Second shot at love! Christina Aguilera and Matthew Rutler have been going strong for more than a decade.
The “Fighter” songstress started dating the MasterClass executive in 2010 amid her divorce from Jordan Bratman. The exes, who share son Max, wed in 2005 and announced their breakup in October 2010, with a source telling Us Weekly that they “have been separated for a few months.”
“Our relationship changed. I’ve grown as a woman and he’s grown as a person. We were both looking for different things. We just weren’t right for each other. I couldn’t face living another five years together and feeling that I wasted that time being unhappy,” Aguilera told People at the time. “Things were so unhealthy and unhappy for both Jordan and me, I knew I had to end it. It wasn’t good for us, and it wasn’t good for Max to witness our arguments. Children can feel when things aren’t right in the home. I had bouts of extreme anxiety. I really didn’t want to hurt Jordan, and I felt torn about splitting our family up.”
The Grammy winner’s divorce was settled in February 2011 and finalized that April after Aguilera had gone public with Rutler in late 2010.
“There is a love there. I’m dating and it’s something I haven’t had in a really long time,” she told the outlet, adding that Rutler is “the kind of person you could spend hours with on the phone talking to and all of a sudden it’s daylight.”
By 2012, insiders told Us that their relationship had “turned into something special.” That same year, she gushed about his support amid self-esteem issues.
“I’ve been through my highs, I’ve been through my lows; I’ve been through the gamut of all things in this business. Being too thin. Being bigger … It’s noise I block out automatically. I love my body. My boyfriend loooooves my body,” she told Marie Clare. “My son is healthy and happy, so that’s all that matters to me.”
Nearly four years into their romance, Aguilera and Rutler got engaged on Valentine’s Day in 2014. They welcomed their daughter, Summer Rain, the same year but made it clear they weren’t rushing down the aisle.
“We discuss it when we’re snuggling in bed, but it’s a casual conversation,” she told Women’s Health of wedding planning in 2016. Aguilera went on to gush about their baby girl, telling the magazine: “I swear if I hadn’t called her Summer I would’ve called her Joy because she just lights up a room and she illuminates brightness and happiness.”
Years later, an insider told Us that the twosome were still content without being married.
“There are no wedding plans at the moment. [Christina] and Matt are happy the way they are. They’re one of those couples who don’t need a document to prove their love for each other,” the source said in August 2022, adding that they are “very much in love” and “true homebodies.”
The insider added, “They like to relax at home together just like any normal couple but also love going out and having date nights.”
Scroll through for Aguilera and Rutler’s timeline:
Credit: Matt Baron/Shutterstock
Christina Aguilera and Fiance Matthew Rutler’s Relationship Timeline
Second shot at love! Christina Aguilera and Matthew Rutler have been going strong for more than a decade.
The “Fighter” songstress started dating the MasterClass executive in 2010 amid her divorce from Jordan Bratman. The exes, who share son Max, wed in 2005 and announced their breakup in October 2010, with a source telling Us Weekly that they “have been separated for a few months.”
“Our relationship changed. I’ve grown as a woman and he’s grown as a person. We were both looking for different things. We just weren’t right for each other. I couldn’t face living another five years together and feeling that I wasted that time being unhappy,” Aguilera told People at the time. “Things were so unhealthy and unhappy for both Jordan and me, I knew I had to end it. It wasn’t good for us, and it wasn’t good for Max to witness our arguments. Children can feel when things aren’t right in the home. I had bouts of extreme anxiety. I really didn’t want to hurt Jordan, and I felt torn about splitting our family up.”
The Grammy winner’s divorce was settled in February 2011 and finalized that April after Aguilera had gone public with Rutler in late 2010.
“There is a love there. I’m dating and it’s something I haven’t had in a really long time,” she told the outlet, adding that Rutler is “the kind of person you could spend hours with on the phone talking to and all of a sudden it’s daylight.”
