Maddie Poppe reveals her new boyfriend! Fans wonder “Where’s Caleb?”
Does Maddie Poppe have a new boyfriend? It appears that the answer is yes. This, after the American Idol 2018 winner broke up with fellow Top 2 finalist, Caleb Lee Hutchinson last year.
Sunday night (7/23) the singer-songwriter posted a photo on social media of herself and a guy looking pretty cozy together. She simply captioned it. “Happy.” The photo is tagged to a Gabe Burdulis, who is a Nashville based singer-songwriter and guitarist.
Who is Maddie Poppe’s new boyfriend, Gabe Burdulis?
According to his website, Gabe is currently on the road touring as a guitarist with country music artist Brittany Spencer. The two have toured with artists such as Willie Nelson, Brandi Carlile and Maren Morris. The Madison, WI native also has released solo music, but his last single was in 2018. He recorded and self-produced a full length album titled Youth City in 2014 after moving to Nashville.
He supported another country artist, Brooke Eden when she played the Today Show and performed with with Micah Nelson aka “Particle Kid” at Farm Aid. He’s had songs featured on television shows like The Young and the Restless.
His Instagram is full of photos and videos of his travels as a working musician, featuring stints with Spencer, Eden and more. Also, he photographs well. Heh.
Maddie and Caleb broke up last fall
This new romance comes after Maddie broke up with Caleb Lee Hutchinson last year. The two met as contestants on American Idol in 2018. She won the show, while he came in second place. Host Ryan Seacrest revealed their romance during the LIVE finale. It was good TV! The couple returned to American Idol in 2022 to perform a duet in the Great Idol Reunion special. But some romances are not meant to last.
Maddie hasn’t addressed her break up with Caleb in many interviews. But she did confirm they were no longer together. But still, in the comments alongside the photo are fans who seemed to have NO IDEA that she and Caleb broke up.
The comments alongside the Instagram photo are filled with fans who didn’t know she and Caleb broke up
“Just realizing her and Caleb broke up,” said one fan. Another said, “That doesn’t look like Caleb.” And another, “You and Caleb broke up?!” And this “Noooo no no no no. #teamcaleb” So invested! “i was rooting for you & Caleb” said another. Oh well nothing gold last forever! Heh. “what chapter did i miss….” yet another confused fan! “Here I was wondering if you and Caleb broke up. The confirmation!!” writes a fan who is very late to the party. Comments go on and on and on in a similar fashion.
“Wait hold on,” writes a fan, “is this the same dude from NYE? I was at the bar when you went on stage and sang with the band.” Another writes “I knew something was up the way you two were looking at each other during your show.” And another fan writes, “So happy that you are happy Maddie! And you guys look cute together.”
Maddie confirmed the breakup with Caleb
But fans who were paying attention at all might have caught her interview with Iowa radio station KWAY back while she promoted her song “Screw You a Little Bit” in April.
“I didn’t know if I’d have to talk about it!” Maddie said awkwardly when the host brought up what prompted her new song. She hems and haws until the host finally asks if “Screw You a Little Bit” is a break up song. The host eventually straight up asks if she and Caleb broke up. Maddie confirms.
“It is a break up song!” Maddie says, however, “This one is not about who everyone thinks it’s about!” She adds, “That relationship I still have a place in my heart and I have nothing but love and respect on that side of things. So this is NOT about that person. Because I don’t have negative things to say about that particular person. If you are out there and if you are wondering. There you go.”
Currently, Maddie is on tour with American Idol runner-up Megan Danielle as her opening act. This fall she hits the road with Backstreet Boy Nick Carter. Her latest single is “Good Enough to Let You Go.”
