Lucy Dacus and Julien Baker, two-thirds of the Grammy-winning indie rock supergroup Boygenius, have captivated fans not only with their poignant music but also with their evolving personal connection. As queer artists navigating fame, their journey from friendship to a confirmed romantic relationship has sparked widespread interest. Drawing on verified sources, this piece explores their bond from their 2016 meeting to their 2025 public confirmation, enriched with insights into their music and personal lives. Let’s read about lucy dacus julien baker dating timeline.
Early Encounters: The Seeds of Friendship (2016)
To understand the Lucy Dacus and Julien Baker relationship, we must first revisit their initial meeting in 2016. Both artists, then emerging indie rock talents, crossed paths when Lucy Dacus opened for Julien Baker at a Washington, D.C., concert. At the time, Dacus was promoting her debut album No Burden, while Baker was touring her critically acclaimed Sprained Ankle. Backstage, Baker found Dacus reading Henry James’ The Portrait of a Lady, sparking a conversation that revealed shared experiences. Both raised in Southern Christian households—Dacus in Mechanicsville, Virginia, and Baker near Memphis, Tennessee—they bonded over their queer identities, Southern roots, and passion for art’s purpose. Consequently, Dacus tore out a blank page from her book, scribbled her email address, and handed it to Baker, marking the start of their friendship.
This encounter laid the groundwork for their creative and personal connection. For instance, Dacus later reflected in a 2016 NPR interview, noting their shared “backstory situations” as queer Southerners, inadvertently outing herself as “kind of queer” in the process. This moment, while accidental, highlighted the authenticity that would define their bond. Meanwhile, their friendship grew through mutual admiration, with Baker praising Dacus’ lyrical depth and Dacus admiring Baker’s emotional rawness. Thus, their early interactions set the stage for a profound indie rock love story.
Forming Boygenius: A Creative Bond (2018)
By 2018, the Lucy Dacus and Julien Baker relationship deepened through their collaboration in Boygenius, alongside Phoebe Bridgers. The trio, each a solo artist with a distinct voice, formed the supergroup after Baker introduced Dacus to Bridgers, whom she had toured with in 2016. Initially, they planned a joint tour, but their chemistry led to the self-titled Boygenius EP, released in October 2018. The project showcased their synergy, with songs like “Me & My Dog” and “Salt in the Wound” blending their voices and vulnerabilities. For example, Dacus’ contralto harmonized with Baker’s tender tenor, creating a sound that resonated with fans.
During this period, their friendship was characterized by playful camaraderie and mutual support. However, fans began speculating about a closer Lucy Dacus and Julien Baker relationship due to their onstage chemistry and public displays of affection, such as hugs and shared glances. Despite this, Dacus and Baker maintained that their bond was platonic, emphasizing their commitment to Boygenius as a creative outlet. Nevertheless, their collaboration strengthened their personal connection, with Dacus later noting in a 2023 interview that she wrote “We’re in Love” for Baker and Bridgers, reflecting their deep friendship. This creative intimacy, while not yet romantic, hinted at the queer romance in music that would later define their story.
Growing Speculation: Fan Theories and Public Moments (2019–2022)
As Boygenius took a hiatus to focus on solo projects, the Lucy Dacus and Julien Baker relationship remained a topic of fan curiosity. Between 2019 and 2022, Dacus released Home Video (2021), while Baker dropped Little Oblivions (2021), both exploring themes of faith, identity, and forbidden love. Fans, particularly in queer communities, parsed lyrics for clues about their bond. For instance, Dacus’ “Thumbs” and Baker’s “Favor” were interpreted as emotionally charged, fueling speculation about a deeper indie rock love story. Yet, both artists kept their personal lives private, focusing on their music and friendship.
Public moments further stoked rumors. In 2021, Dacus wrote about her queer identity in an Oprah Daily essay, reflecting on her accidental 2016 coming out and describing herself as bisexual or pansexual. She mentioned her ease with dating friends or collaborators, a sentiment echoed later in 2025 when discussing Baker. Meanwhile, Baker, openly lesbian, spoke about navigating her queer identity in the South, adding context to their shared experiences. These disclosures, while not confirming a romance, deepened fans’ investment in the Lucy Dacus and Julien Baker relationship. Consequently, their occasional joint appearances, like Dacus’ support at Baker’s 2022 shows, kept speculation alive.
Boygenius’ Breakout Year: Clues of Closeness (2023)
The year 2023 marked a pivotal chapter in the Lucy Dacus and Julien Baker relationship, as Boygenius reunited for their debut album, The Record. Released in March 2023, the album debuted at number four on the Billboard 200 and earned three Grammy Awards in 2024, including Best Alternative Music Album. The trio’s tour, including Coachella and Saturday Night Live appearances, showcased their subversive energy, with performances in drag to protest Tennessee’s anti-drag laws. During these shows, Dacus and Baker’s interactions—such as Dacus singing Baker’s “Good News” to her at the Hollywood Bowl on Halloween—were interpreted as intimate by fans.
A notable moment came in October 2023, when Dacus and Baker dressed as Pete Davidson and Ariana Grande for a Halloween couples’ costume, recreating the iconic engagement photo. This playful act, while humorous, intensified rumors about their Boygenius bandmates’ connection. Additionally, Dacus’ song “We’re in Love” from The Record was seen as a love letter to Baker and Bridgers, with lyrics reflecting deep emotional ties. However, the duo remained silent on romantic speculation, focusing on their music and activism, such as donating merch proceeds to abortion funds. Thus, 2023 amplified the narrative of a potential queer romance in music without explicit confirmation.
