Jenna Dewan was 'just gutted' after Channing Tatum split: 'I didn’t know life without' him

Jenna Dewan is reflecting on her devastating 2018 split from Channing Tatum.

The dancer/actress, who is expecting a baby with her actor/singer boyfriend Steve Kazee, opened up to People magazine about the ending of her marriage. The former couple met while filming the 2006 feature "Step Up."

“I always say no one gets married to hopefully get divorced,” Dewan, 38, said. “People grow and they change and sometimes they don’t grow and change together. So it wasn’t a overnight thing that happened."

"There was no one event," she added. "I think it was just a slow realization that we wanted different things.”

Still, their decision to separate was agonizing for Dewan.

“I was just gutted. It was so difficult for me,” she said. “It was the loss of an idealistic future for myself and my life. What does that now look like for me? Where do I begin? I met him when I was 24, I didn’t know life without Chan.”

Jenna Dewan and boyfriend Steve Kazee are expecting first child 17 months after Channing Tatum split

Jenna Dewan shows off baby bump, calls dad-to-be Steve Kazee a 'gift from above'

Though their romantic relationship is over, the two are still linked by their 6-year-old daughter, Everly.

“We’re all aware that it’s a new normal, we’re all getting used to it,” she told People. “You can still have a relationship and just because the forms change as to who you are to each other, it doesn’t take away from the love that we had or that we shared all those years.”

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The author of "Gracefully You: How to Live Your Best Life Every Day" (on sale Oct. 22), said accepting change has led her to a place of happiness.

“I’m grateful that I now am at a place where I understand myself and what I want and I’m happy about this new chapter. I’m in a place of joy,” she said.

Dewan admitted "it wasn’t easy necessarily, to get here," and that she "had to put in the work" to get to where she is today.

"This doesn’t just happen overnight," she said. "But just to know that it’s possible, and your perspective on life can change. It can change for the better, and you’ll be fine.”

Last month, Dewan shared her excitement about her current stage in life with her Instagram followers.

Cuddled up next to Everly, with a tiny bump visible, Dewan raved about motherhood.

"Becoming a mother is quite simply the absolute best most incredible thing that has ever happened to me," she wrote. @stevekazee you are a gift from above and i couldn’t be more excited to be expanding our family together...! Thank you guys for all the love!!"

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This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Channing Tatum split 'just gutted' Jenna Dewan: 'It was so difficult'