Jenna Dewan reflected on the lessons she learned over the past year after settling her divorce from Channing Tatum.
“This past year I learned that life has a way of bringing you exactly what you need to learn at exactly the right time,” Dewan, 44, wrote in a personal essay for InStyle, which was published on Wednesday, January 22. “The transitions weren’t just changes — they were invitations to grow, to lean into the discomfort and discover the strength I didn’t know I had.”
Dewan highlighted 2024 as a specific year for growth, adding, “I learned a lot about myself, my resilience, and my voice. I learned to let go of over-accommodating in my relationships and to sit with uncomfortability. What it really means to trust.”
She added: “I can truly say I greet each challenge with a question of, ‘Why is this here and what is it here to teach me?’ Sometimes things break because you don’t fit in that vessel anymore and that’s OK.”
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Tatum, 44, and Dewan started dating in 2006 after they met on the set of Step Up. They tied the knot in 2009 and welcomed their daughter, Everly, in 2013. After nearly a decade of marriage, Tatum and Dewan announced their separation in 2018.
“We have lovingly chosen to separate as a couple,” the pair wrote in a statement at the time. “We fell deeply in love so many years ago and have had a magical journey together. Absolutely nothing has changed about how much we love one another, but love is a beautiful adventure that is taking us on different paths for now. There are no secrets nor salacious events at the root of our decision — just two best friends realizing it’s time to take some space and help each other live the most joyous, fulfilled lives as possible.”
Six months later, Dewan filed for divorce. The former couple were declared legally single in 2019 but were subsequently involved in a legal disagreement about finances pertaining to the Magic Mike franchise.
More than six years after separating, Tatum and Dewan settled their divorce in September 2024, with a final mandatory settlement conference taking place in October 2024. Along with coparenting Everly with Tatum, Dewan shares son Callum, 4, and daughter Rhiannon, 7 months, with fiancé Steve Kazee.
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“Fresh starts, I’ve realized, don’t wait for calendars or big proclamations. They happen in the quiet choices: forgiving yourself, showing up again, trusting the process even when it feels hopeless,” the actress continued in her essay. “Life’s beauty lies in its imperfection — the laughter through tears, the moments of doubt that give way to clarity. When you embrace the journey instead of clinging to the destination, you begin to surprise yourself with more joy than you imagined possible.”
Dewan asserted that she’s “not searching for perfection but for presence” in the new year, vowing to no longer hold back in life. “Each fresh chapter is a gift waiting to be unwrapped,” Dewan wrote. “I am so grateful for my family, the love and presence of my partner, Steve, and the adventures we will have this year. I see some travel, lots of family laughs, and, most importantly, maybe a wedding finally!”
