cox told musician Foy Vance on “The Vinyl Supper” podcast that it’s been hard for her to be separated from McDaid, noting at the time, “It’s been 150 days since I last saw him.”
December 2020
The twosome happily reunited after spending months apart, Cox proudly shared on Instagram.
June 2021
Once again, the two were forced to spend time apart in 2021 — but they reunited after two months and a quarantine period. Cox was clearly happy to be back in London with her beau.
January 2022
In an Instagram video packed with star power, Cox, McDaid, Sheeran, Elton John and more all performed together.
January 2022
The Cougar Town star once again revealed her true feelings about her longtime partner in an interview with People.
McDaid is “a great listener. And I’ve never met someone more patient,” she told the outlet. “He’s a great advice-giver. I love his heart, his intentions. His morals. He’s extremely talented and obviously musical, but he’s a poet and a writer. He’s just so smart, and I find that really sexy. And then he is gorgeous.”
February 2022
Cox honored her love on Valentine’s Day 2022, sharing a selfie with him, writing, “I love my Valentine.”
June 2022
“Date night in London ♥️,” the Mothers and Daughters actress captioned a series of Instagram snaps with her beau.
July 2022
“Happy birthday to my multitalented Johnny! He may be getting older (kinda) but watching him play never does. I love you J,” Cox wrote alongside a compilation of sweet Instagram snaps.
February 2023
The couple playfully recreated the iconic Dirty Dancing lift via Instagram with the help of Ed Sheeran and photographer and director Jason Koenig. In the video, Cox convinces her longtime love to lift her up over his head like Patrick Swayze does with Jennifer Grey, but things go awry.
McDaid jumps toward his partner — instead of the other way around — before the footage cuts to show an ambulance driving away. “It’s ok we’re professionals,” Cox joked in the caption.
February 2023
“I’m still in the process of working on my longest and most important projects. Thank you, John, for teaching me to be a better person,” Cox gushed as she received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. “You’re such an amazing and talented person and I’m so lucky to be with you.”
April 2024
“So three years in, we broke up, and it was really intense. We broke up in therapy,” Cox revealed during an interview on Minnie Driver’s “Minnie Questions” podcast. “I didn’t know it was coming.”
Cox explained that she and McDaid were in therapy at the time to work out “boundaries” in their relationship. “I was in so much pain, I also don’t like surprises. And he’s an incredible human being so he wasn’t trying to surprise me,” she added. “He was in that much pain in the relationship. There was that much that needed to be dealt with that he had to protect himself around his heart.”
Cox went on to note that she was “so thankful” for their split, stating that they had a “different relationship” upon getting back together. “But also because it really taught me how I operated in the world — what were the things from my childhood that I needed,” she shared. “Whether it was to be adored by men. Things that I didn’t know how to let go to be in a relationship. To not take things personally. My boundaries, I just went into myself and I had a great therapist.”
June 2026
In June 2026, multiple media outlets reported that the actress and musician officially called it quits after more than a decade together. Neither publicly commented on the news, and Us reached out to reps for both for comment but did not hear back at the time of publication.
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