Miley Cyrus and Liam Hemsworth's Relationship Timeline: A Look Back

In case you haven't noticed, we love to root for a Hollywood couple (*cough* Vanstin *cough*). But no pair in recent memory has taken us for as much of a ride as Miley Cyrus and Liam Hemsworth. Their decade-long relationship was filled with make-ups, break-ups, and, yes, even a broken engagement.

Even when plans for a wedding were back on, we still weren't sure whether Cyrus and Hemsworth would actually go through with it (surprisingly, neither were they). However, the Hannah Montana star ultimately walked down the aisle in December 2018, and she and her beau were pronounced husband and wife. Everyone rejoiced for their happy ending — but it proved premature. Less than a year after getting married, the pair divorced.

Although fans were surprised — or probably more accurately, disappointed — by the split, it didn't necessarily come out of the blue. "Like, it's not, 'One day you were happy on the carpet, and the next you're making out with your friend in Italy,'" Cyrus said on the Joe Rogan Experience podcast, adding, "Well, there was a lot of time between that you didn't see."

Here's a look back at Miley Cyrus and Liam Hemsworth's relationship.

2009: Miley Cyrus and Liam Hemsworth first meet and are spotted together

The pair first met in 2009 on the set of the film adaptation of Nicholas Sparks's The Last Song, and their chemistry was instant. They started dating during filming and, according to People, were even spotted "full-on making out" at an airport after shooting wrapped, with the "Wrecking Ball" singer acting "as giddy as a schoolgirl."

March 2010: Miley Cyrus and Liam Hemsworth begin their on-again, off-again romance

For the next year and a half, the tabloids became obsessed with #Miam. In March 2010, Cyrus finally confirmed that the two were officially dating, calling Hemsworth "my boyfriend" during an interview with E! News. However, that August, Us Weekly reported that the couple had split for the first time.

The breakup was short-lived, with the pair finding their way back together again just a month later, confirmed Just Jared. Then, in October, E! reported that the couple was "taking a break" ... before reportedly reuniting the following year in April 2011, per TMZ. Keeping up?

May 31, 2012: Miley Cyrus and Liam Hemsworth get engaged

In June 2012, People confirmed that the lovebirds were officially engaged after three years of dating. Hemsworth proposed to Cyrus on May 31 with a 3.5-carat Neil Lane engagement ring. The actress shared her excitement on Twitter on June 6, writing, "All my dreams are coming true."

While there's no denying that Cyrus and Hemsworth were madly in love with each other, a source close to the singer told People that "there was no way they were ready for that kind of commitment." 

"When they got engaged the first time, they were just kids," referring to the fact that Cyrus was 19 and Hemsworth was 22. Not to mention, during that time, they both began to feel pressure from their careers.

The source added, "When the Disney era of her life was over, Miley was lost and wanted to break out of that image. Liam's career was also blowing up with Hunger Games, and they were being pulled a million different ways. He didn't know how to handle the attention and drama."

Another breakup seemed almost inevitable, and dare we say, it came in like a wrecking ball.

September 16, 2013: Miley Cyrus and Liam Hemsworth call off their engagement

Fast forward to 15 months post-engagement. E! News confirmed that Cyrus had called off any plans for marrying Hemsworth "after coming to grips with Liam being what she believed was less than faithful to her." 

A source shared with People that "Miley went through a lot of soul-searching as she grew up and became her own person. Miley had trust issues, and Liam felt she was needy."

Following the breakup, which lasted two years, the singer went through quite the transformation to find who she was in a post-Hannah Montana world — experimenting with her image, her sound, and even her dating life. We saw Cyrus trade in her long auburn locks for a platinum blonde pixie cut, she infamously twerked on Robin Thicke at the 2013 Video Music Awards, and ushered in the Bangerz era.

During this time, the pair also began dating other people. According to E!, Cyrus was first linked to actor Patrick Schwarzenegger and later model Stella Maxwell, while Hemsworth was reportedly spotted making out with Eiza Gonzalez, per People.

