• Celebrity
    • OTE – Screen Kings
    • Daniel Kaluuya Digital Cover
    • Digital Cover Method Man
    • Digital Cover Zazie
    • Celebrity News
    • ‘Yes, Girl!’ Podcast
    • Entertainment
    • Black Celeb Couples
    • Celebrity Moms
    • Red Carpet
    • If Not For My Girls
  • Fashion
    • ESSENCE Fashion House 2022
    • Fashion News
    • Street Style
    • Accessories
    • Fashion Week
  • Beauty
    • Best In Black Beauty 2023
    • ESSENCE Hair Awards 2022
    • AVEENO Skin Health Startup Accelerator
    • Beauty News
    • Skin
    • Makeup
    • Nails
    • Girls United: Beautiful Possibilities
  • Hair
    • Hair News
    • Natural
    • Relaxed
    • Transitioning
    • Weave
    • 4C
  • Love
    • Love & Sex News
    • The Solve Podcast
    • Weddings
    • Parenting
    • Relationships
  • Lifestyle
    • Black History Month
    • ESSENCE Gift Guide 2022
    • ESSENCE + smartwater Live Well Challenge
    • Build Your Legacy 2022
    • Dream & Plan with Confidence Prudential
    • AMEX Platinum Travel
    • Homecoming Season 2022
    • Lifestyle News
    • Health & Wellness
    • ESSENCE Eats
    • Money & Career
    • Entrepreneurship
    • Travel
    • Food & Drink
    • Black Travel Guide
  • News
    • Paint The Polls Black
    • Sponsors Recognition Page 2022
    • Latest News
    • Raise Your Voice
    • Culture
    • Politics
  • Video
  • Festival
    • 2023 ESSENCE Festival Of Culture
    • 2022 Fest Videos
  • Events
    • 2023 Wellness House
    • 2023 Black Women In Hollywood
    • 2023 HOLLYWOOD HOUSE
    • 2023 ESSENCE Film Festival
    • 2022 Girls United Summit
    • 2022 ESSENCE Fashion House
    • 2022 Homecoming Season
    • She Got Now
    • Dear Black Men
    • I Am Speaking
    • Power Tools
  • Studios
  • Girls United

WHERE BLACK CULTURE, COMMUNITY AND CONSCIOUSNESS MEET

Sign up for ESSENCE Newsletters the keep the Black women at the forefront of conversation.

Your email is required.
Your email is in invalid format.
Confirm email is required.
Email did not match.
Select the newsletters you'd like to receive:
Please select at least one option.
By clicking Subscribe Now, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
Skip to content
SUBSCRIBE
  • MAGAZINE
  • NEWSLETTER
  • Celebrity
    • OTE – Screen Kings
    • Daniel Kaluuya Digital Cover
    • Digital Cover Method Man
    • Digital Cover Zazie
    • Celebrity News
    • ‘Yes, Girl!’ Podcast
    • Entertainment
      • Paint The Polls Black
    • Black Celeb Couples
    • Celebrity Moms
    • Red Carpet
    • If Not For My Girls
  • Fashion
    • ESSENCE Fashion House 2022
    • Fashion News
    • Street Style
    • Accessories
    • Fashion Week
  • Beauty
    • Best In Black Beauty 2023
    • ESSENCE Hair Awards 2022
    • AVEENO Skin Health Startup Accelerator
    • Beauty News
    • Skin
    • Makeup
    • Nails
    • Girls United: Beautiful Possibilities
  • Hair
    • Hair News
    • Natural
    • Relaxed
    • Transitioning
    • Weave
    • 4C
  • Love
    • Love & Sex News
    • The Solve Podcast
    • Weddings
    • Parenting
    • Relationships
  • Lifestyle
    • Black History Month
    • ESSENCE Gift Guide 2022
    • ESSENCE + smartwater Live Well Challenge
    • Build Your Legacy 2022
    • Dream & Plan with Confidence Prudential
    • AMEX Platinum Travel
    • Homecoming Season 2022
    • Lifestyle News
    • Health & Wellness
    • ESSENCE Eats
    • Money & Career
    • Entrepreneurship
    • Travel
    • Food & Drink
    • Black Travel Guide
  • News
    • Paint The Polls Black
    • Sponsors Recognition Page 2022
    • Latest News
    • Raise Your Voice
    • Culture
    • Politics
  • Video
  • Festival
    • 2023 ESSENCE Festival Of Culture
    • 2022 Fest Videos
  • Events
    • 2023 Wellness House
    • 2023 Black Women In Hollywood
    • 2023 HOLLYWOOD HOUSE
    • 2023 ESSENCE Film Festival
    • 2022 Girls United Summit
    • 2022 ESSENCE Fashion House
    • 2022 Homecoming Season
    • She Got Now
    • Dear Black Men
    • I Am Speaking
    • Power Tools
  • Studios
  • Girls United
Home · News

2009: The Year in Celebrity Relationships

This year we saw the first Black family enter the White House. We saw life-long partners become newly single. From cheating scandals to baby bumps, here's a look at the highs and lows of celebrity relationships in 2009.
2009: The Year in Celebrity Relationships
By Bobbi Misick · Updated October 29, 2020

2009 End Of Year: Relationships

The Obamas Move In To the White House

The first couple Barack and Michelle Obama and their two daughters Sasha and Malia moved into the White House on January 20, 2009and became the first Black family to occupy the historic home for heads of state.

