20 famous break-up songs that were inspired by other celebrities

Gabbi ShawMay 26, 2021, 01:25 IST

Britney Spears and Justin Timberlake.Ron Galella, Ltd/Getty Images

When getting into a relationship with a famous musician, it's almost a given that the break-up will be used for song fodder.
Olivia Rodrigo's hit "Drivers License" is just one of the most recent examples - or so fans believe.
Fleetwood Mac recorded an entire album about breaking up with each other.

Fans believe "Drivers License" by Olivia Rodrigo is about her "High School Musical: The Musical: The Series" co-star Joshua Bassett.

Joshua Bassett and Olivia Rodrigo. Kevin Winter/Getty Images; Angela Weiss/AFP/Getty Images

Selena Gomez's first No. 1 song, "Lose You to Love Me," is about finding herself after her final break-up with Justin Bieber.

Justin Bieber and Selena Gomez in 2011. Craig Barritt / Stringer/Getty Images

Bieber returned the favor. In one of his most successful songs, "Sorry," he apparently apologizes to Gomez.

Bieber and Gomez. Christopher Polk/Getty Images

Bieber's not the only one to use their relationship with Gomez as song material - The Weeknd's "Call Out My Name" is reportedly about her too.

The Weeknd and Gomez. Evan Agostini/Invision/AP

Nods to his "sister's house," "being a little kid with glasses," and "autumn leaves" led fans to deduce that Taylor Swift's magnum opus "All Too Well" is about Jake Gyllenhaal.

Taylor Swift and Jake Gyllenhaal. Neilson Barnard/Frazer Harrison/Getty Images

Nods to his "sister's house," "being a little kid with glasses," and "autumn leaves" led fans to deduce that Taylor Swift's magnum opus "All Too Well" is about Jake Gyllenhaal.

She also wrote another scathing track about her ex Joe Jonas: "Forever and Always."

Swift and Joe Jonas. Jeff Kravitz/FilmMagic

But Swift's most heartrending break-up song is the nearly 7-minute track "Dear John," presumably about John Mayer.

John Mayer and Swift. Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images

Some of her exes responded with their own songs. Joe Jonas took the lead on a salty Jonas Brothers track titled "Much Better" that called out "all the tears on her guitar."

Nick Jonas, Swift, Joe Jonas and Kevin Jonas. Kevin Mazur/WireImage/Getty Images

Some of her exes responded with their own songs. Joe Jonas took the lead on a salty Jonas Brothers track titled "Much Better" that called out "all the tears on her guitar."

Katy Perry wrote "By the Grace of God" after her divorce from Russell Brand.

Katy Perry and Russell Brand. Christopher Polk/Getty

"You're So Vain" by Carly Simon is about Warren Beatty, among others.

Carly Simon and Warren Beatty. AP

Dave Coulier thinks that Alanis Morrissette's "You Oughta Know" is about him.

Dave Coulier and Alanis Morissette. Ron Galella/Ron Galella Collection via Getty Images

Ariana Grande's "Thank U, Next" name checks her famous exes Big Sean, Pete Davidson, Mac Miller, and Ricky Alvarez.

Big Sean, Ricky Alvarez, Pete Davidson, and Mac Miller with Ariana Grande. Jon Kopaloff/FilmMagic; John Shearer/Getty Images for Kitty Purry, Inc.; Paul Zimmerman/WireImage; GC Images

"Without Me" by Halsey was all about the public demise of her relationship with G-Eazy.

G-Eazy and Halsey. PA/PA Images via Getty Images

If there was any confusion about Justin Timberlake's "Cry Me a River," the music video starring a Britney Spears look-alike cleared that up.

Justin Timberlake and Britney Spears. Dave Hogan/Getty Images

Lindsey Buckingham wrote "Go Your Own Way" about his Fleetwood Mac bandmate Stevie Nicks.

Stevie Nicks and Lindsey Buckingham. Richard E. Aaron/Redferns

... and she wrote "Dreams" about him.

Nicks and Buckingham. Gie Knaeps/Getty Images

Outkast's André 3000 dedicated "Ms. Jackson" to ex Erykah Badu's mom, apologizing for making her daughter cry.

Andre 3000 and Erykah Badu. Getty Images

"Shout Out to My Ex" by Little Mix has a very pointed shout-out to Zayn Malik and his tattoos sang by ex Perrie Edwards.

Zayn Malik and Perrie Edwards. Nicholas Hunt/Getty Images; David M. Benett/Dave Benett/Getty Images for Swarovski

Gwen Stefani wrote "Don't Speak" about her No Doubt bandmate Tony Kanal.

Tony Kanal and Gwen Stefani. Christopher Polk/Getty Images

She wrote "Used to Love You" after her split from Gavin Rossdale.

Stefani and Gavin Rossdale. Getty Images Entertainment/Angela Weiss

All of Sir Ian McKellen's movies, ranked

Cookies on the Business Insider India website

20 famous break-up songs that were inspired by other celebrities

Fans believe "Drivers License" by Olivia Rodrigo is about her "High School Musical: The Musical: The Series" co-star Joshua Bassett.

Selena Gomez's first No. 1 song, "Lose You to Love Me," is about finding herself after her final break-up with Justin Bieber.

Bieber returned the favor. In one of his most successful songs, "Sorry," he apparently apologizes to Gomez.

Bieber's not the only one to use their relationship with Gomez as song material - The Weeknd's "Call Out My Name" is reportedly about her too.

Nods to his "sister's house," "being a little kid with glasses," and "autumn leaves" led fans to deduce that Taylor Swift's magnum opus "All Too Well" is about Jake Gyllenhaal.

She also wrote another scathing track about her ex Joe Jonas: "Forever and Always."

But Swift's most heartrending break-up song is the nearly 7-minute track "Dear John," presumably about John Mayer.

Some of her exes responded with their own songs. Joe Jonas took the lead on a salty Jonas Brothers track titled "Much Better" that called out "all the tears on her guitar."

Katy Perry wrote "By the Grace of God" after her divorce from Russell Brand.

"You're So Vain" by Carly Simon is about Warren Beatty, among others.

Dave Coulier thinks that Alanis Morrissette's "You Oughta Know" is about him.

Ariana Grande's "Thank U, Next" name checks her famous exes Big Sean, Pete Davidson, Mac Miller, and Ricky Alvarez.

"Without Me" by Halsey was all about the public demise of her relationship with G-Eazy.

If there was any confusion about Justin Timberlake's "Cry Me a River," the music video starring a Britney Spears look-alike cleared that up.

Lindsey Buckingham wrote "Go Your Own Way" about his Fleetwood Mac bandmate Stevie Nicks.

... and she wrote "Dreams" about him.

Outkast's André 3000 dedicated "Ms. Jackson" to ex Erykah Badu's mom, apologizing for making her daughter cry.

"Shout Out to My Ex" by Little Mix has a very pointed shout-out to Zayn Malik and his tattoos sang by ex Perrie Edwards.

Gwen Stefani wrote "Don't Speak" about her No Doubt bandmate Tony Kanal.

She wrote "Used to Love You" after her split from Gavin Rossdale.