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If you were lurking around the Winter Garden Theatre stage door back in 2022, you might have felt it. That hum. Not just the "Seventy-Six Trombones" kind of energy, but something else. Something heavy between the leads. Sutton Foster Hugh Jackman weren’t just a casting director's dream pairing for The Music Man; they were, apparently, the beginning of a massive shift in the Broadway ecosystem.
Look, rumors are usually just noise. But when two of the biggest names in musical theater suddenly end decades-long marriages within a year of each other, people talk. And they didn't just talk; they watched. They watched the "Carpet Chats." They watched the Instagram gushing. By the time 2026 rolled around, what started as a "did they or didn't they" whisper had transformed into a full-blown beachside PDA in Costa Rica.
Honestly, it's a bit of a whirlwind. You've got Hugh Jackman, the "nicest guy in Hollywood," and Sutton Foster, the "queen of Broadway," and their story is less like a scripted rom-com and more like a complicated, high-stakes drama that’s still being written in courtrooms and on red carpets.
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The Winter Garden Spark (or Was It a Fire?)
Basically, the timeline everyone points to is the 2021-2023 run of The Music Man. Hugh was Harold Hill, the fast-talking con man. Sutton was Marian the Librarian, the skeptic who falls for him. Life imitating art? It's a cliché for a reason.
During the run, the two were inseparable. They developed this pre-show ritual called "Carpet Chat," where they’d sit on the floor of Sutton’s dressing room and just... talk. For an hour. Every single night. Sutton told Vogue in 2022 that Hugh had become one of her "best friends." She even mentioned spending Memorial Day with their families.
But then the dominoes started to fall.
- September 2023: Hugh Jackman and Deborra-Lee Furness shock the world by announcing their split after 27 years.
- October 2024: Sutton Foster files for an uncontested divorce from screenwriter Ted Griffin after 10 years.
- January 2025: The first "official" sighting. They were caught holding hands in Santa Monica.
Some sources, like those cited by Page Six, claim they were "100% together" long before the paperwork was filed. There’s even been chatter that Deborra-Lee Furness felt "betrayed" by the timeline. It's messy. It’s human. It’s definitely not the clean "met, fell in love, got divorced" narrative some PR teams might want you to believe.
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Why 2026 is the Big Year for Sutton Foster Hugh Jackman
We are now deep into 2026, and the "secret" is long gone. Just a few weeks ago, in early January 2026, the pair was spotted in Costa Rica. These weren't just "friends grabbing coffee" photos. We’re talking about splashing in the waves, arms wrapped around each other, looking incredibly smitten.
But there’s a "dark cloud" people keep mentioning. While Hugh’s divorce was finalized back in June 2025, Sutton’s legal split from Ted Griffin is reportedly a lot more complicated. Assets. Co-parenting their daughter, Emily. New York Supreme Court filings are no joke.
What the Insiders Are Saying Right Now
Despite the legal limbo, the couple seems to be planning a permanent future. Here’s what’s actually happening:
- House Hunting: They’ve been looking at properties in the upscale suburbs just outside New York City. They want space, and apparently, they want a "fresh start" away from their old Manhattan haunts.
- Wedding Bells: Word is Hugh has told his team to clear a big window in late 2026. Is a wedding coming? If the divorce papers get signed, probably.
- Expansion: There are even rumors—take them with a grain of salt—that they are considering adopting a child together once they are officially wed. Both have adopted children from their previous marriages, so it’s a process they both value deeply.
The Backlash and the Fan Divide
It’s not all standing ovations. Go to Reddit or the comments section of People and you'll see a divide. Some fans are thrilled for them. They see two people in their 50s finding a second (or third) act.
Others? Not so much. There’s a lot of sympathy for Deborra-Lee. When you’re married for nearly three decades and your partner moves on with a younger co-star, the "cheating" allegations start flying. Neither Hugh nor Sutton has ever admitted to an affair, but the proximity of the dates makes people suspicious.
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Sutton is known for being a very private, sensitive person. Sources say she’s been struggling to balance the excitement of this new relationship with the guilt or grief of ending her marriage to Ted. It’s a lot of pressure when the world is dissecting your every "like" on Instagram.
What’s Next for the Power Couple?
So, where does this leave us? Sutton Foster Hugh Jackman are currently the most talked-about couple in the theater world, and likely will be for the rest of the year.
If you're following this story, keep an eye on the Los Angeles and New York film premieres. Ever since their red carpet debut at the Song Sung Blue premiere in October 2025, they’ve been more willing to be seen. Hugh’s concert series "From New York, with Love" at Radio City Music Hall also saw Sutton in the audience, cheering him on from the front row.
Actionable Insights for the Curious:
- Watch the Court Filings: If you're looking for the "when" of a potential wedding, watch for news of Sutton’s divorce finalization in New York.
- Check the Credits: Hugh is currently involved in several projects including Song Sung Blue. Look for Sutton to be by his side during the 2026 awards circuit.
- Look for the "Window": If Hugh’s schedule suddenly goes blank in November or December 2026, that’s your biggest clue for a ceremony.
Their relationship is a reminder that even in the polished world of Broadway and Hollywood, real life is full of complicated transitions. They’ve moved past the "rumor" phase and into the "building a life" phase. Whether they can outrun the drama of their pasts is the question everyone's still asking.
To stay updated on the legal status of Sutton's divorce and their upcoming public appearances, you can follow the live trackers on entertainment news hubs like Page Six or People.