The Truth About Chris Lane And Lauren Bushnell's Relationship
As Chris Lane and Lauren Bushnell know full well, for people who have any degree of fame — whether they're an Instagram influencer or a Grammy-winning artist — finding love can prove to be more of a challenge than it is for anyone else. Living life in the public eye isn't easy, and it's something that both Lane and Bushnell had to deal with before they even met. But, once the two did get together, the public kind of loved it. Sure, it was an unexpected pairing, but between Bushnell's time on The Bachelor and Lane's rising star in the country music world, it just made since.
Though they had both dealt with heartbreak before in very public ways, the truth about Chris Lane and Lauren Bushnell's relationship is that the pair truly do belong together. And once they found each other, it was almost as if everything else faded away. Truly this is a couple that just wants to be together, period.
Chris Lane and Lauren Bushnell met when she was dating someone else
Even if you hardly know anything about Lauren Bushnell, you probably at least know that she was once engaged to former Bachelor Ben Higgins. And in fact, Bushnell and Higgins were actually still an item when she first met Chris Lane. Though nothing happened at the time, it's still interesting to see just how far back their relationship goes.
In an interview with Hollywood Life, Bushnell explained that she met Lane while she was still with Higgins. "We met at an iHeart Radio award show in Austin years ago, gosh it might've been three years ago, and that's when we met initially and kind of just became friends," she said in the interview. However, E! News reported that this meeting took place in 2016, when Bushnell and Higgins were together. Though Bushnell and Lane weren't meant to be together right when they first met, it definitely put them on the path to their happily ever after, that's for sure.
Lauren Bushnell had a high-profile breakup before dating Chris Lane
Lauren Bushnell rose to fame when she appeared on Season 20 of The Bachelor and ended up stealing the heart of Bachelor Ben Higgins. In 2016, Higgins and Bushnell got engaged, and the entire nation was there to cheer them on. That excitement continued as the pair launched their own reality series, Ben and Lauren: Happily Ever After, which featured the couple going through some seriously rough times (via People).
Then, in May of 2017, they officially ended things. In a statement to People, the couple shared the sad news. "It is with heavy hearts that we announce our decision to go our separate ways," they said in a statement. "We feel fortunate for the time we had together, and will remain friends with much love and respect for one another. We wish nothing but the best for each other, and ask for your support and understanding at this time." Many fans were saddened by the news (by the way, here's the real reason Ben Higgins and Lauren Bushnell split), but it was clearly what was best for both Higgins and Bushnell. And it set into motion Bushnell's eventual fairytale ending with a different prince, Chris Lane.
Chris Lane dated another Bachelor contestant before Lauren Bushnell
Though the original intent of The Bachelor was for contestants to find love, in more recent years, the show has become a launchpad of sorts for contestants to become Instagram influencers, as noted by Refinery29, and to date famous people once they leave the show. That's sort of why it shouldn't shock anyone that Lauren Bushnell wasn't the first lady from Bachelor Nation whom Chris Lane pursued.
Specifically, Us Weekly reported that Lane actually dated one of Bushnell's fellow contestants from Season 20 of The Bachelor, Lauren Barr. Not only did Lane seem to have a thing for Bachelor ladies, but he looks to have had a thing for Season 20 Bachelor ladies, which is pretty awkward. However, a source told Us Weekly that Bushnell was mature about the situation and called Barr herself to tell her she had started seeing Lane. Notably, Us Weekly also linked Lane to Clare Crawley, a former contestant of The Bachelor and the lead of Season 16's The Bachelorette. It appears Lane liked to look around Bachelor Nation for potential girlfriends, though, with how gorgeous they all are, who could blame him?
They confirmed their relationship not long after Lauren Bushnell broke up with an ex
When Lauren Bushnell and Chris Lane first got together, it made headlines. An insider confirmed to Us Weekly that Lane and Bushnell were officially an item in November 2018. "Chris had his arm around Lauren as they walked onto the red carpet and they posed together," the source said of the pair's appearance at the BMI Country Music Awards. "Lauren was standing front row during Chris' performance." The couple's red carpet appearance definitely seemed to confirm that they were together just a little over a year since her breakup from Ben Higgins.
But Lane wasn't Bushnell's rebound from Higgins, as it turns out. Bushnell actually dated Devin Antin just two months after ending things with Higgins, though they split after over a year together, according to Us Weekly. It was just three months later that Bushnell and Lane appeared at the BMI Country Music Awards together, so there's no doubt that Bushnell felt strongly about Lane.
