Sometimes the biggest romantic confirmations happen completely by accident. Musician Role Model (real name Tucker Pillsbury) has officially let the cat out of the bag regarding his heavily rumored romance with Splitsville star Dakota Johnson—and he did it while explaining a recording studio vocal cameo.
Romance rumors between the 29-year-old “Sally, When The Wine Runs Out” singer and the 36-year-old actress first began circulating late last year, after the pair were spotted enjoying cozy dinner dates across Los Angeles. While both kept tight-lipped for months, Pillsbury’s cover story for NYLON Guys provided the ultimate confirmation fans have been waiting for.
The revelation centers around a track off his upcoming album, Chuck Timely & the Hourglass (slated for release on August 7). Discussing the track “Love I You,” Pillsbury revealed that Johnson makes a surprise feature on the song. However, in explaining how her voice landed on the record, he casually dropped the ‘R’ word.
“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?’” Pillsbury recalled during the interview.
His immediate reaction to his producer’s suggestion was what gave the secret away. “I was like, ‘Stop! We’re not mixing work and relationships,’” Pillsbury admitted.
Despite his initial hesitation to blend love and career, Johnson was more than eager to step up to the microphone. “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,” he shared. “So I was like, OK, if she’s down — I mean, that’s an amazing cameo.”
With an effortless studio session and an official album feature under their belts, it’s clear the pair have found a harmonious balance between their creative worlds and their quiet romance.
