Who Is Hilary Duff’s Husband Matthew Koma? Inside the Musician’s Life as Actress Opens Up About Marriage Insecurities

Hilary Duff has long been regarded as one of Hollywood’s most recognisable child stars-turned-leading ladies. She began her acting career in the 1990s with minor roles before rising to global fame in the early 2000s after landing the lead role in Disney Channel’s Lizzie McGuire. Over the years, Duff has built a diverse portfolio with projects such as Cadet Kelly (2002), Agent Cody Banks (2003), A Cinderella Story (2004), Younger (2015–2021), and How I Met Your Father (2022–2023).

Recently, the actress-singer made headlines after candidly discussing her personal struggles within her marriage. Duff revealed that she sometimes battles insecurity in her relationship with her husband, Matthew Koma, admitting she fears he could leave her “for some coolio indie songwriter that he works with.” These emotions, she explained, found their way into her new song Holiday Party, which includes the lyrics, “In my head you live another life…And wish someone else could’ve been your wife.”

Matthew Koma’s early life and musical roots

Matthew Koma was born in Brooklyn, New York City, and raised largely in Seaford, Long Island. Growing up near New York’s vibrant music scene played a major role in shaping his artistic ambitions. In a July 2024 interview with Alternative Press, Koma explained that being close to the city exposed him to concerts of every scale, from stadium performances to intimate club shows, which normalised music as a way of life for him from a young age.

Writing songs from childhood

Inspired by legendary singer-songwriters such as Elvis Costello, Carole King, and Bruce Springsteen, Koma began writing music early. According to Billboard, he penned his first song at just nine years old. Music was deeply ingrained in his upbringing, as his father, Gerald Blair, was also a musician. Recalling his earliest stage memory, Koma once said:

“Music was always a huge part of our lives. The first time I got onstage, it was with him. I was 4. I wore ripped jeans and a dungaree jacket. I was going through my Soul Asylum phase.”

Career as a musician and band frontman

Today, Koma is best known as the lead singer of the indie pop band Winnetka Bowling League, which he formed in 2018 with his brother, drummer Kris Mazzarisi. The band released several EPs before unveiling its debut full-length album, Sha La La, in 2024. Prior to this, Koma had already established himself as a successful songwriter and solo artist, securing his first publishing deal at 16 and later signing with Interscope Records after being noticed by producer Jimmy Iovine. His career has included tours with major artists and performances at festivals such as Coachella and Ultra.

Past relationships and collaboration with Hilary Duff

Before marrying Duff, Koma was romantically linked to pop singer Carly Rae Jepsen, whom he dated after collaborating on her 2012 album Kiss. The pair quietly ended their relationship in 2015.

Koma and Duff first met professionally while working on her 2015 album Breathe In. Breathe Out., on which he co-wrote multiple tracks. At the time, Duff was separated from her former husband, NHL player Mike Comrie. Their relationship became official in 2017 after an on-and-off phase, and the couple married in December 2019.

Since then, Hilary Duff and Matthew Koma have welcomed three children together—Banks Violet Bair, Mae James Bair, and Townes Meadow Bair—while continuing to balance family life with demanding careers in entertainment and music.