Dakota Johnson and singer-songwriter Role Model have fuelled relationship speculation for months but the musician may have now offered the biggest hint yet that the two are indeed dating.
The Materialists actress and the singer, whose real name is Tucker Pillsbury, were first linked late last year after they were spotted looking close during a dinner outing. While neither of them publicly addressed the rumours at the time, a recent interview with NYLON Guys appears to have changed that.
Speaking to the publication for its latest cover story, Role Model opened up about Dakota Johnson’s guest appearance on one of the songs from his upcoming album, Chuck Timely & The Hourglass.
Role Model Appears To Confirm Relationship With Dakota Johnson
During the interview with NYLON Guys, the 29-year-old singer recalled how Dakota ended up featuring on his song Love I You which appears on his upcoming album releasing on August 7.
Explaining how the cameo came together, he said, “I had a lot of names to pick from for that, and then Dakota came to the studio one day, and Mason [Stoops, guitarist and producer] was like, ‘Why don’t you do it?'”
He then added a comment that many fans interpreted as an acknowledgment of their relationship.
“I was like, ‘Stop! We’re not mixing work and relationships.'”
According to the interview, Johnson was immediately on board with the idea.
“She was like, ‘I’ll do it,’ and stood right up and got in the booth and knocked it out better than we could have imagined. So I was like, OK, if she’s down — I mean, that’s an amazing cameo.”
Who Is Role Model?
Role Model, born Tucker Pillsbury on May 15, 1997, is an American singer-songwriter who has built a loyal following with his music that has alternative pop and indie mixed. Originally from Cape Elizabeth, Maine, Pillsbury had planned to pursue filmmaking before two wrist injuries changed the course of his career.
While recovering in college, he began experimenting with music production using recording equipment left behind by friends.
He initially uploaded songs to SoundCloud under the name “Tucker” where his music gradually attracted attention. His early work eventually caught the eye of the late rapper Mac Miller.
After independently releasing his EP Arizona in the Summer in 2017, Pillsbury signed with Interscope Records the following year.
He went on to release multiple EPs before making his full-length debut with Rx in 2022. His second studio album, Kansas Anymore (The Longest Goodbye), followed in 2024.
One of his biggest breakthroughs came with the viral success of Sally, When the Wine Runs Out, which gained traction across social media and appeared on Billboard’s Hot Alternative Songs chart. He has also toured alongside Gracie Abrams and is now preparing to release his third studio album, Chuck Timely & The Hourglass, on August 7.
Apart from music, Pillsbury is also expanding into acting and is set to make his film debut in an upcoming romantic comedy.
