At only 19, Shane Michael Boose — better known to the world as Sombr — has gone from bedroom producer to a full-blown cultural moment. With Taylor Swift name-dropping him in an October 6, 2025 SiriusXM interview, his debut album I Barely Know Her climbing global charts, and a Late Nights and Young Romance tour selling out venues from Boston to Toronto, Sombr is stepping into the kind of spotlight most artists only dream about.
Fans adore his raw storytelling, indie-pop sound, and magnetic stage presence. But along with the fame comes a wave of curiosity about his personal life — particularly his sexual orientation and whether he has a girlfriend. Here’s the full picture, based on everything Sombr has shared up to late 2025.
Sombr’s Relationship Status: Entirely Single
Sombr is single, fully focused on music and the whirlwind career that’s put him at the front of the 2026 Best New Artist Grammy conversation. Between touring, producing, and writing, he’s made it clear there’s not much room for dating.
In a September 2025 feature with The New York Times, he admitted that his schedule is “beautiful chaos,” and romantic relationships simply don’t fit into the equation right now. When he talks about love, it’s usually through his lyrics — not a real-time partner.
And fans feel that. Every song on I Barely Know Her sounds like a message from someone who’s figuring out heartbreak one note at a time.
Is Sombr Straight or Gay? Clearing Up the Rumors
Sombr identifies as straight. He’s dated girls in the past — most notably an ex who inspired his emotional track “Caroline.”
His debut album touches on complicated relationships with women, which critics embraced. In their October 4 review, Pitchfork praised the record for how it “holds a cracked mirror to teenage longing,” noting Sombr’s tenderness toward the women who shaped his story.
Sombr has never publicly suggested he’s queer, though he openly supports LGBTQ+ fans and champions queer stories in the music community. His inclusive vibe has sometimes fueled speculation, but nothing he’s said or done indicates anything other than straight identity.
The Addison Rae Rumors: A Creative Spark, Not a Romance
When Sombr and Addison Rae teamed up for his “12 to 12” music video in July 2025, sparks flew — at least online.
The two were photographed at dinner in L.A., their chemistry on-set was obvious, and fans immediately launched into matchmaking mode. But Sombr shut the rumors down fast. At the VMAs in August, he made it clear:
They’re friends. Creative collaborators. Nothing more.
Addison echoed the same in a July Instagram Live, calling him “crazy talented” and “a friend I adore,” but not a boyfriend. By fall, even the fan edits had calmed down — though their video moments still circulate on TikTok with heart emojis.
“Caroline”: The Ex Everyone Wants to Identify
If Sombr has a romantic mystery, it’s Caroline.
The emotional standout from I Barely Know Her left fans spiraling, convinced Caroline must be a real girl from his past. Some theorize she’s a pre-fame girlfriend from his New York days; others think she’s a composite of heartbreaks rather than a single person.
What Sombr actually said in a May 2025 TikTok was this:
“You’ll never figure out who my real ex is.”
Playful? Maybe. Protective? Definitely.
Caroline might be real — or she might simply be the muse he built out of multiple memories. For now, she exists mainly in the lyrics.
And Kaylee Lauren? No Connection There
The internet loves to ship artists with random names, and Kaylee Lauren is one of those. Fans tossed her into the rumor mill without a shred of evidence. There are no photos, no follows, no mentions, nothing in interviews — just idle speculation that never took shape.
Sombr has never acknowledged anyone by that name, and nothing credible links them romantically.
His Past Love Life: Quiet by Design
Sombr is young, newly famous, and private — a combination that leaves a lot of blanks fans are eager to fill. He’s hinted that he’s loved, lost, and learned, but he’s never shared details. Tracks like “Back to Friends” reflect the ache of drifting apart from someone meaningful, but he’s intentionally kept names and stories close.
Interviews show a pattern: he dodges personal questions gently, even teasing his fans at times, but always keeping the focus on music.
The Fans: Curious, Protective, and Sometimes Too Intense
His rise has attracted a devoted young fanbase whose love spans art accounts, emotional TikTok edits, and even fancasts imagining the “perfect girlfriend” for him. But the fandom has a protective streak too.
After a Toronto tour stop in early October 2025 where the crowd swarmed too aggressively, fan pages posted reminders to give Sombr space and respect. Many fans understand that fame at his age comes with intense pressure — and they celebrate his boundaries.
Most just want him to be happy, whether that happiness includes a relationship or not.
What’s Next for Sombr?
Romance may not be in his life right now, but love is everywhere in his music.
With Grammy buzz building, an NRJ Music Award nomination in the bag, Taylor Swift boosting his visibility, and a wildly successful tour behind him, Sombr’s next chapter is shaping up to be massive. Whether he stays single or someday opens up about someone special, his fans will hear his heart first through the songs he writes.
Conclusion
Sombr is single, straight, and entirely focused on his music in 2025. The Addison Rae rumors were nothing but friendship, “Caroline” remains a mystery muse, and no credible link ties him to anyone named Kaylee Lauren. His love life isn’t playing out on Instagram — it’s playing out in his lyrics.
For now, the best way to understand Sombr’s heart is to stream I Barely Know Her and watch this rising star navigate fame with honesty, artistry, and a voice that feels like the soundtrack to being young.