Why Vanessa Hudgens Says She’s Grateful for Austin Butler Split

Vanessa Hudgens is glad she went her own way.

The High School Musical alum reflected on her nine-year relationship with ex Austin Butler while sharing how she feels her past romances ultimately brought her to husband Cole Tucker.

"I feel like so much of my character was built from my breakups," Vanessa explained on the She Pivots podcast's March 6 episode. "My last breakup had really catapulted me into a very, very special place."

"It pushed me to the right person, which I'm so grateful for," she continued, adding of Cole, "He is just the most supportive, real, understanding human being that I've ever met."

Vanessa and Austin broke up after nearly a decade together in early 2020. And since then, the former couple appear to have found what they'd been looking for. The Elvis star began dating model Kaia Gerber in 2022, while the Spring Breakers actress tied the knot with Cole in Tulum, Mexico, in December.

And ahead of the nuptials, the 35-year-old admitted the planning process was overwhelming—in the best possible way.

"It is so much," she told E! News in November. "So many things to decide on. And it's hard for me because I love so many different styles."

And ultimately, the planning process worked out as she and the baseball player were absolutely soaring, flying after their wedding.

"It was genuinely the most magical weekend of my life," Vanessa told Vogue in December. "I am so grateful that we got to have a private wedding, and it helped that I took everyone's phones away. It was amazing because at the dinner, I would look around and everyone was talking to each other—our family and friend groups coming together and creating real relationships that I know they're going to invest real time into."

She added, "I couldn't have dreamt it to be any better."

Keep reading to relive some of Cole and Vanessa's fairytale love story.

Vanessa shared her first Instagram photo with Cole on Valentine's Day 2021, three months after the two sparked romance rumors with a romantic dinner date in Los Angeles. She captioned the pic, "It's you, it's me, it's us. @cotuck."

The couple made their red carpet debut as a couple at the premiere of the film, starring Vanessa, at 2021 AFI Fest in Hollywood, Calif.

The two attended the premiere of the Netflix movie in New York City.

"Happy vday from us crazies," Vanessa captioned this Instagram pic.

The two watched John Mayer perform at Los Angeles' Hollywood Palladium for SiriusXM and Pandora's Small Stage Series.

The pair walked the carpet at the 28th Screen Actors Guild Awards in Santa Monica, Calif.

"Happy opening day my [king]," Vanessa captioned this Instagram tribute to her partner, a Pittsburgh Pirates player at the time, which she shared on the MLB's opening day in 2022.

The actress appeared with her partner on the baseball field.

"Happy Halloween from Sting and Miss Argentina," Vanessa captioned this Instagram pic.

"Merry af," Vanessa captioned this Instagram photo.

Vanessa and Cole confirmed their engagement on Feb. 9, sharing a picture of the actress rocking some bling on her wedding ring finger. "YES," the Instagram post read. "We couldn't be happier."

Vanessa joked about eloping with Cole after running into roadblocks during the wedding planning process. "Finding a venue is tough," she admitted on The Drew Barrymore Show. "I kind of just want to elope. I'm lost, I don't know."

The couple tied the knot on Dec. 2, 2023 in Tulum, Mexico. The 100-guest ceremony was attended by family and close friends, including Sarah Hyland and Alexandra Shipp—who sereved as bridesmaids—as well as Vanessa's former High School Musical costars Monique Coleman and Lucas Grabeel.

Cole celebrated Vanessa's first birthday as a married woman with a romantic tribute reading, "Happy birthday to my wife!!!!!!"