13 Times Celebs Watched Their Exes Perform Live (And If The Songs Were About Them)

13 Times Celebs Watched Their Exes Perform Live (And If The Songs Were About Them)

When you're a celebrity who's dating other celebrities, watching awards show performances or attending concerts probably has the same energy as this deleted Miley Cyrus tweet.

Miley Cyrus / Via twitter.com

Here are 13 times singers performed in front of their exes:

2.Christie Brinkley and Billy Joel were married from 1985-1994. He wrote his iconic song "Uptown Girl" about her early in their relationship. Decades later, when Christie attended his NYC show in 2024, Billy played the song while she happily sang along.

Billy and Christie dressed nicely, posing with their arms around each other

You can watch a clip from the performance here.

Bruce Glikas / FilmMagic / Via Getty

3.At the 2015 VMAs, Justin Bieber performed "What Do You Mean?". His ex-girlfriend, Selena Gomez, was in attendance, and she reportedly went backstage with her friends ahead of his appearance.

Justin Bieber performs on stage, wearing a dark t-shirt and pants, with fans reaching towards him
Justin Bieber performs on stage, wearing a dark t-shirt and pants, with fans reaching towards him
Selena Gomez in a long dress with a zipper detail, standing in front of a Music Awards backdrop
Selena Gomez in a long dress with a zipper detail, standing in front of a Music Awards backdrop

Jeff Kravitz / FilmMagic / Via Getty, C Flanigan / Getty Images

Justin and Selena dated on and off between 2010-2018.

At the end of the song, Justin cried.

Justin Bieber emotionally performing on stage
John Shearer / Getty Images

He later explained the emotional moment on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon.

Justin says he was overwhelmed by the performance and didn't expect the audience to be so supportive
NBC / Via youtube.com

Watch Justin's full performance below:

4.Then, in 2016, Justin Bieber posted a throwback picture of himself kissing his ex-girlfriend Selena Gomez on Instagram, captioning it, "feels." A few days later, she reportedly attended one of his shows in LA.

Two individuals in formal attire posing together, one in a red dress, the other in a black suit with a red pocket square

5.Halsey reportedly dated The 1975 singer Matty Healy in 2015. Then, in 2022, she showed up at one of the band's shows.

Halsey with a microphone wearing a dark outfit with lace detail
Halsey with a microphone wearing a dark outfit with lace detail
Matty in concert playing guitar, with stage lighting and screen backdrop
Matty in concert playing guitar, with stage lighting and screen backdrop

Gabriel Olsen / Via Getty, Tim Mosenfelder / Getty Images

Halsey even posted clips on their Instagram story, praising Matty for the show's "very cool production."

Band The 1975 performing on stage with a house-like set design, captioned with a fan noting cool production

6.During the 2019 ACM Awards, Miranda Lambert subtly changed the lyrics to "Little Red Wagon" to reference her split from Blake Shelton, whom she'd lived in Oklahoma with during their marriage.

Miranda changed the words from "I live in Oklahoma" to "I got the hell out of Oklahoma"
RCA Nashville / Rich Fury/ACMA2019 / Getty Images for ACM / Via youtube.com

Blake and his new partner (and now wife) Gwen Stefani were in the audience.

Blake Shelton in a suit and Gwen Stefani in a sparkly outfit, seated at an event

Watch Miranda's performance below, with this part starting at the one-minute mark:

7.Taylor Swift and Taylor Lautner reportedly dated for a few months in late 2009. Then, in 2023, Swift surprised fans by bringing Lautner out on stage at The Eras Tour for the premiere of her "I Can See You" music video — which he also starred in!

the Taylors hugging onstage
John Shearer / Getty Images for TAS Rights Management

Lautner and his wife — who's also named Taylor Lautner — attended several of Swift's shows together. In a video on her Instagram stories, they joked about having "post Taylor Swift show depression."

Taylor Lautner and Tay Lautner in a screenshot captioned, "when one show isn't enough, it's real"
Tay Lautner / Via Instagram: @taylautner

8.Country singer Chase Rice and Victoria Fuller "spent a night together in Charlotte." He knew she was going on The Bachelor, but when he played a private concert on the show, he was "pretty surprised" when Victoria showed up on a date with Peter Weber.

