A Mostly Ignored Alanis Morissette Song Detailed Her Split From Ryan Reynolds

June 2024 · 5 minute read

It's been a long time since Ryan Reynolds' name was synonymous with anything other than "Blake Lively's husband." The two have been together since 2011 and tied the knot in 2012. But before Ryan and Blake became couple goals, Reynolds had two other notable relationships.

The same year he met Blake, Ryan and Scarlett Johansson both filed for divorce from each other after less than two years of marriage. Before that, however, Ryan was in a high-profile relationship that was practically lost to time; he dated Alanis Morissette, and the two were even engaged.

As songwriters do, Alanis did pen some songs about Ryan Reynolds, and it made headlines at the time. Over the years, many fans (especially Ryan's) have forgotten the unlikely pairing, but Morissette's songs have never gone away.

How Long Did Alanis Morissette Date Ryan Reynolds?

The timeline goes that Alanis and Ryan started dating all the way back in 2002, then announced they were engaged in 2004. By 2007, the two went their separate ways, somewhat quietly, at least in terms of celebrity breakups.

In total, Alanis and Ryan dated for about five years.

Related: Alanis Morissette's Battle With Multiple Crippling Diseases Has Largely Gone Unnoticed By Her Die-Hard Fanbase

But looking back, there was more drama than many may have anticipated from Ryan Reynolds. He and Blake are publicly lovey-dovey, of course, but Reynolds seems to keep some details close to his chest in terms of what he shares with fans.

The two often joke and tease each other, but their dirty laundry (if they have any) isn't aired to the press. Ryan even praises Scarlett Johansson today, showing his ex respect in the media.

Unfortunately, since he dated a singer, that split resulted in some choice lyrics about their breakup. Fortunately for Ryan, most fans seem to have missed that detail in Alanis' past albums.

Alanis Penned An Entire Breakup Album About Ryan

If only Ryan Reynolds knew Taylor Swift back when he dated Alanis Morissette. He could have learned the easier way that singer-songwriters like to write about their experiences, and that includes relationships and breakups.

Or, he could have looked at her hit track 'You Oughta Know,' which is rumored to be about her ex-boyfriend Dave Coulier.

Related: Despite The Positive Reviews, Alanis Morissette Refused To Attend The Premiere Of Her Documentary, Jagged

Alanis' seventh album, Flavors of Entanglement, was said to be written about Ryan Reynolds. In descriptions of the album (namely Wikipedia), Alanis talked about her full journals of ideas and how she was absolutely rich with ideas at the time she was writing (which was around 2006).

When the album came out in 2008, Alanis spoke more about the album and its inspiration. She talked about how the album was "cathartic" but not necessarily healing, more of a way for her to "see with some clarity what’s going on."

What Song Did Alanis Morissette Write For Ryan Reynolds?

In an interview with Access, Alanis explained that one specific song was "really about [her] grief" surrounding the split from Ryan; 'Torch' included lyrics that are very clearly about their relationship, including details the public wouldn't have otherwise known.

Alanis sings, "I miss your smell and your style and your pure abiding way/Miss your approach to life and your body in my bed," and "These are the days of raw despondency/I never dreamed I would have to lay down my torch for you like this."

Related: Did Guest-Judging On American Idol Transform Alanis Morissette's Net Worth? Here's The Truth About What She Was Actually Paid

She also included the line, "I miss your warmth and the thought of us bringing up our kids."

Clearly, the two were very serious about each other, even if in the public eye, they weren't a very showy couple. After their breakup, though, Morissette spoke about avoiding public romance and keeping her heart safe. In other interviews, she admitted to staying in relationships too long and the breakups being "debilitating."

She laughed, "Public romance? I’m going to be avoiding that in the future... I think the only time I’ll talk about any guy I’m with will be when I’m married with six kids."

Alanis Morissette Has Been Married To Her Husband Since 2010

If things weren't tough enough for Alanis when she and Ryan split in February 2007, he began dating Scarlett Johansson very shortly afterward. The two got engaged the following year, married the same year (2008), and were divorced by 2011 (though officially separated in 2010).

Ryan then met Blake sometime in 2010, and they've been together since.

Things weren't all bad for Morissette, though; she met her now-husband sometime after their split and got married in 2010. Alanis has three kids with Mario Treadway; a daughter named Onyx, and two sons named Winter and Ever.

Of her husband, Alanis once wrote on social media, "won the sweepstakes in the daddy department," so she is clearly happy with the husband she wound up with. They may not have six kids (yet), but Morissette kept her relationship under wraps long enough to make sure it was the real deal.

Hopefully, no breakup songs (or entire albums) will come from her marriage to the rapper.

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