November 2015: Liam Hemsworth opens up about his relationship with Miley Cyrus

However, throughout their separation, the lovers still remained "special" to each other. 

"Most couples that start dating split up and never speak again. Miley and Liam were always different," a source told People. "She would often talk about Liam even though she was dating other people."

Though, Cyrus wasn't the only one. The Hunger Games actor spoke fondly about his ex during an interview with Men's Fitness in 2015. 

"You fall in love with who you fall in love with; you can never choose," he told the magazine. "I guess some people just come with a little more baggage. I mean, look, we were together five years, so I don't think those feelings will ever change. And that's good because that proves to me that it was real. It wasn't just a fling. It really was an important part of my life and always will be."

With the Aussie actor professing that he still had love for his former fiancée, a reconciliation didn't feel so far off.

January 2016: Miley Cyrus and Liam Hemsworth's engagement is back on

In January 2016, we could all breathe a collective sigh of relief when reunion rumors began to surface after photos of Cyrus and Hemsworth in Australia hit the tabloids. Months later, People reported that #Miam was back together, and the singer even began wearing her old engagement ring.

2017: Miley Cyrus writes "Malibu" about Liam Hemsworth

By 2017, the couple couldn't have been more in love. Cyrus penned a romantic song, "Malibu," dedicated to Hemsworth and the California city where their house was located. In May, the musician opened up to Billboard about her rekindled romance with the Killerman star.

"I never would've believed you if three years ago you told me I'd be here writing this song," she said of the tune. "They're going to talk about me if I come out of a restaurant with Liam. So why not put the power back in my relationship and say, 'This is how I feel?'"

In November 2018, the couple devastatingly lost their beloved Malibu home to the Woolsey Fire, but not before Hemsworth was able to save all their animals. Cyrus recounted the story to Howard Stern, calling Hemsworth her "survival partner."

December 23, 2018: Miley Cyrus and Liam Hemsworth get married

According to People, the couple finally tied the knot in December 2018 during an intimate wedding ceremony at their home in Nashville, complete with outfit changes, an impromptu dance party, and even a sweet tribute to Cyrus's parents' wedding day.

We weren't alone in our excitement for these two. The internet was abuzz over the wedding news, particularly those uber-romantic photos that surfaced online. Even Nicholas Sparks, best-selling author of The Last Song, congratulated the couple on Twitter for their surprise nuptials — and fans collectively lost their mind.

August 21, 2019: Miley Cyrus and Liam Hemsworth separate

After less than a year of marriage, Cyrus and Hemsworth decided to call it quits. According to The Blast, Hemsworth filed for divorce, citing "irreconcilable differences." Rumors first began swirling in early August when the "Pop Chameleon" was reportedly spotted on an Italian vacation with Brody Jenner's ex, Kaitlynn Carter, sans her wedding ring, per People. A few days later, the newlyweds made the sad news public with an official announcement via Cyrus's rep.

"Ever-evolving, changing as partners and individuals, they have decided this is what's best while they both focus on themselves and careers," the representative said in a statement. "They still remain dedicated parents to all of the animals they share while lovingly taking this time apart. Please respect their process and privacy."

"Miley and Liam spoke very little after their separation, and any communication was more about making decisions regarding plans and property," a source told Entertainment Tonight. "They haven't been in touch in months, and it has been for the best because they have both needed this time to heal and move on."

February 22, 2020: Miley Cyrus and Liam Hemsworth finalize divorce

Per legal documents obtained by People, Cyrus and Hemsworth's divorce was official in February 2020.

The former couple is believed to have come to a settlement last month. A source told People that Cyrus was "relieved that she and Liam reached an agreement when it comes to the divorce," adding, "She just wants to move on."

Since the split, Hemsworth and Cyrus have both moved on. Parade reported that Cyrus has been romantically linked to musician Maxx Morando since November 2021. Hemsworth and girlfriend Gabriella Brooks went Instagram official in June 2021, according to Us Weekly.

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