Get Inspired by These 21 Black Celebrity Couples

These iconic couples—and their love stories—deserve a spotlight.

Photo: CBS Photo Archive / Getty Images

Updated Sep 25, 2025

Across film, music, sports and public service, there are so many Black celebrity couples that have inspired us, both within their partnerships and as individuals. They're the kind of love stories that are worth celebrating, especially when they belong to some of the most iconic figures in culture.

The Most Iconic Celebrity Couples of All Time

In this roundup, we're honoring famous couples who deserve the spotlight. From trailblazers who linked arms in the fight for justice to creative power couples that have become household names, these are love stories that have evolved openly through both triumphs and setbacks, that we ought to look to for inspiration. Read on for a glance into the romances of 21 famous Black couples we adore.

1. Martin Luther King Jr. and Coretta Scott King

Married on June 18, 1953, Martin Luther King Jr. and Coretta Scott King built a partnership rooted in faith, music and nonviolent activism. After Martin Luther King Jr.'s assassination in 1968, his wife carried the movement forward, founding The King Center in Atlanta and amplifying his legacy worldwide.

The Most Iconic Celebrity Couples of All Time

2. Nelson Mandela and Graca Machel

On July 18, 1998, on his 80th birthday, Nelson Mandela married Mozambican politician and humanitarian Graca Machel. A champion for women and children, Machel is uniquely notable for having served as First Lady of two nations (Mozambique and South Africa).

3. Barack and Michelle Obama

Barack and Michelle Obama met at a Chicago law firm and married on October 3, 1992. Through two presidential terms and beyond, they've been open about the work and joy of a long marriage, and are parents to daughters Malia and Sasha.

4. Beyoncé and Jay-Z

We can't curate a list of the most iconic Black couples without mentioning Beyoncé and Jay-Z. The musical powerhouses quietly wed in New York City on April 4, 2008. Over the years, they've navigated public challenges and landmark collaborations while raising three children: Blue Ivy and twins Rumi and Sir.

5. Queen Latifah and Eboni Nichols

A famously private pair, Queen Latifah publicly thanked "Eboni, my love" (and their son, Rebel) during her BET Lifetime Achievement speech in June 2021; since then, rare appearances—like the 2024 Met Gala and cheering at Paris 2024—have offered brief, happy glimpses of this famous Black couple. Queen Latifah reportedly met the choreographer and dancer in 2009 when Latifah performed on the results show of Dancing With The Stars.

6. Simone Biles and Jonathan Owens

After meeting on Raya in 2020, Simone Biles and Jonathan Owens got engaged on February 15, 2022. The Olympic legend and the NFL safety then married in a Houston courthouse on April 22, 2023, and celebrated with a Cabo ceremony in May. Owens publicly supported Biles during her 2021 Olympic withdrawals to protect her mental health—an inflection point in global sports.

7. Viola Davis and Julius Tennon

Married in 2003, Viola Davis and Julius Tennon balance their family life with award-winning careers. In 2011, they welcomed their daughter, Genesis, via adoption. On top of so many professional achievements, Davis joined the rare EGOT club in 2023 with a Grammy for the audiobook of her memoir, Finding Me.

8. LeBron James and Savannah Brinson

High school sweethearts LeBron James and Savannah Brinson married on September 14, 2013, in San Diego. They share three children: Bronny, Bryce and Zhuri. In 2023, Bronny was named a McDonald's All-American, continuing the family's hoops legacy.

9. Denzel and Pauletta Washington

Meeting in the late 1970s and marrying in 1983, Denzel and Pauletta Washington have modeled longevity and teamwork while raising four children—several of whom now work in film and television. They often credit faith, communication and humor for their decades-long bond.

10. Kerry Washington and Nnamdi Asomugha

Known for their privacy, Kerry Washington and Nnamdi Asomugha wed in a small ceremony in Idaho on June 24, 2013. Since then, they've kept their family life largely out of the spotlight while pursuing film and TV projects.

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11. Angela Bassett and Courtney B. Vance

Angela Bassett and Courtney B. Vance married in 1997 and welcomed twins Bronwyn and Slater via surrogate in 2006. Longtime collaborators and coauthors of a memoir, Friends: A Love Story, they frequently speak about partnership, parenting and purpose.

12. Ciara and Russell Wilson

Ciara and Russell Wilson married on July 6, 2016, at Peckforton Castle in England. Their growing family now includes daughter Amora Princess (born December 2023), along with Sienna Princess and Win Harrison, and Ciara's son, Future Zahir, from a previous relationship.

13. Jalen Hurts and Bry Burrows

Jalen Hurts and Bry Burrows are college sweethearts from the University of Alabama. The Eagles quarterback kept his relationship low-key for years, then got engaged in 2024 and wed privately in spring 2025 (with a June celebration in Napa).

14. Junelle Bromfield and Noah Lyles

The Jamaican 400-meter standout and the US sprint star announced their engagement in October 2024 and have publicly shared plans for a 2026 wedding. Junelle Bromfield and Noah Lyles' story, which seems rooted in friendship, elite training and mutual support, has become a fan favorite.

15. Gabrielle Union and Dwayne Wade

Gabrielle Union and Dwayne Wade married on August 30, 2014, and welcomed daughter Kaavia James via surrogate in 2018. Together, they've become prominent advocates for LGBTQ+ equality while supporting Wade's daughter Zaya and launching initiatives for trans youth.

16. Niecy Nash-Betts and Jessica Betts

Married on August 29, 2020, actor Niecy Nash-Betts and musician Jessica Betts have been refreshingly open about their love—and even made history as the first same-sex couple to grace the cover of ESSENCE in 2022. In September 2020, Nash opened up to People about her sexuality. "I don't feel like my marriage is my coming out of anywhere, but rather a going into myself and being honest about who I love," she said. "[My marriage] has absolutely nothing to do with gender and it has everything to do with her soul."

17. Oprah Winfrey and Stedman Graham

Though not legally married, Oprah Winfrey and Stedman Graham have been together since 1986, making theirs one of the longest-running high-profile Black celebrity relationships in entertainment. Stedman, an educator and businessman, has supported Oprah throughout her media empire journey and the couple continues to thrive as one of Hollywood's most stable pairs.

18. Alicia Keys and Swizz Beatz

Alicia Keys (the iconic Black artist whose wedding songs we can all be thankful for) and music producer Swizz Beatz (Kasseem Dean) tied the knot in 2010. Known for their creative synergy, the famous Black celebrity couple often collaborates musically and supports philanthropic projects together. They share two sons, Egypt and Genesis, and frequently highlight family and love in interviews.

19. Steph Curry and Ayesha Curry

NBA superstar Steph Curry and his wife, Ayesha Curry, met as teenagers and married in 2011. They are widely admired for their family-oriented lifestyle, their three children and the way they balance Steph's career with Ayesha's ventures in cooking, television and publishing.

20. Samuel L. Jackson and LaTanya Richardson Jackson

One of Hollywood's longest-married couples, Samuel L. Jackson and LaTanya Richardson have been married since 1980. Both are actors, and their partnership has endured for decades in an industry where that can be rare. They credit their strong marriage to open communication, faith and shared commitment to family and activism.

21. Rihanna and A$AP Rocky

Rihanna and A$AP Rocky evolved from collaborators into a low-key, all-in couple around 2020. Rocky publicly called Rihanna "the love of my life" in a 2021 GQ cover story, and the two have kept their status private but steady. Parents to sons RZA Athelston Mayers and Riot Rose Mayers, they announced they're expecting a third child at the 2025 Met Gala.