Chris Brown Assaults Rihanna

Chris Brown’s February 2009 assault on then girlfriend Rihanna has been highly publicized throughout the year. After eight months of silence Rihanna spoke candidly about the confrontation in an interview with Diane Sawyer on ABC’s “20/20” on November 6, 2009. Chris subsequently interviewed with Sawyer’s colleague Robin Roberts on December 11, 2009.Both Chris, 20, and Rihanna, 21, have released albums since their break up that speak to their experiences from this year.

Nas and Kelis Split Up and Have a Baby

The entertainment industry was shocked and saddened by the news of Nas and Kelis’ break up. The couple filed for divorce in April 2009, while Kelis was still pregnant with their first child. On July 22, 2009 Kelis gave birth to a boy. They named him Knight Jones.

Damon Dash and Rachel Roy Divorce

Four years after saying “I do” hip-hop entrepreneur Damon Dash and fashion designer Rachel Roy said “I’m done” in March 2009, when the couple filed for a divorce. Dash and Roy have two daughters together, Ava and Tallulah.

Beyonce and Jay Z’s First Year Anniversary

The kingdom of hip hop and R&B has its reigning couple in Beyonce and Jay Z. This April Jay and B celebrated their first wedding anniversary of hopefully many more to come.

Swizz Beats and Mashonda Split

News Swizz Beats and wife of five years Mashonda’s separation broke in April 2009. In May the producer and rapper admitted that he was in a relationship with Alicia Keys.

Mariah Carey and Nick Cannon’s First Year Anniversary

Newlyweds Mariah Carey and Nick Cannon celebrated their first year of marriage with a big bash in Las Vegas at the Palms Casino Resort on April 30, 200.

Nicole Mitchell Murphy and Michael Strahan Get Engaged

Former NY Giants defensive end, Michael Strahan proposed to Nicole Mitchell Murphy, former model and ex-wife of Eddie Murphy,on a beach in the Bahamas on May 22, 2009.

Kimora Lee Simmons and Djimon Hounsou Have a Baby Boy

Newlyweds Kimora Lee Simmons and Djimon Hounsou welcomed baby boy Kenzo Lee Hounsou into the world on May 30, 2009.Kenzo joins two his sisters Ming, 9, and Aoki, 6, from Kimora’s previous marriage to Russell Simmons.

Jennifer Hudson and David Otunga Jr. Have a Baby Boy

Grammy and Oscar winning Jennifer Hudson gave birth to baby boy David, named after her fiancee David Otunga Jr., on Monday August 10.

The Dream and Christina Milian Get Married

Producer/singer The Dream and singer Christina Milian snuck away to Vegas and got hitched on September 8, 2009. The newlyweds are expecting a new addition to their family very soon.

Paula Patton and Robin Thicke Are Pregnant

The world found out about Paula Patton’s pregnancy in October 2009 and hubby Robin Thicke recently confirmed to ESSENCE.com that they’re having a boy. Julian Thicke is expected to arrive in May 2009.

Usher and Tameka Foster Finalize Divorce

Singer and dancer Usher’s two-year marriage to Tameka Foster was highly scrutinized. The two called it quits this year and their divorce was finalized in early November 2009.

Shaunie O’Neal Files for Divorce from Shaq

On November 10, 2009 Shaunie O’Neal threw in the towel when she filed for divorce from her husband NBA star/actor/rapper Shaquille citing irreconcilable differences.

Toni Braxton and Keri Lewis Break Up

Toni Braxton and singer Trey Songz shocked 2009 Soul Train Awards goers with a very passionate on-stage kiss during their performance of Braxton’s single “So Yesterday.”Shortly after Braxton and longtime husband Keri Lewis announced that they no more, leaving speculators to suspect that the sultry kiss may have brought these lovers-on-the-rocks to a crash.

Janet Jackson andJermaine Dupri Split Up

After seven years of dating, Janet Jackson and Jermain Dupri broke up in 2009. Jackson confirmed the split during a November interview with Anji Corely of Washington DC’s PGC (WPGC).

Tiger Woods’ Cheating Scandal

Early in the morning on Friday November 27th Tiger Woods was in a minor car accident outside of his Windemere, Florida home. Although Woods and his wife Elin Nordegren wanted to keep things quiet, the media pushed an investigation that revealed more than 13 women allegedly linked to Tiger woods in the biggest cheating scandal the golf world had ever had.

Keyshia Cole and Daniel Gibson Are Pregnant

We’ve kept an eye on singer Keyshia Cole and her Cleveland Cavaliers boyfriend Daniel Gibson’s blossoming romance all year. In early December Keyshia attended an event sporting a bump that was undeniably a bun in the oven.

Tina and Mathew Knowles File for Divorce

After 29 years of marriage, Tina Knowles filed for divorce from her husband–father of their superstar daughters Beyonce and Solange–Mathew Knowles. The couple issued a statement that said, “”The decision to end our marriage is an amicable one. We remain friends, parents, and business partners.”

COMPANY INFORMATION
  • Our Company
  • Customer Service
  • Essence Ventures
  • Change Your Address
  • Contact Us
  • Job Opportunities
  • Internships
  • Media Kit
  • tag
SUBSCRIBE
  • Newsletters
  • Give a Gift of ESSENCE
  • Magazine Tablet Edition
FOLLOW US
MORE ON ESSENCE
  • Home
  • Love
  • Celebrity
  • Beauty
  • Hair
  • Fashion
  • ESSENCE festival

ESSENCE.com is part of ESSENCE Communications, Inc.

Essence may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. Offers may be subject to change without notice.

©2023 ESSENCE Communications Inc. All Rights Reserved. | Privacy Policy | Terms of Use | Essence.com Advertising Terms

Get The ESSENCE Newsletter and
Special Offers delivered to your inbox

By clicking Sign Up, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.

Get The ESSENCE Magazine
by subscribing below
subscribe now