Chase sings while Peter and Victoria slow dance

Here's the full clip of their verrrrry awkward date:

9.Kendall Jenner and Harry Styles were first the subject of romance rumors in 2013, and they were reportedly linked again between 2015-2016. Then, in 2022, she went to one of his concerts in Los Angeles with Kylie Jenner and Hailey Bieber.

Kendall and Hailey dancing at the concert
Xpos / IMP FEATURES / BACKGRID

Fans speculated that Harry blew Kendall a kiss during "Love of My Life," which is rumored to be about her.

Harry and Kendall talking in fancy outfits at the Met Gala
Kevin Mazur / Getty Images for The Met Museum/Vogue

10.When Bad Bunny played Coachella in 2023, his ex-girlfriend, Gabriela Berlingeri, was reportedly seen in the VIP area, where his then-girlfriend, Kendall Jenner, was also watching from.

on a red carpet, Gabriela in a metallic gown with cut-outs, Bad Bunny in a pastel suit, both posing for cameras
on a red carpet, Gabriela in a metallic gown with cut-outs, Bad Bunny in a pastel suit, both posing for cameras
at a basketball game, Bad Bunny in a leather jacket and glasses, Kendall in a snakeskin skirt and knee-high boots
at a basketball game, Bad Bunny in a leather jacket and glasses, Kendall in a snakeskin skirt and knee-high boots

Telemundo / NBCU Photo Bank via Getty Images, Jim Poorten / NBAE via Getty Images

Bad Bunny reportedly dated Gabriela on and off from 2017-2022 then dated Kendall from 2023-2024.

11.Country singer Lindsay Ell and radio host Bobby Bones were together for about a year before their 2017 split. In 2019, Bobby invited Lindsay to perform at his Million Dollar Show fundraiser concert.

Lindsay with guitar singing on stage, denim jacket, joyous expression
Jason Kempin / Getty Images

In 2020, Lindsay returned and played her new song, "I Don't Love You." Bobby was on stage during the performance. From the crowd, someone shouted, "You messed up, Bobby!" And Bobby replied, "Gettin' the sympathy vote out there, I appreciate that."

Lindsay and Bobby hugging on stage

12.Lady Gaga and Taylor Kinney got engaged in 2015 but broke up in 2016. However, they remained friends, and in 2017, Taylor attended her show in Chicago.

Lady Gaga in a gown with pants with Taylor Kinney in a tuxedo at an event

13.When Adele played the BST Hyde Park Festival in London in 2022, her ex-husband, Simon Konecki, was reportedly spotted watching the show next to her current partner, Rich Paul.

Simon in a dark suit and Adele in a floral dress, sitting together at an event
Simon in a dark suit and Adele in a floral dress, sitting together at an event
Adele in a ruffled off-shoulder gown, Rich in a classic tuxedo, seated together at an event
Adele in a ruffled off-shoulder gown, Rich in a classic tuxedo, seated together at an event

Kevin Mazur / WireImage / Via Getty, Johnny Nunez / Getty Images for The Recording Academy

Adele and Simon were married from 2018-2019. She and Rich went public with their romance in 2021.

14.And finally, Stevie Nicks and Lindsey Buckingham's breakup was immortalized through tracks they both penned for Fleetwood Mac's 1977 breakout album, Rumours. However, Stevie's magnum opus, "Silver Springs," was cut from the tracklist without her input and relegated to the B-side of their single "Go Your Own Way" (which was Lindsay's POV of the split). However, in 1997, the band resurrected "Silver Springs" for their live album The Dance.

Stevie with long hair singing into a microphone on stage

They recorded a live performance of the song with Lindsey on guitar. It's becoming one of Fleetwood Mac's most enduring songs, proving Stevie's lyrics to be true: "You'll never get away from the sound of the woman that loves you."

Singer Stevie Nicks on stage with Lindsey Buckingham on guitar
Reprise / Via youtube.com

Watch their iconic 1997 live performance below: