What We Know About Sophia Bush's Soon-To-Be Ex-Husband
"One Tree Hill" star Sophia Bush made her relationship with Grant Hughes official after announcing her engagement in 2021. Bush took to her Instagram to share the happy news, posting a photo of Hughes down on one knee and popping the question.
"So it turns out that being your favorite person's favorite person is the actual best feeling on planet Earth #YES," Bush captioned the snap. She went on to call Hughes her "favorite human" and the proposal "the most incredible, moving surprise of my life." She continued, writing, "My heart. It bursts." Hughes also shared the good news on social media. "She is my forever Favorite," he wrote. "This is my favorite. And our life is that we're building because she said 'Yes' is already my favorite. I am SO EXCITED to do life with you, my love."
Bush and Hughes were first linked back in May 2020 when they were spotted holding hands as they strolled through Malibu, as E! Online reported. Bush was previously married to her "One Tree Hill" co-star Chad Michael Murray, but they called it quits after only five months (via Bustle). Although Bush and Hughes' relationship did last longer, they, too, ended up calling it quits in 2023. While you are likely very familiar with Murray, chances are you don't know a ton about Hughes. Here's what we've learned.
Grant Hughes is an entrepreneur and fitness lover
Grant Hughes is the founder of FocusMotion Health, an organization based in Santa Monica that strives to "[create] data-driven orthopedic recovery solutions" for surgery patients, according to Us Weekly. Hughes acts as the chief strategy officer for the company, which was founded in 2013. In addition to his work, he's also very active in his community. Hughes has been known to volunteer at the Wayfarer Foundation, which provides clothes, medical and hygiene services, and food to people living on the streets of Los Angeles.
Hughes also helped create the Venice Book Club, which meets once a month to discuss literature and drink wine. Judging from his social media posts, Hughes also loves to travel. He's shared photos from his trips to many locations, including Israel, Indonesia, and Micronesia. He also appears to make family a priority, taking trips with his relatives to places such as Idaho and Canada. As for his hobbies, he's a fitness buff, having competed in marathons and triathlons over the years.
Grant Hughes and Sophia Bush said 'I do' in 2022
Sophia Bush and Grant Hughes tied the knot in June 2022 at the Philbrook Museum of Art in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Bush revealed to Vogue that she wanted to showcase the city during her wedding, as the place held great importance to their relationship. "When thinking about the purpose of our wedding, we wanted our community that pours into us to pour into a community at large that we love and that deserves all our attention," the "One Tree Hill" alum said. During the ceremony, Bush wore a Monique Lhuillier gown that was inspired by her love of Oklahoma, California, and Italy, and that honored the heritage of both her and Hughes' families.
The couple did things in their own way for the ceremony, meeting in the middle of the aisle and walking hand in hand the rest of the way before exchanging vows. Of course, some of Bush's celebrity pals, such as Aaron Paul, Jeffrey Dean Morgan, Jensen Ackles, and Debra Messing, were in attendance for the event, as well as her former co-stars Bethan Joy Lenz, Hilarie Burton, and Daneel Ackles. After the wedding, Bush and Hughes planned an epic honeymoon to Africa, where they viewed the wildlife and enjoyed the scenery.
After marrying, the actor changed her last name and added "wife" to her Instagram bio.
Sophia Bush filed for divorce from Grant Hughes
After a little over a year of marriage, Sophia Bush reportedly filed for divorce from FocusMotion co-founder Grant Hughes. The news of their breakup came as a shock given that Bush had shared a sweet message on social media celebrating their wedding anniversary only a few weeks before the filing.
In the since-deleted post, which featured a black and white photo of the couple at their beautiful Tulsa wedding, the actor wrote, "Today marks 365 days of calling you 'husband.' Best decision of my life," adding, "It still feels just like this. Ecstatic. Running toward the future, grinning and laughing, together. I love you, my favorite. Happy Anniversary."
According to the divorce filing obtained by Page Six, Bush cited "irreconcilable differences" as the reason for the divorce. She also revealed that she and Hughes had separated on June 27, just about two weeks after their wedding anniversary. Page Six reported that the "One Tree Hill" star is intent on upholding their prenup agreement, which includes forgoing spousal support for both parties, among other things.
Grant Hughes will reportedly continue to run a nonprofit with Sophia Bush
Sophia Bush and Grant Hughes, who met in Nicaragua years before dating, became fast friends. They ended up reconnecting during the pandemic, with a source close to the couple telling People, "Sophia and Grant were friends for 10 years and bonded during COVID through their love of community service." And as Bush herself said in an episode of "Podcrushed," "It's not lost on me that our reconnection occurred over serving community first. That was really meaningful to me."
In 2022, Sophia Bush and Grant Hughes went on to establish the Bush Hughes Foundation, a nonprofit that "[supports] organizations and individuals working for equity, social justice, and progress in the City of Tulsa" — a place near and dear to their hearts. In advance of their wedding, Bush and Hughes requested donations be made to the foundation in place of gifts.
Despite Bush filing for divorce in 2023, she and her ex intend to continue running their nonprofit together "and remain good friends," a source alleged to People.
He scrubbed his Instagram account, as did Sophia Bush
It wasn't long after news of the divorce filing got out that Sophia Bush and Grant Hughes scrubbed each other's presence from their respective Instagram accounts. Additionally, Bush, who'd previously changed her display name on social media to Sophia Hughes, quickly reverted back to her maiden name, according to Page Six.
Some photos of Bush and Hughes' wedding still remain on the actor's feed, and while Grant Hughes can still be spotted in a few group shots, all pictures of just the two of them have been taken down. As for Hughes, he scrubbed all but one photo of the once-happy couple, which was taken on the entrepreneur's 40th birthday.
Included in the wiped posts was his anniversary tribute to Bush, in which he wrote, "What a full, beautiful, dynamic, exciting, growth-filled year we've had together. I truly love doing life with you!"
Hughes has remained quiet since the split, whereas Bush is reclaiming her singleness
Although Grant Hughes removed images of Sophia Bush from his Instagram feed, he's remained mum on the divorce filing. Additionally, he hasn't posted on Instagram since even before the couple separated. It seems unlikely that we'll know all the details behind the split from either party, especially considering that Sophia Bush stayed quiet about her previous divorce from Chad Michael Murray. However, unlike Hughes, Bush is sharing snippets of her single life with fans over on social media.
In August 2023, Bush was spotted at one of Taylor Swift's Eras tour shows. In an Instagram story posted by her friend Jordan Brown, Bush was seen dancing and singing along to Swift's hit song "I Knew You Were Trouble" (via Page Six). Additionally, Bush repurposed one of her wedding dresses — a silver Cristina Ottaviano number – for a Beyoncé concert. Bush captioned photos from the event: "[Beyoncé] called her Renaissance 'a place to dream/escape/to feel free/adventurous/to create a safe place/without judgment/a place to be free/to scream/release/feel freedom/a beautiful journey/exploration.' Can confirm."