Boygenius Hiatus and New Beginnings (2024)
In February 2024, Boygenius announced an indefinite hiatus during a Los Angeles show, citing the need to protect their friendship and energy. Dacus later explained to The New Yorker, “We always said, ‘One year,’” emphasizing the trio’s commitment to individual growth. This decision, while disappointing fans, allowed Dacus and Baker to focus on solo projects and, as later revealed, their evolving Lucy Dacus and Julien Baker relationship. For instance, Dacus performed an untitled song, later titled “Best Guess,” at Baker’s Brooklyn Steel show on October 8, 2024, coinciding with International Lesbian Day, a subtle nod to their bond.
During this period, Dacus and Baker relocated to Los Angeles together, a move that would later be cited as a milestone in their romance. While their public interactions remained friendly, such as joint outings to the Huntington Library, Art Museum, and Botanical Gardens, fans continued to speculate. Moreover, Dacus’ preparation for her fourth album, Forever Is a Feeling, and Baker’s collaboration with TORRES on Send a Prayer My Way kept them creatively active, with their personal lives increasingly intertwined. Consequently, 2024 was a year of quiet transition, setting the stage for their public announcement.
Public Confirmation: Love in the Spotlight (March 2025)
The Lucy Dacus and Julien Baker relationship reached a turning point in March 2025, when Dacus confirmed their romance in a New Yorker profile. Promoting her album Forever Is a Feeling, released on March 28, 2025, Dacus described it as a “gorgeous and tender album about falling in love” with Baker, explicitly referencing songs like “Most Wanted Man in West Tennessee,” which nods to Baker’s Memphis roots. She expressed a desire to balance honesty with privacy, stating, “I want to protect what is precious in my life, but also to be honest, and make art that’s true.” This confirmation, echoed in a PEOPLE interview, clarified that their romance “percolated” through Boygenius, evolving from a nine-year friendship.
In the PEOPLE interview, Dacus elaborated, “It’s funny to just say it so plainly, because I feel like there’s all of this tension of people guessing.” She noted that Baker was “very pro” her sharing their love, adding, “So, from us to you, we are in love.” The couple’s decision to go public was deliberate, with Dacus emphasizing their confidence in the relationship’s strength, saying, “I have more confidence in our relationship than I have in myself.” Additionally, Baker’s contribution to Forever Is a Feeling, including vocals on “Most Wanted Man,” underscored their creative and romantic synergy. Meanwhile, Phoebe Bridgers humorously acknowledged their romance by posting a blurred photo of herself with Dacus and Baker, cementing her role as a supportive friend.
Recent Updates: Balancing Fame and Love (April–May 2025)
As of May 2025, the Lucy Dacus and Julien Baker relationship continues to evolve amidst their solo endeavors. Dacus’ Forever Is a Feeling tour began in April, while Baker’s U.S. tour for Send a Prayer My Way with TORRES started in March, keeping them geographically apart but creatively connected. In an April 28 interview with The Forty-Five, Dacus revealed she tries “not to look” at online comments about their relationship but appreciates Baker’s encouragement to be open, noting, “Julien is very pro me letting people know.” She described their romance as a “happy thing,” with Forever Is a Feeling serving as a “gift” to Baker, reflecting their journey from tentative feelings to open love.
Furthermore, Dacus shared intimate details, such as their Valentine’s Day 2025 spent together, highlighting their commitment despite busy schedules. Their move to Los Angeles has fostered a shared life, with outings to cultural spots like the Huntington Library, where they hold memberships gifted by Bridgers. However, Dacus remains wary of parasocial fan interactions, stating, “It only takes a handful to make your life feel like a really easily threatened thing.” Despite this, their openness has been celebrated, with fans and outlets like Vogue and Them praising their queer romance in music as a cultural milestone.
The Significance of Their Relationship
The Lucy Dacus and Julien Baker relationship transcends personal significance, resonating as a powerful narrative in indie rock and queer culture. Their journey from friends to partners mirrors their music’s themes of vulnerability and authenticity, inspiring fans navigating similar identities. For example, their openness about queerness—Dacus as bisexual/pansexual and Baker as lesbian—challenges stereotypes about Southern artists, while their activism, from abortion fund donations to drag performances, amplifies their impact. Moreover, their ability to balance fame, creativity, and love offers a model for healthy relationships in the public eye.
Their story also underscores the strength of Boygenius’ bond, with Bridgers as a steadfast ally. Despite the group’s hiatus, Dacus hinted in The New Yorker that their friendship endures, suggesting potential future collaborations. Consequently, the Lucy Dacus and Julien Baker relationship is not only a personal milestone but a cultural touchstone, blending art and love in a way that feels true to their ethos.
At the End of the Day,
The Lucy Dacus and Julien Baker relationship, from their 2016 meeting to their 2025 confirmation, is a testament to the power of friendship evolving into love. Beginning as kindred spirits in Washington, D.C., their bond deepened through Boygenius, fueled by shared values and creative synergy. Despite years of fan speculation, their March 2025 announcement, tied to Forever Is a Feeling, affirmed their queer romance in music, with Baker’s influence woven into Dacus’ tender lyrics. As they navigate solo tours and public attention in May 2025, their commitment remains steadfast, supported by a modest Los Angeles life and Bridgers’ camaraderie.
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