Who Is Sophia Bush's Husband? All About Grant Hughes

Grant Hughes/instagram Sophia Bush and Grant Hughes

Newlyweds Sophia Bush and Grant Hughes were friends for nearly a decade, but it took the pandemic for them to slow down and realize that they were meant to be.

The couple were first linked in 2020 when Bush was spotted holding hands with Hughes during a date in Malibu, California. They didn't go public with their relationship until the following year — but it wasn't long before Hughes got down on one knee to propose to Bush during a romantic trip to Italy.

The One Tree Hill alum announced the couple's engagement on Instagram in August 2021, sharing a photo of Hughes popping the question during a boat ride on Lake Como.

"So it turns out that being your favorite person's favorite person is the actual best feeling on planet Earth 💫 #YES," she captioned the post.

RELATED: Sophia Bush Marries Grant Hughes Nearly 1 Year After Announcing Their Engagement

In his own engagement post, Hughes wrote: "She is my forever Favorite. This is my favorite. And our life is that we're building because she said 'Yes' is already my favorite. I am SO EXCITED to do life with you, my love."

Less than a year later, the duo made things official when they tied the knot in a stunning ceremony held in Hughes' home state of Oklahoma.

In October 2022, Bush and Hughes attended a wedding together in Venice, Italy — their first as a married couple. The actress shared photos of the two during the celebration with the caption, "First wedding as a Mr. & Mrs. Can confirm, it's the most fun ♥️🇮🇹🤌."

On Dec. 21, 2022, Bush posted photos on Instagram of her and Hughes visiting to the White House. "The holidays are always so special, but the holidays at the White House?! Truly magical!," she wrote along with the carousel post, which included photos of the couple posing with Christmas decor.

"Sorry to my husband for posting that blurry picture of you under the 'We The People' banner but it makes me emotional!" she added. "You look VERY handsome and in focus in the library."

So who is Sophia Bush's husband? Here's everything to know about Grant Hughes and his relationship with the actress.

He grew up in Oklahoma and later attended the University of Oklahoma

Sophia Bush Instagram

Hughes was raised in Oklahoma and as a young adult, he attended the University of Oklahoma where he got a Bachelor of Business Administration in Entrepreneurship and Venture. He later attended Loyola Marymount University in Los Angeles where he received his Masters in Education. After, he headed to the University of Michigan where he received an MBA in Strategy, Innovation and Design Thinking as well as an M.S. in Environmental Psychology & Decision Making.

Hughes is an entrepreneur who co-founded FocusMotion Health

Hughes has spent the majority of his career pursuing entrepreneurial efforts and working with nonprofits. After finishing his education, he began working at SHFT, a lifestyle platform founded by producer Peter Glatzer and actor Adrian Grenier, which aimed to convey a more sustainable approach to the way people live through film, design, art and food.

He later co-founded FocusMotion, a machine-learning software company that tracks movement through body sensors and delivers personalized health advice to its users. In 2016, the late Kobe Bryant even invested in the company.

Hughes now invests in several other companies, and most recently founded Drink Good Wine, a startup that curates a selection of natural wines and delivers them to customers' front doors.

He's actively involved in giving back to his community

Sophia Bush Instagram

While in grad school, Hughes was a teacher with Teach for America, which aims to eliminate educational inequity in schools. He later taught in the Los Angeles Unified School District, where he helped young students achieve their goals and even create their own fourteen-minute short film.

He's also volunteered with numerous other organizations, including the Wayfarer Foundation, which helps provide "free clothes, haircuts, foot washing, medical services, legal services, a warm meal, showers [and] eye exams" to people living on Skid Row in L.A. During the pandemic, Hughes also worked to support medical professionals and essential workers, delivering nutritious meals with Frontline Foods.

He's an avid reader who started a book club in Venice Beach

Early in 2020, Hughes founded the Venice Book Club, sharing some of his favorite reads with others. Over the course of the year, the California-based group read 29 books, including Night by Elie Wiesel and Frankenstein by Mary Shelley.

Bush and Hughes were friends for years before they started dating 

Sophia Bush Instagram

After first meeting during a New Year's trip to Nicaragua, Bush and Hughes were friends for nearly a decade before things turned romantic between the duo.

"We became fast friends but only saw each other a few times a year because both of us were traveling all of the time for work," Bush explained to Vogue.

However, the pandemic brought the two closer. During quarantine, they started connecting over books, articles and their mutual activism, which eventually led to long FaceTime calls.

The actress later explained during an episode of the Drama Queens podcast that after continually dating the wrong people, she had a realization that made her alter her approach to romance. Not long after, she began to see Hughes in a new light.

"When I shifted the place that I pick from or that I was willing to see potential from to being not sympathetic but inspired, I went, 'Oh, oh!' It's not lost on me — nor any of my friends — that the person that I went, 'Oh!' about, I'd known for 10 years. And everybody was like, 'Welcome to your own party, ya idiot.' And I was like, 'Well, cool, I'm glad I'm here,'" Bush said.

Their first date involved getting a COVID-19 test together

Before Bush and Hughes made things official between them, they headed out on their first date in early 2020. Their outing was very telling of the times, as they ended up getting a COVID-19 test together.

"Our first date was also our first Covid test," Hughes shared in a slideshow on Instagram.

Bush and Hughes share an adopted dog named Maggie

Grant Hughs Instagram

In 2020, Bush announced that she had adopted a dog named Maggie. At the time, she hadn't gone public with Hughes, but it's clear the couple now share puppy parenting duties. Hughes' Instagram bio even declares "Dog dadding @maggiethedog."

"Proudly co-parenting Maggie the Dog. She's the best, but I'm also a bit partial ;)," Hughes wrote on Instagram.

The got married in Hughes' home state

After getting engaged at Lake Como in 2021, Hughes and Bush tied the knot in Tulsa in June 2022, where the entrepreneur is originally from. Bush told Vogue that the couple spent time there during the pandemic, and chose the location because it reflected their shared passion for activism.

"Tulsa is a place where so much progressive justice work is happening, so much deep history has been uncovered and is at long last being honored, and so many people are building a deeply inspiring future," she explained.

The nuptials took place at the Philbrook Museum of Art, and Bush wore a custom floral Monique Lhuillier dress. After a procession that included their parents and a bridal party made up of the pair's closest friends, Bush and Hughes walked down the aisle together.

"We met in the middle, took one another's hands, and together we walked into our wedding," she shared. "As we got up to the aisle, we slowed to look at everyone there—our friends and loved ones. It was such a sight to behold. And then up the aisle we went, to meet our emcee, longtime best friend, and prolific author Jedidiah Jenkins."

Hughes is one of Bush's biggest supporters

Sophia Bush Instagram

Hughes has proven to be one of Bush's biggest supporters, and ahead of the premiere of her show Good Sam, he wrote a touching note dedicated to her on social media. He praised her commitment to the role, which included getting hands-on experience in a real hospital and learning to play the piano.

"My babe, I could not be prouder of you. You've given Sam life. You've observed open heart surgeries, out-tied real medical professionals with your one-handed surgical knots, learned piano, sprinted through hospitals, gotten up at ungodly hours to go to work, and have brought your talent, empathy, and hard work to a character with a commitment that only is satisfied by excellence. And Sam is a masterpiece with all her talents and foibles. It's been beautiful to observe you and support you as I stand by your side," he wrote.