Lauren Bushnell's ex approved of her relationship with Chris Lane
While Lauren Bushnell and Ben Higgins didn't work out in the end, the two still shared a lot of time together, so fans couldn't help but wonder whether or not Higgins approved of Bushnell's relationship with Chris Lane. And as it turned out, they didn't need to worry. Ever the charmer, Higgins had nothing but nice things to say about his ex-fiancée and her new beau.
"This one was one I didn't know about," Higgins said in an interview with Entertainment Tonight regarding Bushnell's newly announced relationship with Lane. "I think the first time, when she was dating Devin [Antin], I remember that feeling — like the Band-Aid getting ripped off. This time, and I mean this, I really want Lauren to be fulfilled and happy, whether it's with Chris or not." Aw, that's pretty sweet and mature for an ex to say, and while it couldn't have been easy for Higgins to learn that Bushnell had really moved on from him, it's clear he really does just want the best for her.
Chris Lane is close to Lauren Bushnell's dad
While not everyone is close to their families, both Chris Lane and Lauren Bushnell have made it clear that they are. Specifically, Bushnell's father seemingly has a close relationship with Lane, something that has no doubt strengthened their relationship.
In a 2019 interview, Lane explained how much he admired Bushnell's father. "Meeting Lauren was the absolute best thing to ever happen to me, but it's so cool that I'm just as lucky to now also have her dad in my life," Lane told Taste of Country. But that's not all. In a Father's Day promotion for Dick's Sporting Goods, Lane and Bushnell's father hung out while shopping for golf clubs, and they seemed to have a great time together. "Hey pro tip, if you wanna impress your girlfriend, get her dad some new clubs for Father's Day," he told the cameras with a wink. Getting dad's approval can be scary for some people, but Lane made it look easy.
One of Chris Lane's songs took on "new meaning" after he started dating Lauren Bushnell
In December of 2018, just about a month after Chris Lane and Lauren Bushnell made their relationship red carpet official, Lane revealed that the two were taking a big step in their relationship: Bushnell was going to meet Lane's parents.
In an interview with People, Lane revealed that he really never saw the trip home with Bushnell coming. "[Lauren] and I have been hanging out not even that long, but realized we both like each other," he explained. "We've been friends for literally several years and just kept in touch here and there ... We had no idea we were going to end up liking each other and it spawned into what it is now." Additionally, Lane revealed that one of his hit songs, "Take Back Home Girl," was on his mind. It "took on a whole new meaning for me, especially now that she's going to meet my parents," he said. That it did.
Chris Lane and Lauren Bushnell moved in together in 2019
In March 2019, Chris Lane and Lauren Bushnell truly took things to the next level when they moved in together. At that point, the two had only been an official couple for five months, so that big of a step must have meant that they were serious about each other. And, more than that, they were both confident in where their relationship was headed.
It was Bushnell who first appeared to confirm that she and Lane were living together. In the caption of a selfie with Lane that she shared on Instagram, Bushnell casually revealed that she was living with the country music star. "Took a break from moving for some hockey (in my case chicken strips and a much needed glass of wine.) Also — my roommate is kinda cute?!" Then Lane confirmed they were living together in an interview with E! News. "Going from living with nobody to having a girl in the house all the time now, has actually been a very easy transition and one that I really love a lot," he said. "We eat dinner, we talk, we sit on the couch and watch movies, whatever it is." Bushnell and Lane might have moved quickly, but they were as happy as can be about it.
Chris Lane proposed to Lauren Bushnell in the most romantic way
Unsurprisingly, just a few months after Chris Lane and Lauren Bushnell moved in together, their relationship took yet another leap. As People reported in June 2019, the pair got engaged in the most romantic, meaningful setting.
Because Bushnell had already had a whirlwind romance and proposal when she was on The Bachelor, Lane was prepared to make his proposal stand out. "I knew she wouldn't want some elaborate crazy proposal," Lane told People. "So, I decided to keep it pretty casual." He shared, "I asked her parents for different places in Portland I could potentially take her to, but after a lot of thought I decided doing it at the family cookout would be the most laid-back setting and that she'd appreciate the simplicity of me proposing to her in her parents' backyard." Lane also romanced Bushnell with a new song he wrote for her, "Big, Big Plans," before popping the question, and Bushnell happily said yes. And with a 3.5-carat ring on her finger, Bushnell truly was the most stunning bride to be.