By 2012, insiders told Us that their relationship had “turned into something special.” That same year, she gushed about his support amid self-esteem issues.
“I’ve been through my highs, I’ve been through my lows; I’ve been through the gamut of all things in this business. Being too thin. Being bigger … It’s noise I block out automatically. I love my body. My boyfriend loooooves my body,” she told Marie Clare. “My son is healthy and happy, so that’s all that matters to me.”
Nearly four years into their romance, Aguilera and Rutler got engaged on Valentine’s Day in 2014. They welcomed their daughter, Summer Rain, the same year but made it clear they weren’t rushing down the aisle.
“We discuss it when we’re snuggling in bed, but it’s a casual conversation,” she told Women’s Health of wedding planning in 2016. Aguilera went on to gush about their baby girl, telling the magazine: “I swear if I hadn’t called her Summer I would’ve called her Joy because she just lights up a room and she illuminates brightness and happiness.”
Years later, an insider told Us that the twosome were still content without being married.
“There are no wedding plans at the moment. [Christina] and Matt are happy the way they are. They’re one of those couples who don’t need a document to prove their love for each other,” the source said in August 2022, adding that they are “very much in love” and “true homebodies.”
The insider added, “They like to relax at home together just like any normal couple but also love going out and having date nights.”
Scroll through for Aguilera and Rutler’s timeline:
Credit: Joel Ryan/AP/Shutterstock
2010
The pair met on the set of her movie Burlesque, where he worked as a set assistant.
Credit: Matt Sayles/AP/Shutterstock
2011
Aguilera was arrested for public intoxication in March while in the car with Rutler, who was booked for DUI. Los Angeles County Sheriff’s spokesman Steve Whitmore noted at the time that the officers “had no desire to prosecute” the singer, calling her arrest “a public safety issue,” adding: “When she was able to navigate and to think on her own and make her own way, she was released.”
The charges were dropped against Rutler that April.
Credit: Broadimage/Shutterstock
2013
Us confirmed that the guitarist moved into Aguilera’s Mulholland Estates mansion in Los Angeles.
Credit: Kristin Callahan/Shutterstock
2014
He proposed on February 14. “He asked and I said……” Aguilera wrote via Twitter alongside a snap of her engagement ring.
Credit: Courtesy Matthew Rutler/Instagram
2014
Summer was born in August.
Credit: courtesy Matthew Rutler/Instagram
2015
“Our love is secure enough that we don’t need a wedding to prove our commitment,” she told E! News of why they weren’t eager to plan nuptials. “We are enjoying our daughter, our family and our work for now.”
Credit: Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP/Shutterstock
2019
Aguilera and Rutler brought Max and Summer to The Addams Family premiere in October.
Credit: Courtesy Christina Aguilera/Instagram
2021
The musician penned a lengthy tribute to her man for his 36th birthday in April.
“You continuously impress me with how devoted, driven and hardworking you are, while being a devoted, loving and thoughtful parent & partner. You always strive to be better and never settle for anything but. From being an amazing father to an incredible business man and forward thinker, you innovate and execute ideas on the daily,” she wrote via Instagram. “I remember when Masterclass was just a little idea being tossed around our backyard. Now knowing and seeing first-hand the backstory in how you helped grow it to become the mega success it is, I’m not surprised because I witness the magic behind the machine every day — in every sense of what you do. From helping keep the family glue together to building the successes you do. I’m proud of you and will always be in your corner…cheering you on to keep shining and succeeding in all your wildest dreams. Love you baby. 💋💥🚀.”
Credit: Vianney Le Caer/Invision/AP/Shutterstock
2022
“There are no wedding plans at the moment,” an insider told Us in August. “[Christina] and Matt are happy the way they are. They’re one of those couples who don’t need a document to prove their love for each other.”
Credit: Courtesy Christina Aquilera/Instagram
2022
The couple enjoyed a trip to Vietnam for Aguilera’s 42nd birthday in December.
