As the charming Nate Archibald on Gossip Girl, Chace Crawford became a heartthrob for a generation. Over a decade later, his starring role as the hilariously insecure aquatic supe, The Deep, on Amazon’s The Boys has only solidified his status. While his on-screen relationships are well-documented, the Texas-born actor has managed to keep his real-life romantic life relatively low-key, though he has been linked to several high-profile women over the years.
Despite the public’s enduring curiosity, Crawford has never been married, and his relationship history largely consists of a few serious, multi-year relationships interspersed with shorter flings and rumored hookups. His most recent relationship, with model Kelsey Merritt, marks the first time since The Boys became a massive hit that the notoriously private actor has confirmed a girlfriend in public.
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From Carrie Underwood to Rebecca Rittenhouse
Crawford’s most famous early romance was with country music superstar Carrie Underwood. The couple reportedly started dating in 2007, at the height of Gossip Girl‘s popularity and as Underwood’s career was taking off. The actor even joined her on tour, but after nearly a year together, the relationship fizzled. Underwood memorably revealed the split occurred via text message, telling Extra, “We broke up over text so … it’s like ‘peace out’”.
After a period of being linked to a few other names, Crawford began a relationship with model and actress Rachelle Goulding in 2013. The two dated while both living in New York City, but the romance came to an end when Crawford decided to relocate to Los Angeles. When asked about the split in a 2014 radio interview, he simply and succinctly said, “We had fun”.
His most significant long-term relationship to date was with actress Rebecca Rittenhouse. The couple met on the set of the short-lived ABC drama Blood & Oil in 2015 and quietly dated for about three years. Even after their split in 2018, they remained close, amicably sharing custody of their beloved rescue dog, Shiner.
Current Relationship: Chace Crawford and Kelsey Merritt
For a while, Crawford was single and even joked about his lack of luck on the exclusive dating app Raya on a 2024 episode of the Call Her Daddy podcast. However, in April 2025, he publicly confirmed a new romance with model Kelsey Merritt. The Gossip Girl and The Boys star was seen kissing Merritt during a shopping trip in New York City, putting the rumors to rest.
Since then, the couple has been spotted together regularly. In early 2026, they stepped out for a casual Valentine’s Day breakfast in Los Feliz, California, walking their dog together. A recent reunion with his former Gossip Girl co-star, Leighton Meester, also notably included Kelsey Merritt by his side, further signaling that this relationship is a significant and public one for the actor.
