Famous Mothers

Cissy Houston (1933–2024), gospel singer and Whitney Houston’s mother

Cissy Houston was a legendary gospel and soul singer, as well as the mother of and the aunt of Dionne and .

Lucille Bridges (1934–2020), mother in 1960 school desegregation

Lucille Bridges was the mother of Ruby Bridges, who made history in 1960 when she began attending an all-white school in New Orleans.

Roberta McCain (1912–2020), mother of Senator John McCain

Roberta McCain, the mother of Senator John McCain, has died at the age of 108.

Jackie Stallone (1921–2020), famous astrologer and Sylvester Stallone’s mother

Jackie Stallone was a popular astrologer known for her psychic hotline on television and was the mother of Hollywood star Sylvester Stallone.

Maggie Griffin (1920–2020), Kathy Griffin’s mother who costarred on “My Life on the D-List”

Maggie Griffin was the mother of comedian Kathy Griffin and costarred with her daughter on televisions My Life on the D-List.

Jacqueline McEntire (1926–2020), Reba McEntire’s mother

Jacqueline McEntire , country music star Reba Mcentire’s mother, has died from cancer at the age of 93. She was the matriarch of the Oklahoma family that includes Reba and her three siblings. Jacqueline’s husband Clark was a three-time champion steer roper who was inducted into the Rodeo Hall of Fame. She shared songwriting credit with Reba on the latter’s 2017 gospel album and was featured in a music video in 2016 for Reba’s song “Just Like Them Horses.”

Gloria Vanderbilt (1924–2019), iconic fashion designer

The designer and socialite was also the mother of CNN's Anderson Cooper.

Peggy Lipton (1946–2019), starred on "The Mod Squad" and "Twin Peaks"

Peggy Lipton was an actress, model, and singer who starred on "The Mod Squad" and "Twin Peaks."

Elsa Patton (2019), “Real Housewives of Miami” star

The feisty reality star was known as “Mama Elsa.”

Estela O’Brien (2019), Soledad O’Brien’s mother

Estela O’Brien was the mother of television journalist Soledad O’Brien. She passed away just 40 days after Soledad’s father. Soledad shared details of her mother’s life in a touching Instagram post. Estela was an immigrant from a poor Cuban family who left Fidel Castro’s regime to come to America for an education. She attended college and married O’Brien’s father, an interracial marriage at a time when it was still illegal. She became a teacher who taught at the high school that Soledad attended. Estela and her husband put all six of their children through college. Soledad called her mom “a pretty remarkable lady.”

Vernita Lee (1935–2018), Oprah Winfrey’s mother

Vernita Lee, Oprah Winfrey’s mother, has died at the age of 83, according to multiple news sources. She died on Thanksgiving Day.

Nancy Sinatra Sr. (1917–2018), first wife of Frank Sinatra

Nancy Sinatra, first wife of Frank Sinatra, and mother of Nancy, Frank Jr., and Tina Sinatra.

Ella Brennan (1925–2018), New Orleans restaurateur

Pioneered nouvelle Creole cuisine at the iconic Commander's Palace.

Barbara Bush (1925–2018), former first lady of the United States

Barbara Bush, the former first lady of the United States, died April 17, 2018, at the age of 92.

Rita Owens (2018), Queen Latifah’s mom

NEW YORK (AP) — Queen Latifah is mourning the death of her mother.

Gloria Fallon (1949–2017), mom of "Tonight Show's" Jimmy Fallon

The late-night host said his mother was his "biggest fan."

Princess Diana: Style and Substance

More than two decades after her death, we continue to be fascinated by Princess Diana.

Dorothy Mengering (1921 - 2017), cookbook author and David Letterman's mom

A cookbook author, Dorothy Mengering was known better for her appearances on her son David Letterman's late-night talk show.

Remembering Patty Duke (video)

A video tribute to the actress and mental health advocate.

Laura Ingalls Wilder: The Real Little House on the Prairie

On Laura Ingalls Wilder’s 150th birthday, we take a modern-day look at a few of the places she described in her books.

Debbie Reynolds (1932–2016), Singin' in the Rain star

Debbie Reynolds, the actress and singer who starred in "Singin' in the Rain" and "The Unsinkable Molly Brown," died Wednesday, Dec. 28, 2016. She was 84.

Carrie Fisher (1956–2016), iconic Star Wars star

Carrie Fisher, the actress whose role as Princess Leia in the original "Star Wars" trilogy and helped George Lucas’ space-fantasy epic redefine Hollywood blockbusters for a new generation of moviegoers, died Tuesday, Dec. 27, 2016. She was 60.

Johannah Deakin (1973 - 2016), mother of One Direction star Louis Tomlinson

Johannah Deakin, the mother of One Direction star Louis Tomlinson, died Wednesday, Dec. 7, 2016. Deakin, who had leukemia, was 43.

