How Ed Sheeran Brought Them Together
Let’s talk about Courteney Cox and how she owes a big thank-you to Ed Sheeran for her long-term relationship with Johnny McDaid. You know Courteney, right? The star of Friends, who’s been through some ups and downs in her personal life. Well, she met Johnny, the Snow Patrol guitarist, back in 2013. Their story is one of those Hollywood romances that started with a simple introduction but evolved into something much deeper. They’ve been through engagements, breakups, and are now devoted life partners.
Johnny McDaid, born in Northern Ireland in July 1976, is one of six kids. He’s made a name for himself as a musician, but it was his work with Snow Patrol that really put him on the map. Their songs, especially "Chasing Cars," have become iconic, often featured in emotional scenes on ABC’s Grey’s Anatomy. Remember when Izzy tearfully held Denny as he passed away? Yeah, that’s the power of Johnny’s music right there.
From Writing Hits to Finding Love
But Johnny’s talents don’t stop at Snow Patrol. He’s also produced tracks for other artists like Ed Sheeran, Harry Styles, and Ingrid Michaelson. As a songwriter, he hit the jackpot with a co-writing credit on Ed’s 2017 smash hit "Shape of You." The same year, he co-wrote Pink’s single "What About Us?" So, when Ed introduced Johnny to Courteney, it wasn’t just about music—it was about love. As Ed told The Hits Radio Breakfast Show in June 2021, “She just invited me around her house, and I kept going back. Then one day, I brought Johnny, and he didn’t come home.”
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From Engagement to Heartbreak
After that introduction, things moved quickly. Courteney, who was coming off a 2011 divorce from actor David Arquette, found herself smitten with Johnny despite a 13-year age gap. The chemistry was undeniable. They officially became a couple in early 2014, and by June, they were engaged. Courteney shared the news on Instagram with a picture of her fiancé, captioning it, “I’m engaged to him!”
But life has a way of testing relationships, and Johnny’s career in the U.K. put a strain on their romance. Living continents apart made things tough, and in 2015, they called off their engagement. The question of where they would live together became a sticking point. However, love often finds a way. Johnny and Courteney reconnected the following year, proving that sometimes a little distance can strengthen a bond.
As Courteney explained during a 2016 appearance on The Ellen DeGeneres Show, “He’s not my fiancé. We were engaged to be married, but now we’re just together.” She added, “We broke off our engagement, and he moved to England, then we got back together, and it’s actually better than it was before.” She went on to say, “Everything’s better. Not because he’s in London—although I think the distance after that breakup, we were apart for six months, that really showed us a lot. It’s just better.” Of course, this kind of long-distance love comes with its own set of challenges. “I mean, it’s expensive,” Courteney admitted. “That’s an expensive relationship! We go back and forth a lot.”
The Love That Endures
Despite the hurdles, their love has endured. In 2019, Courteney opened up to The Guardian about how Johnny’s affection melts her heart. “When he calls me ‘darlin’ girl,’ it makes me melt,” she confessed. His music inspires her, too, bringing her to tears of emotion. Their relationship faced another test in 2020 when the COVID-19 pandemic kept them apart. During a May 2020 video chat with Ellen, Courteney revealed, “He was supposed to go to Switzerland to write. He went to England first, and then all of the sudden, they called quarantine. I have not seen him in so long. You don’t realize—now it’s like, oh my god, I just miss his physical touch. It’s been hard. This is the longest time.”