Chris Lane and Lauren Bushnell weren't engaged for long before marrying
Chris Lane and Lauren Bushnell might have been together for less than a year before they got engaged, but that didn't mean that they took things any slower after their engagement. In fact, the pair was only engaged for five months before they officially tied the knot in an intimate ceremony, according to People.
The pair married in Nashville in November 2019, and the wedding was obviously stunning. But aesthetics aside, it was Lane who got the most emotional on the big day. While reading his vows, he told People he almost couldn't handle it. "I didn't even get to finish because I had already gotten choked up a little bit and then I regained composure and then started losing it again," he said. "So I just went ahead and ended wherever I was on my sheet, and I just said, 'I love you, baby.'" At the end of the day, loving each other is the most important thing, so even though Lane didn't finish his vows, it's clear he and Bushnell have a long and happy marriage in front of them.
Chris Lane and Lauren Bushnell didn't have a traditional honeymoon
Chris Lane and Lauren Bushnell are both celebrities in their own right, and their wedding was obviously fit for two stars. It was beautiful, well-planned, and pretty fancy (via People). However, the couple didn't take a huge, luxurious honeymoon afterwards like you might expect a celeb couple to do.
In fact, they didn't really have much of a honeymoon at all. "It was one of those things where we both agreed that a honeymoon at this time sounded like being home in our own bed with our dog," Bushnell told People. Because Lane had just finished a tour and the pair were about to move, a staycation was all they wanted at that point. And really, that's understandable. Though the couple didn't go on a traditional honeymoon immediately following their wedding like most couples, they did still get a vacation at some point. According to Bushnell's Instagram, she and Lane were on a beach at some point in March 2020, so at least they got a getaway eventually.
The two share a strong faith
While many celebrities choose not to talk about their own personal beliefs and religious leanings, Chris Lane and Lauren Bushnell are not those kinds of public figures. Like many country singers, Lane has a strong Christian faith, and it appears that Bushnell does as well.
In an interview with the Tennessean, Lane revealed how important religion is to him. "I want people to know that I have strong faith and God is one thing that I try to keep first and foremost more than anything else," he said. And according to Bushnell, he uses that faith to help her out as well. In a blunt Instagram post, Bushnell shared how she was hoping to get pregnant and when she wasn't, Lane stepped in. "When I was talking about it with Chris he said 'well, have you prayed about it?' I said 'well, yes' and he responded 'Have you really prayed hard about it. If that's what we really want, pray, and know it will happen in God's time if it's what He wants for us!! I'll pray with you!'" she wrote.
Clearly, Lane and Bushnell value their faith, and it might be one reason why they fell in love so quickly, too.
Chris Lane and Lauren Bushnell made big moves together
As is the case with many married couples, Chris Lane and Lauren Bushnell really started to settle down as a little family before getting married. While the pair was already living together before they got engaged, in August 2019, just ahead of their wedding, Bushnell announced that they had bought a house together, but that wasn't all.
In the caption of a photo of herself with Lane and an adorable dog on Instagram, Bushnell shared the exciting news that they had added a new member to their family. "It's without shock to anyone who knows me well but, we have decided to make Cooper a permanent part of our family," she wrote, referring to their new pup. "So happy we get to love you Coop — now that we have adopted you I'll start working on your dad and finding you a brother/sister, but for now it's the 3 of us!" Clearly, Bushnell and Lane started putting down roots early on, and they couldn't have been happier about it.
Are Chris Lane and Lauren Bushnell ready to start a family?
While a new house and a new puppy may have already been exciting enough for Lauren Bushnell and Chris Lane, the two aren't done adding to their family. In fact, they're ready to start having children, and Bushnell has been very open about that, something that takes a lot of courage.
In an Instagram post all about appreciating Lane, Bushnell revealed what she had been stressing about lately. "About to get personal but I am very excited to start a family and get asked when we are having kids ALL the time but it just hasn't happened yet," she wrote. Additionally, in an interview with People, she shared that having a child was something she truly valued and longed for. "In terms of future goals, to me, that's my number one goal is having a family," she added. "Career stuff is amazing and I feel very blessed, but I've always wanted to be a mom. I'm excited, that's my number one most exciting next chapter." Who knows what exactly is in store for Lane and Bushnell, but it's clear they're both excited to be parents.