Minka Kelly Says Boyfriend Dan Reynolds ‘Healed Wounds’ in Her ‘He Did Not Inflict,’ Gives Rare Insight Into Relationship
“I thought I knew kindness. Love. Patience. Generosity. Care. I thought I knew how to be gentle. And then I met him,” Kelly wrote in a lengthy Instagram post
Minka Kelly is making her love for boyfriend Dan Reynolds known.
The Friday Night Lights actress, 45, took to Instagram to celebrate Reynolds’ 38th birthday on Monday, July 14. Alongside a selfie of the two, Kelly shared a heartfelt message about how the Imagine Dragons frontman changed her life.
“This beautiful man has healed wounds in me he did not inflict – simply by being himself. By embodying true masculinity. The kind that is vulnerable, honest and loving,” she gushed. “I thought I knew kindness. Love. Patience. Generosity. Care. I thought I knew how to be gentle. And then I met him.”
“Watching him father and love his babies,” she continued. “Honoring and respecting their beautiful mother. Doing everything he can to be absolutely everything everyone needs from him. Finding ways every day to light up the lives of the ones so lucky enough to be loved by him.”
“His benevolence, his priorities, his values, and his honesty are all rooted in love. And as a result, we all feel safe and at ease in his orbit,” the note concluded. “Thank you for loving me. Thank you for blessing my life in ways I never thought possible – but always dreamed of. I love you, Dan. Happiest birthday to you. Now let’s dance!”
Friends and fans of the couple flooded the comments of the post with birthday wishes for Reynolds as well.
“You are such a special human, Mink. And you deserve all of this profound and gentle love!!” wrote Sophia Bush. “So happy for you both. ✨”
Jenna Dewan echoed that sentiment: “I am 🥹 and i love you both !!!!”
Others, such as Jamie-Lynn Sigler, simply left a series of red heart emojis.
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Kelly and Reynolds first started dating in November 2022.
Their romance came shortly after he announced his split from his wife of over a decade and the mother of their four children, Aja Volkman. Kelly had also gotten out of a two-year relationship with comedian Trevor Noah months prior.
In 2024, the singer told PEOPLE that he and Kelly initially got to know each other over the phone before meeting each other a month later. They instantly connected, and he revealed he even shared some of the songs he was working on for his album Loom, while she sent him a draft of her memoir.
“She’s like, ‘Well, if you’re going to share your art, I can share something with you, but it’s very vulnerable for me. Do you want to do this or not?’” Reynolds recalled. “She was very scared for me to read the book because we hadn’t met, just as much as I was scared for her to hear a song that I’d written.”
He went on to explain that once they finally met in person, they became “attached at the hip,” adding that Kelly has also built a strong bond with his kids.
“The kids really love Minka and really love their mom, and that’s okay,” Reynolds said. “We view it as kind of bonuses to the family: more people to love, more people to help.”