Elizabeth Edwards: A Legacy of Caring

Elizabeth Edwards, who lost her long and public fight against breast cancer Dec. 7, 2010, didn't seek the spotlight. Instead, it found her when her husband, John, decided to run for political office. She embraced her role, becoming her husband's closest adviser during his stint in the U.S. Senate, when he was the Democratic nominee for vice president in 2004, and as he sought his party's presidential nod in 2008.

Nancy Dow (1936 - 2016), actress and mother of Jennifer Aniston

Nancy Dow, an actress, former model, and the mother of actress Jennifer Aniston, died May 25 in Los Angeles, according to multiple news sources. She was 79.

Jeanne Parr (1924–2016), pioneering CBD correspondent

Jeanne Parr, pioneering CBS correspondent and mother of actor Chris Noth, has died at the age of 92.

Afeni Shakur (1947–2016), Tupac Shakur's mother

Afeni Shakur, the mother of the late hip-hop legend Tupac Shakur, died May 2, 2016, according to multiple news sources. She was 69.

Patty Duke (1946–2016), Oscar winner for The Miracle Worker

Actress Patty Duke won an Academy Award as a teenager for "The Miracle Worker" and went on to have a long and successful career.

International Women's Day

March 8 is International Women's Day, a day meant to celebrate the social, economic, cultural, and political achievements of women. At Legacy.com, we're revisiting some of our past coverage exploring incredible women's life stories.

Natalie Wood in the News

Fans were shocked when Hollywood leading ladyNatalie Wood died in 1981 in a mysterious drowning accident. Three decades later her name was much in the news.

Century Spotlight: Ingrid Bergman

Ingrid Bergman is one of an elite group of actors who won three Academy awards – only Katharine Hepburn has one more, with four – and just the mention of her name is enough to make many a movie lover feel a little misty and nostalgic for the talent and beauty we lost when she died.

Robert Downey Jr.: 'Call Your Mother'

When Robert Downey Jr.'s mother, Elsie Ann Downey, died last week, he wrote a tribute to her – one that said the things that, in his words, a "generic 'obit'" wouldn't convey.

Joan Rivers' Simple Funeral Plan

Joan Rivers' ideas for her own funeral are just as outrageous as everything else she ever wrote.

Jackie Kennedy

First lady, fashion icon, photographer, editor, world traveler, arts patron, historic preservationist — Jackie Kennedy had many roles. Born Jacqueline Lee Bouvier on July 28, 1929, the woman known affectionately as "Jackie O" is arguably the most-beloved first lady in American history. Her style and grace, even in the midst of unspeakable events such as the assassination of President John F. Kennedy, inspired our nation. Join us as we walk through her life in photographs.

The Kennedys

A glance at the Kennedy family tree reveals one of the most remarkable clans in American history.

Ann Richards Had Annitude!

Late Texas governor Ann Richards was full of spunk, spirit and humor, just to name some of her best-known qualities.

Shari Lewis and Lamb Chop

When puppeteer Shari Lewis died Aug. 2, 1998, the world lost a gentle soul who knew how to entertain children like few others.

Estelle Getty, Golden Girl

Today we're remembering a career crowned by Estelle Getty's 10-year turn as wise-cracking Sophia Petrillo.

Jean Stapleton: No Dingbat

We loved Jean Stapleton as Edith Bunker, but don't pigeonhole her as the Dingbat.

Nora Ephron, Box Office Gold

Ephron's movie comedies became contemporary classics thanks to their screenwriter's intelligence and wit...

Linda McCartney and Wings

Linda McCartney died April 17, 1998, of breast cancer at 56. We remember the activist and songwriter...

Anne Morrow Lindbergh’s Gift

As if being a role model to generations of female pilots wasn’t enough, Anne Morrow Lindbergh was also an award-winning author and prolific writer of poetry and non-fiction.

Corazon Aquino: The Housewife Who Led a Revolution

We remember Corazon Aquino, the woman who rose from politician’s wife reluctant to be in the public eye to the much-loved bringer of democracy to the Philippines, by sharing eight facts about her life and career.

Donna Reed: More Than a Mom

Donna Reed is the quintessential TV mom. We look back at the actress behind the pop culture icon.

Yvonne De Carlo: A Munster and More

Six years after Yvonne De Carlo's death Jan. 8, 2007, we remember her greatest TV gig and the movies that preceded it.

Grace Kelly's Fairy Tale

Grace Kelly was living proof that sometimes fairy tales aren't just stories...

Ingrid Bergman at the Oscars

We're celebrating Ingrid Bergman's life with a look at her Academy Award-nominated movie performances.

Lovin' Minnie Riperton

Long before Mariah Carey became famous for her five-octave vocal range, there was another, a singer who could do five octaves and then some. Carey was barely out of diapers when Minnie Riperton was being celebrated for her rare five-and-a-half-octave range and her amazing ability to enunciate even in her very highest register.

Rosemary Clooney, Too Marvelous for Words

Rosemary Clooney's first and biggest hit was a song she couldn't stand...