In the glitzy world of Hollywood, some stars’ journeys to parenthood began during their teenage years. While it’s true that it doesn’t have quite the same stigma today as it did decades ago, it’s still surprising to hear about celebrities who were teenage parents. Despite the challenges they faced, these celebrities embraced their roles as young parents, navigating fame and parenthood simultaneously.
Sofia Vergara
Sofia Vergara is most well-known for her role as Gloria in the long-running television sitcom Modern Family. But did you know she is a mother to a son who was born when she was a teenager? She was just 19 years old when Manolo Gonzalez-Ripoll was born. She married her son’s dad when she was 18 before Manolo was born, but they divorced only two years later.
Anna Nicole Smith
Anna Nicole Smith’s life was cut much too short and was filled with many tragedies. Smith’s son, Daniel, was born in 1986 when the star was 19 years old. Smith met Daniel’s father when she was 17 and he was 16. The couple married less than a year before Daniel was born, then separated when he was one. Unfortunately, Daniel died when he was only 20 years old, and then a few days later Smith gave birth to her daughter – Dannielynn. Smith herself died when Dannielynn was only five months old.
Whoopi Goldberg
It was back in 1973 that Whoopi Goldberg gave birth to her daughter. Goldberg was just 18 years old at the time. During that time Goldberg was struggling with a heroin addiction and worked a variety of odd jobs to try to pay the bills. Goldberg often recounts just how hard of a time it was.
Roseanne Barr
Roseanne Bar is another comedienne on the list who is known for making people laugh but suffered many tragedies and hard times in her private life. In 1970, Barr told her parents she was visiting a friend out of state for a couple of weeks, but never went home. The next year, when she was 19, she had a baby. She put that baby up for adoption but was reunited with her 17 years later.
Shirley Temple Black
You can only imagine what a teenage pregnancy would have been like back in 1948, and that’s exactly what movie legend Shirley Temple Black went through. She was only 17 when her daughter was born. While Temple married her sweetheart at the time, they ended up divorcing one year later in 1949.
Naomi Judd
Fans of country music will be well acquainted with the name Naomi Judd, who won nine Country Music Association awards and five Grammys during her career. Judd has stated that not only did she get pregnant as a teenager, but it happened the first time she had intercourse. Judd learned she was pregnant at age 18 and went on to give birth to Wynonna Judd – who became a country music superstar as well.
Solange Knowles
Solange Knowles, younger sister of Beyonce, has also made a career for herself in the music industry. But well before that, she became a teen mom. At age 17 she gave birth to her son and has described her teenage pregnancy and early years of parenthood as very difficult and isolating at times.
Niki Taylor
Niki Taylor was a model who signed with her first agency when she was only 13 years-old. She made the cover of Vogue magazine at just 15 years of age. When she was just 18 she became pregnant with twins. By the time she turned 21, she was divorced from the father of her children.
Maya Angelou
Maya Angelou was a teenage mom back in the times when it was seen as shameful. When she found out she was pregnant at age 16, her instinct was to hide it until it wasn’t possible any more. Unlike many parents during these times, her mother didn’t force her into marriage and instead made sure the baby and Angelou felt loved.
Aretha Franklin
Known as the “Queen of Soul”, Aretha Franklin was a musical legend. Franklin wasn’t technically a “teenager” since she first became pregnant at age 12. But just three years later, she gave birth to her second child. And while being a teenage mom was a challenge, it didn’t hold Franklin back from her pursuing her dreams. Her grandmother Rachel and sister Erma were credited for helping her raise her children.
Loretta Lynn
In the world of country music royalty, Loretta Lynn is high on the list. The singer-songwriter’s career stretched over six decades. She passed away back in 2022 at age 90, leaving behind a prolific music library. In her personal life, she became a mom at just 15 years of age. Her daughter, Betty Sue, was born and then at age 16, she gave birth to her son – Jack.
Suzanne Somers
Known for her iconic role as Chrissy on Three’s Company, the late Suzanne Somers suffered many a struggle in her lifetime. She too was a teenage mom at age 18. She married her boyfriend but it didn’t stop the cruel gossip and shame that people directed at her. After her son was born, she married his father a few days later. The couple stayed married from 1965-1968. It was her only child.
Fantasia Barrino
Fantasia Barrino burst onto the scene thanks to American Idol. The singer has enjoyed huge amounts of fame since then, but there is more to her than a lovely voice. Fantasia is also a mother to daughter Zion, whom Fantasia had when she was just 17 years old.
Lil Wayne
Rapper Lil Wayne’s high school sweetheart – Toya Johnson, became pregnant when he was 15. This means his first child was born when he was barely 16 years-old. His daughter, Reginae Carter, was born in 1998. While the rapper and Johnson went on to marry in 2004, it didn’t last long and by 2006 the couple split.
LeBron James
Basketball superstar LeBron James is one of the best NBA players of all time. Shortly after he was declared the number one draft pick, and became part of the Cleveland Cavaliers in his rookie year, his high school sweetheart learned she was pregnant at age 17. The couple welcomed their first son – Bronny – and went on to get married in 2013. They now have two sons and a daughter.
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